‘Jewel in the Palace’ actress Lee Youngae donates ₩100 million (P4 million) to Ukraine

Lee Youngae, the actress behind the character Seo Janggeum in the historical K-drama Jewel in the Palace, has expressed her support for Ukraine through a generous donation.

Ukraine ambassador to Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko took to social media to thank Youngae for donating ₩100 million (P4 million) on Tuesday, Mar. 1. Ponomarenko’s post includes a photo of the check sent by the actress and a handwritten letter. 

“We are very excited and touched by the letter and the great financial contribution of the famous Korean actress Lee Youngae in support of Ukraine and the demand to end the war as soon as possible,” Ponomarenko said. 

??❤️??We are very excited and touched by the letter and the great financial contribution of the famous Korean actress Lee Young-Ae in support of Ukraine and the demand to end the war as soon as possible! The donations will be transferred to the needs of victims of ?? aggression. pic.twitter.com/YAmiMQTwjx

— Dmytro Ponomarenko (@DP_UA1972) March 1, 2022

As seen in Youngae’s letter, she expressed how she “feels the horrors” of Ukraine “more deeply” as someone who comes from a “family of veterans who went through the war.”

“I sincerely hope that the war will stop and peace will be established in Ukraine as soon as possible, and I pray for the well-being and safety of all Ukrainian citizens. Ukrainians, who love freedom and peace, I hope you don’t lose hope and courage,” Youngae wrote, as per a translation by Soompi. 

The actress added that her donation is her way of showing “my small but precious heart” to Ukraine. 

According to Ponomarenko, Youngae’s donations will be “transferred to the needs of victims of Russian aggression.” 

Aside from Jewel in the Palace, Youngae also starred in the Korean series Inspector Koo and Saimdang, Memoir of Colors.