Singer Jang Na-ra helps quake victims

Jang Na-ra [YONHAP]

Korean singer and actress Jang Na-ra, 28, donated 8 billion won ($5.8 million) worth of clothing to earthquake victims in Sichuan, China on Jan. 19.

The province’s capital Chengdu suffered a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 in last May, a tragedy that claimed more than 69,000 lives with 18,000 listed as missing.

The donation was organized by Boston, the parent company of the Chinese coat brand Bing Jie, which Jang models for.

Boston donated 100,000 down parkas to Jang’s charity, Jang Na-ra’s Aeshim Donation. She decided to donate them to residents of the earthquake-hit city to help them stay warm during the freezing winter.

When the delivery was made, Jang said she was delighted to visit Sichuan and provide the clothing to the victims of the quake.

“I feel honored to help people who are facing a hard time now because of what happened last May. I’m hoping that they will feel the warmth in their hearts with the warm down parkas,” she said at a ceremony.

Jang delivered the coats herself at a makeshift center for senior citizens in a Chengdu suburb after the donation ceremony.

Nicknamed “Angel Donator” by her fans, the Korean singer set up the charity Aeshim Donation in Jinan, a city in Shandong Province in 2007, to help young leukemia patients who could not afford medical treatment.

In return, the city of Jinan recently made Jang an honorary citizen and publicity ambassador, applauding her commitment to charity work.

“We will expand Aeshim Donation to reach more young children in China. Children who are suffering from heart-related disease or those from poverty-stricken rural areas will benefit from it,” she said.

When asked why she decided to contribute back to society, she said she was inspired by her mother, who has been deeply involved in charity work since Jang was little. The singer and actress said she “hopes to see more people involved in charity work.”

This isn’t the first time Jang has contributed to society. Jang has been in the spotlight continuously since she got involved in work with underprivileged people in North Korea, South Korea and China.

Yang Min-kyu, Jang’s manager, said although he cannot reveal the exact figure of the amount of money Jang has donated, he estimates she has given away 10 billion won so far.

Jang, who started out as an actor and singer in Korea in 2001, moved to China in 2005. After attracting a large fan base there, she has received praise for singing and acting.

She won the Most Popular Singer award at the China Golden Disk Awards in 2005 and appeared on countless TV shows and dramas.

In Korea, Jang was awarded Today’s Young Artist Award by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in October last year, in a celebration of Culture Day.

Earlier this month, Jang made a comeback in Korea when she announced that she would take a lead role in the new movie, “Sky and Sea.” It’s her second movie role since the 2003 film “Oh! Happy Day.”

The movie begins shooting this month and will hit theaters later this year.

By Kim Mi-ju Staff Reporter [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]