Korea Habitat - Singer Sean Raises Over 1 Billion KRW for Housing Improvement Fund for Independence Activists' Descendants through Liberation Day Charity Marathon

- Campaign Ambassador Sean Successfully Completes 81.5km Run on 8.15 Liberation Day for 3rd Year
- All Proceeds Donated to Korea Habitat for Humanity's Housing Improvement Project for Independence Activists' Descendants

Korea Habitat and campaign ambassador Sean held the ‘2022 815 Run’ on August 15th to commemorate the 77th anniversary of Liberation Day, raising over 1 billion KRW in donations.

The ‘2022 815 Run’ is a campaign that reflects on the significance of Liberation Day and expresses gratitude to the descendants of independence activists, delivering a positive message of “It will be alright, Republic of Korea!” On Liberation Day, participants run a certain distance at their preferred time and place for the descendants of independence activists and donate their participation fees in this charity marathon.

In its third year, Sean completed 81.5 km in 7 hours, 27 minutes, and 24 seconds, breaking last year’s record by 22 minutes despite the heat.

Sean and 45 pacers ran in teams of five while adhering to quarantine guidelines. Former national soccer players Lee Young-pyo and Cho Won-hee, actors Park Bo-gum, Yoon Se-a, Jin Sun-kyu, Lee Si-young, singer and actor Im Si-wan, former national cycling athletes Gong Hyo-seok and Yeon Je-sung, and track athlete Jang Ho-joon also participated, adding significance to the event.

The donations from 71 sponsoring companies, participation fees from 3,500 individual participants, and individual donations totaling 1,008,307,800 KRW were fully donated to Korea Habitat to support safe and comfortable homes for the descendants of independence activists. Sean also contributed 8.15 million KRW pledged earlier and an additional 8.15 million KRW from the profits of the MF! and MCM collaboration pop-up store to the donation fund upon completing the run.

The 71 sponsoring companies include The North Face, Kakao Together Value, Samgi Co., Ltd., DB Inc., Samyang Trading, Huencare, Parola Maritime Agency Corporation, GS25, GS Energy, GS Power, GS Caltex, HK Inno.N, Daesang Corporation, Doknipmun Co., Ltd., Glenwood Private Equity, Poonglim Pharmaceutical Co., Dongwon Industries, Future Contents Foundation, SeAH Group, Kumho Construction, Korea District Heating Corporation, Hwasung Group, Jackson Pizza, Gangwon FC, Monami, Micro Kickboard, Kolon Co., Ltd., Dalkom Soft, Empower, Samjong KPMG, Hankook Tire, CU, Egreen Global, A&TS, MF, Chosun Biz, Geukdong Petrochemical, KCC Auto, Eco Global Group, Kakao Games, Varda Kim Teacher, Shoot for Love, Jaehyun Haneulchang, Ultimate Potential, Fresh Code, David Red Ginseng, Popsocket Korea, Medalgo, among others.

Sean said, “I completed 81.5 km on August 15th, the 77th anniversary of Liberation Day. It was possible because 45 pacers and 3,500 runners from all over the country ran together. I think the 815 Run is a thank-you letter to the independence fighters who made today’s Korea possible. I am happy we came together with one heart,” conveying deep emotion and resonance.

Donations can still be made after the 815 Run. Throughout August, if participants complete the course and upload a verification photo on ‘Kakao Together Value’ under ‘Everyone’s Action’ or on Instagram with the required hashtags (#2022_815Run #2022815Run #2022ItWillBeAlrightRepublicOfKorea #ItWillBeAlrightRepublicOfKorea #ThankYouWeWillNotForget #Everyone’sAction), 815 KRW will be donated per verification.

Over 24,000 people are participating through Kakao Together Value, with the option to participate once daily throughout August. Additionally, users can directly donate via the fundraising box opened by Korea Habitat on Kakao Together Value. Each participation action (cheering, commenting, sharing) on Kakao Together Value results in a donation of 815 KRW.

Funds raised from the 2020?2021 815 Runs have been used to dedicate houses to descendants of independence activists: the first house in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do; the second in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi-do; the third in Cheongyang, Chungcheongnam-do; the fourth in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do; the fifth in Ulsan; and the sixth in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do as of August 2022. The seventh and eighth houses in Cheongsong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Gurye, Jeollanam-do, respectively, are scheduled to be dedicated between August and September.

Through three editions of the 815 Run from 2020 to 2022, over 9,500 runners, 125 pacers, and 161 sponsoring companies have come together to raise approximately 2.03 billion KRW in funds.