Lee Hyori tweets thanks for calendar purchase

Singer Lee Hyori yesterday thanked fellow entertainer Gil for purchasing a thousand copies of a calendar she created to raise awareness about animals.

“Many thanks to Gil for ordering 1,000 calendars,” Lee wrote. “I’m so touched and in tears right now.”

The calendars sell for 12,000 won ($10), which means that Gil, a member of the duo Leessang, donated 12 million won to the animal awareness campaign.

Netizens who saw the post were quick to post comments such as, “What a nice gesture,” “I have so much respect for Gil” and “1,000 copies! Wow…”

The 2012 calendar features the singer with her beloved pooch Soonshim. The cover of the calendar has the words, “Don’t buy, adopt instead,” a slogan advocating the adoption of stray and abandoned dogs. Through the calendar, Lee hopes to raise awareness about abandoned dogs in Korea. All proceeds from the calendar sales will support animal shelters that house homeless dogs.

The calendars were launched on Dec. 19 at an event attended by the singer, who has become known as an animal rights activist. Demand for the calendars has been high and there has been a waiting list for them since Dec. 15. The calendars area also available for cellphones and come with 50 photos and videos of animals.

The calendars are available for purchase online at the Web site of the fashion magazine First Looks.

By Carla Sunwoo [carlasunwoo@joongang.co.kr]