U-KISS donates 10 million won in humanitarian aid to Ukraine
K-pop group U-KISS has joined South Korean actress Lee Young-ae in donating money towards the Ukraine war relief efforts.
On 3 March, U-KISS members Soohyun, Kiseop, and Hoon met the Ukrainian ambassador to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, to present their donation of 10 million won (US$8,200).
Lee Young-ae herself had generously donated 100 million won in aid to Ukraine to help victims of Russia's invasion.
Just met with the 🇰🇷 famous K-pop band U-Kiss. The talented boys expressed their solidarity with 🇺🇦 & donated 💵 for humanitarian aid to Ukrainian people. So grateful for the support! 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/J6QuM40dFY
— Dmytro Ponomarenko (@DP_UA1972) March 3, 2022
The Ukrainian ambassador responded on his personal Twitter account thanking the U-KISS members. He wrote, "Just met with the famous K-pop band U-Kiss. The talented boys expressed their solidarity with Ukraine & donated 💵 for humanitarian aid to Ukrainian people. So grateful for the support! 🙏🏻."
U-KISS has become the first K-pop group to publicly take action to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine as the country defends itself from Russia's invasion.
It's worth noting that U-KISS toured Moscow in 2014 during their Scandal Europe Tour, and fans have commented that they were very brave for openly showing support for Ukraine despite having performed in Russia previously.
U-KISS was one of the first group (or maybe the first?) to have a concert in Russia but now they aren't afraid to openly show their support to Ukraine
They are the most kind and "true to themselves" group I've ever seen.
Their idols image never tarnished their real personalities— Imane 🐶 (@ImaneImaneI) March 3, 2022
now I have really mixed feelings about all companies and idols who remain silent while U-KISS financially supported Ukraine...
— bnnuy (@fkinbnnuy) March 3, 2022
Celebrities like Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Benedict Cumberbatch have also urged their fans to donate.
Husband-and-wife pair Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds pledged to match up to US$1 million in donations to aid Ukrainian refugees.
