Korean stars have participated in the 2018 Ice Bucket Challenge to build the first hospital in South Korea for Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Doing the Ice Bucket Challenge are (center) Sean beside former basketball team coach Park Seung-il, and (clockwise from top right) Daniel Henney, Park Bogum, NU’EST W’s Ren, ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo, WINNER’s Kang Seung Yoon, Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun, Seventeen’s DK and Monsta X’s Shownu (Instagram and Twitter)
Lou Gehrig’s disease, according to the ALS Foundation, “is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.”
The Ice Bucket Challenge became famous worldwide in 2014 when different celebrities joined the cause.
Korean singer Sean of the hiphop duo Jinusean, who is well-known for his charity work, launched the 2018 Ice Bucket Challenge in Korea last May 19.
The challenge involves dumping a bucket of water and ice over one’s head and calls another person to do the same. The nominated person has 24 hours to do it or forfeit it and instead donate $100.
Sean did it beside former basketball coach Park Seung-il, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2002. In 2009, Sean met Park and he promised to help in building the first ALS rehabilitation hospital in Korea. They set up the Seung-il Hope Foundation in 2011 to fulfill the project.
After he did the Ice Bucket Challenge, Sean nominated “Criminal Minds” and Korean-American star Daniel Henney, Park Bogum and Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung.
Since then, many Korean celebrities have accepted the challenge. They include Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun, comedienne Park Na-Rae, Jun Hyun Moo and Han Hye Jin of the reality TV show “I Live Alone,” WINNER’s Kang Seung Yoon and Kim Jin Woo, Girl’s Day’s Minah, actor Yeo Jin Goo, ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo, Nana, KNK’s Jihun and Seungjun, DIA’s Jung Chaeyeon, Oh My Girl’s Binnie Chungha, Akdong Musician’s Lee Soo Hyun, IU, APink’s Eunji, TWICE’s Sana, Momo and Nayeon.
Also doing the Ice Bucket Challenge were actor Jung Woo-sung, 2AM’s Jo Kwon, 2PM’s Chansung, Monsta X’s Shownu “Produce 101” Season 2 alumni Ahn Hyeong-seop, Lee Eui-woong and Yoo Seoh Ho, NU’EST W’s Ren and members of other K-pop groups including SF9, VIXX, N.Flying, Pentagon, A.C.E., Laboum, Weki Meki, Hello Venus, UNIQ and Seventeen.
Actress Kim Yoo Jung opted to donate 2.1 million won (P103,000) in exchange for not doing the challenge.
Last year, the Seung-il Hope Foundation raised about 4 billion won (about P196 million) through the Ice Bucket Challenge and concert. The hospital will be built on a 3,305 sq. m. land in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province in South Korea.