Celebrities donate to victims of wildfires raging along east coast

Singer-actor IU donated 100 million won to the victims of the wildfire on Saturday. [JOONGANG ILBO]

A string of celebrities have made donations for the victims of massive wildfires that are blazing along the country's eastern coastal area.

Actor-singer IU and actors Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho each donated 100 million won ($82,170), according to Hope Bridge Association of the National Disaster Relief over the weekend.

The association said that their donations will go to constructing temporary residences for victims who have been forced to leave their homes due to the fires.

Actor Kim Go-eun and actor-singer Hyeri each donated 50 million won as well.

According to Hope Bridge Association of the National Disaster Relief, Hyeri contacted the association early Friday and discussed ways to help the victims of the fires with the staff. She subsequently made her donation later that day saying that she wanted her contribution to be directed toward the "firefighters on the scene and minors who have been affected by the fire."

Kim, who made her donation Sunday, said that she hopes her contribution can be of small help to those who are affected.

"I hope the fire goes out quickly and does not spread again, and I also hope that [this small offering] can be of help to many victims of the fire and firefighters," said Kim in a statement.

Comedians Yoo Byung-jae and Lee Seung-yoon donated 10 million won each in support of the victims of the wildfire.

The fire began Friday morning in Uljin County, North Gyeongsang. Sweeping across 3,300 hectares of land, according to Korea Forest Service, the fire spread northward to Samcheok, a city in Gangwon Province.

Over 7,000 residents in the eastern coastal area of the peninsula have been evacuated as of 11 a.m. Sunday.

Those displaced have been relocated to local gymnasiums and convention centers.

Nearly 2,000 firefighters have been deployed to fight the fires. But with strong winds and dry weather persisting nationwide, they have failed to gain control of the blaze for a third consecutive day.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]