While there have been countless celebrities who have been donating to fight the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) that has affected over 6,000 people in South Korea with huge concentrations of cases in Daegu, Chongdo and Gyeongsan.
As the number of infected rises, celebrities who own key properties has also made efforts to help tenants cope with financial hardships caused by the COVID-19.Celebrity couple Rain and Kim Tae Hee led the charge by cutting rental costs in the buildings they own by as much as 50 percent for the month of March, reports indicated.
Rain, who owns a building in Cheongdam, a neighborhood near Seoul's posh Gangnam announced that he is imposing a cut of 50 percent on the rent of his tenants this month. His wife Kim Tae Hee, who also owns a building in the Yeoksam neighborhood, also lowered rent by 50 percent this month.
Retired basketball star and television host Seo Jang Hoon, who is known for owning multiple buildings in the Mapo district, also moved to help tenants combat financial troubles resulting from the COVID-19.
A representative for Seo Jang Hoon announced that he wanted to help them in his little way by effecting a recent discount of 10 percent for the next two months.Popular celebrity Hong Suk, who owns restaurants and properties in the Itaewon district, took to Instagram to announce his decision to reduce the rent for tenants in his building. He also expressed hope that people will continue to remain optimistic to overcome the virus together.
"Because a lot of people are struggling while the outbreak of COVID-19 continues to spread, I'm lowering the cost of rent for the tenants in my Itaewon building. It isn't a lot during this difficult time, but I hope that it helps give people strength. I hope that the Korean people find strength. Fighting!" he posted.
Hong Suk did not disclose how much he will reduce from the rent of his tenants and how long the reduced costs would take effect. Meanwhile, celebrities have been continuing to support the battle against COVID-19 by donating to the community chests of affected areas, now declared as special care zones by the government.
After reports that Park Seo Joon, Lee Young Ae, Kim Woo Bin, Shin Min Ah, Jang Sung Kyu were among the first to donate to Daegu, the city's natives such as Son Ye Jin, Red Velvet's Irene and BTS' Suga followed suit. Hyun Bin also reportedly donated 200 million won in secret at the height of the outbreak while donations also poured in from Jun Ji Hyun, Han Hyo Joo, BIGBANG T.O.P, and IU, who spread her donations to different areas affected by COVID-19, Soompi reported.
