Yoo Seung-ho hopes to continue charity work overseas

Korean actor Yoo Seung-ho [Park Sung-ki/Asia Economic Daily]

Korean actor Yoo Seung-ho, who recently took part in his first charity work overseas, has said that he wants to continue helping people abroad.

The actor took part in a special series feature tentatively titled "The Grand Journey of Hope", which was organized by KBS TV's popular charity TV show "Love Request" to mark the upcoming G-20 summit in Seoul in November.

"It was a good experience", the actor said at the show's press conference held at KBS headquarters in Seoul on Thursday. "But it was disappointing that I couldn't really do anything for them".

The 17-year-old actor had visited India and Sri Lanka, which had provided medical assistance to Korea during the Korean War.

He explained, "Many people were in pain because of the civil war. I met a child who had lost his parents and heard his story".

"I didn't know what to do because it was my first time [overseas] and I don't think I was much of a help. If I get another opportunity to go overseas for charity, I am going to work harder", he added.

The "Hope" project was co-sponsored by KBS, KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) and ChildFund Korea.

An official at KBS explained that they produced the series because they want to "deliver love and hope to our neighbors in the world who are suffering from war, poverty and disease just as Korea had suffered sixty years ago".

Ten Korean celebrities, including Yoo, visited ten countries and took part in recording a charity compilation album as well as a photo exhibit. All proceeds from the album and the exhibition will be delivered to the ten countries.

The stars' charity trips will be featured on "Love Request" episodes, which encourages viewers to make donations by calling their number.

With the donations, KBS and ChildFund Korea will build hospitals, schools and child care facilities in the countries and continue providing financial support.

Yoo Seung-ho rose to fame after starring in the 2002 hit film "The Way Home" and has since appeared in numerous television dramas and films. He was most recently seen in KBS2 TV series "Master of Study".

Yoo will be featured in the fourth episode of "Hope", which airs July 24 at 6:00 p.m.

Reporter : Lim Hye-seon lhsro@
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@
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