Hallyu star Rain got himself drenched in icy water and pledged to donate 100 million won ($98,000) to research into Lou Gehrig’s Disease, joining a slew of Korean and global celebrities in the viral Ice Bucket Challenge.
“The meaning of participating in this campaign is very special to me. My father-like mentor Hong Seung-sung, who led me to debut as a singer, has been suffering from the Lou Gehrig’s Disease for three years,” he said on YouTube. “I’ve always thought how to return his love and gratefulness.”
 |
| K-pop star Rain participates in the Ice Bucket Challenge. (Cube Entertainment) |
Rain’s donation will be given to a college hospital that conducts research to find new treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Hong, the president of Cube Entertainment, has trained many K-pop groups including Rain, 4Minute, B2ST and G.NA.
For the next three targets of the challenge, rain pointed pop star Psy, actor Lee Byung-hun and Hollywood actress Megan Fox.
The Ice Bucket Challenge asks people to make a recording of themselves getting drenched with ice water, post it online and nominate others to do the same within 24 hours or donate $100 to ALS research.
By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)
