Sean, who donated 5.7 billion won, finally did it! Korea's first Lou Gehrig nursing hospital in 14 years, 'first step'

Singer Sean finally builds Korea's first Lou Gehrig nursing hospital, a dream he has had for 14 years.

According to YG Entertainment on the 15th, the Seungil Hope Foundation, of which Sean serves as co-CEO, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Lou Gehrig Nursing Hospital in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 13th.

This is the result of about 14 years since I first met former basketball coach Park Seung-il in 2009 and joined forces to establish the Seung-il Hope Foundation in 2011. Sean has been actively participating in various campaigns and challenges for the construction of the hospital, and this year he has continued to participate in the '2023 Chuncheon Marathon', '2023 Miracle 365 Ice Bucket Challenge Run, and 'Tongyeong Triathlon', raising 550 million won so far. More than this amount was donated.

In particular, Sean, who was nominated and participated as the domestic representative of the Ice Bucket Challenge that started in the United States in 2014, later led the Ice Bucket Challenge in Korea in 2018 and 2023, drawing a lot of attention and donations to the Lou Gehrig Nursing Hospital. Also, at the '2023 Chuncheon Marathon' held in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do on the 29th of last month, Sean completed the 42.195km full course, promising to donate 1,000 won per 1 meter distance, and generously donated 42,195,000 won to the Seungil Hope Foundation.

Sean said, "For 14 years, I have been working hard to build Korea's first Lou Gehrig care hospital. It was not an easy path, but thanks to the promise I made to CEO Park Seung-il and many other people who were with me, I did not give up on this dream and helped many Lou Gehrig patients and their families. “We can now get one step closer to people’s dreams,” he said.

He continued, "I will build the building step by step, brick by brick, in anticipation of completing the Lou Gehrig Nursing Hospital, which is no longer just one person's dream but the dream of all of us. From the Ice Bucket Challenge to this moment, join us on this long journey." “I am grateful to the many people who did it,” he said.

Lou Gehrig Nursing Hospital is a facility that provides customized medical and care services to patients with rare severe muscular disorders. It will be built in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, with the goal of opening in December next year, and once completed, it is expected to become Korea's first Lou Gehrig nursing hospital with approximately 76 beds and rehabilitation treatment facilities.

Meanwhile, Sean is also taking the lead in creating a diverse donation culture through ‘Good Running’. He is showing his positive influence by improving the housing of descendants of independence fighters, donating proceeds from photo shoots, sponsoring children at home and abroad, and volunteering to deliver briquettes. The amount he has donated to places in need throughout society amounts to approximately 5.7 billion won.
Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr