U-KISS donates 10 million won in humanitarian aid to Ukraine

Bryan Tan
·Contributor
·2 min read
U-KISS members Soohyun, Kiseop, and Hoon with the Ukrainian ambassador to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko (in blue suit). The K-pop group donated 10 million won to Ukraine on 3 March 2022 as humanitarian aid amid the Russia-Ukraine war. (Photo: Dmytro Ponomarenko/Twitter)
U-KISS members Soohyun, Kiseop, and Hoon with the Ukrainian ambassador to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko (in blue suit). The K-pop group donated 10 million won to Ukraine on 3 March 2022 as humanitarian aid amid the Russia-Ukraine war. (Photo: Dmytro Ponomarenko/Twitter)

K-pop group U-KISS has joined South Korean actress Lee Young-ae in donating money towards the Ukraine war relief efforts.

On 3 March, U-KISS members Soohyun, Kiseop, and Hoon met the Ukrainian ambassador to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, to present their donation of 10 million won (US$8,200).

Lee Young-ae herself had generously donated 100 million won in aid to Ukraine to help victims of Russia's invasion.

The Ukrainian ambassador responded on his personal Twitter account thanking the U-KISS members. He wrote, "Just met with the famous K-pop band U-Kiss. The talented boys expressed their solidarity with Ukraine & donated 💵 for humanitarian aid to Ukrainian people. So grateful for the support! 🙏🏻."

JINJU, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 09: U-KISS attend the 2015 Korea Drama Awards red carpet event at Gyeongnam Culture and Art Center on October 9, 2015 in Jinju, South Korea. (Photo by ilgan Sports/Multi-Bits via Getty Images)
U-KISS attend the 2015 Korea Drama Awards red carpet event at Gyeongnam Culture and Art Center on October 9, 2015 in Jinju, South Korea. (Photo by ilgan Sports/Multi-Bits via Getty Images)

U-KISS has become the first K-pop group to publicly take action to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine as the country defends itself from Russia's invasion.

It's worth noting that U-KISS toured Moscow in 2014 during their Scandal Europe Tour, and fans have commented that they were very brave for openly showing support for Ukraine despite having performed in Russia previously.

Celebrities like Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Benedict Cumberbatch have also urged their fans to donate.

Husband-and-wife pair Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds pledged to match up to US$1 million in donations to aid Ukrainian refugees.