Coronavirus in Korea: Lee Hyori leads K-pop celebrity landlords forfeiting all rental income – but is actress Jun Ji-hyun’s 10 per cent cut enough?
K-pop singer Lee Hyori and actress Park Eun-hye set a charitable example by charging their tenants zero, while singer Rain and wife Kim Tae-hee are making 50 per cent discounts – but are Won Bin, Jun Ji-hyun, Hong Seok-cheon and Seo Jang-hoon doing enough?
As South Korea continues to suffer as one of the countries most affected by the global coronavirus pandemic, celebrities are stepping up their efforts to help alleviate the effects of the Covid-19 virus and give aid to fellow citizens. Alongside generous financial donations, many Korean stars who own buildings have implements discounts on rental fees, with a few even opting not to collect rent at all.
Miss Korea singer and “socialtainer” Lee Hyori is one of the celebrities recently reported to have waived her entire rental fee. Located in the Hannam-dong neighbourhood of Seoul, Lee’s building houses Korean and seafood restaurants and a few offices.
One of Lee’s tenants told Xports News: “The economy is very poor lately because of Covid-19 and it’s a difficult time for many reasons, so I’m very grateful that Lee Hyori has waived our whole rent for a month.”
Likewise, a Soompi report revealed that hallyu star Rain, who owns a building at the Cheongdam-dong neighbourhood in Seoul’s Gangnam district, has decided to cut his rental fee by half for the month of March.
His wife, Kim Tae-hee, who currently stars in the drama Hi Bye, Mama!, has also put a 50 per cent discount on the rental fee of her building located at the Yeoksam-dong neighbourhood of Gangnam.
Actress Park Eun-hye, who also stars in Hi Bye, Mama!, has decided not to make her tenants pay for the month of March, in hopes to be of help in this time of crisis.