Lee Seung Gi Donates The Unpaid Earnings He’s Received To Meaningful Cause

Dec 29, 2022

With the money that has been returned to him, Lee Seung Gi has made a generous donation to help pediatric patients at Seoul National University Children’s Hospital.

Last month, it was revealed that Lee Seung Gi had sent a certification of contents to his longtime agency Hook Entertainment asking for transparent disclosure of his earnings. Dispatch then published a report alleging that Lee Seung Gi had never received any of his digital music profits from the agency, which Hook Entertainment initially denied, insisting that they had gone over all relevant financial details with the singer and paid him everything he was owed when renewing his exclusive contract in 2021.

However, after Lee Seung Gi’s legal representative released an additional statement refuting Hook Entertainment’s claims, the CEO of the agency ultimately apologized and announced that she would “take full responsibility for the dispute with Lee Seung Gi.” On December 16, Hook Entertainment claimed that the company had now paid Lee Seung Gi all of the unpaid earnings he was owed.

Lee Seung Gi then took to Instagram to share his own perspective on the incident, and he also made a promise to donate all of the earnings that were returned to him.

On December 29, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital reported that they had received a 2 billion won (approximately $1.6 million) donation from the singer and actor that will be used to improve the medical facilities. They also revealed that Lee Seung Gi personally visited the hospital, where he sympathized with the difficulties being faced in treating the pediatric patients due to structural issues in the facilities.

The hospital intends to use Lee Seung Gi’s generous donation to combat overcrowding in hospital rooms and improve its aging facilities, so that patients can receive treatment in a more comfortable environment. Additionally, they are looking into the possibility of naming one of the improved wards the “Lee Seung Gi Ward” after the donor and his generosity.

Lee Seung Gi took to his personal Instagram account to share his thoughts, writing:

"I wanted to put this money towards something more meaningful, since it was returned to me. I went to the site myself and surveyed the poor conditions with my own eyes. And so I decided on Seoul National University Children’s Hospital.

Seeing seven children and their guardians, which is up to 14 people, in one hospital room, holding onto hope and fighting against these diseases is a sight that I could not forget. I am currently on my way back after donating 2 billion won just a little while ago.

Seoul National University Children’s Hospital is South Korea’s first-ever established children’s hospital. I hope that this may become a small comfort to the children patients and their families, and I hope that they may overcome their illnesses in a better environment and return to their everyday lives.

My donations will continue in the new year as well.

I will go again to tour different places and will use [this money] in more meaningful places. I pray that everyone may end this year well and that the new year will be full of only good things.

Thank you."

In another statement regarding his decision to donate to the children’s hospital, Lee Seung Gi said, “The low birth rate is a matter of the nation’s survival, and the healthy development and happiness of children can create a bright future for South Korea. As much as a one-time donation has its limits, I am hoping that it will serve as an opportunity to build a space for pediatric patients and also draw attention and interest from society, and I will continue to show interest and support so that the children can grow healthily and happily.”

Kim Yeon Soo, the head of Seoul National University Hospital, stated, “We are thankful for his deep consideration of the difficulties faced at our facilities and for his decision [to donate]. As a medical professional, it has become a great help. All of the staff at Seoul National University Hospital will work together to not only treat our pediatric patients, but also help their overall growth and go on to help improve the quality of their families’ lives as well.”

This is not Lee Seung Gi’s first donation made towards pediatric care. In 2019, he made a donation to help pay for pediatric patients’ treatment, as well as auxiliary equipment used for medical rehabilitation. He has also made other contributions for children and adolescents, such as the donations he made to help children of low-income families who are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infections. He intends to continue these donations into 2023 as well.

Source: Soompi