South Korean actress Lee Hyeri (이혜리), who debuted 16 years ago, has long been quietly involved in charity work and continuous donations, though she rarely publicized her efforts. Recently, on a YouTube program, she spoke for the first time about the mindset behind her philanthropy, revealing that after working in the entertainment industry for so long, she occasionally felt disappointed in human nature. However, she found renewed strength whenever she read letters from those she had helped.
On October 18, Lee Hyeri released a video on her YouTube channel, inviting actress Park Kyung-hye (박경혜) and staff members for a chat. During the conversation, she suddenly smiled and said, “Should I give everyone a little boost of humanity?” She then pulled out a folder containing thank-you letters sent to her by various donation and sponsorship organizations.
Lee Hyeri emotionally shared that she has been working in entertainment for about 16 years. “After being in this kind of social life for so long, there are always times when I feel utterly disappointed in human nature,” she explained. Whenever these moments arise, she takes out these letters to read, allowing herself to reset her emotions.
She explained that after she makes a donation, the recipient organization typically informs her “who this donation helped and where it was used,” and then forwards letters written by the beneficiaries to her. These letters detail the beneficiaries' living conditions, health issues, and reasons for needing external assistance.
Although Lee Hyeri mentioned it was inappropriate to disclose specific cases, she couldn't help but laugh and say, “I just really wanted to show them off.” Especially when she saw letters handwritten by elderly individuals, she was reminded of her own grandmother. Park Kyung-hye, after reading the letters, also teared up, expressing her emotion by saying, “They are really beautifully written.” The atmosphere in the room instantly became warm.
In fact, Lee Hyeri had never actively publicized her donation and charity records in the past. She admitted, “Saying how much I've donated feels like showing off or seeking credit, and I also feel a bit embarrassed, so I always thought it was better not to say anything.”
However, her perspective gradually changed. Lee Hyeri stated that after receiving heartfelt messages from beneficiaries, she felt “her heart had grown bigger.” This led her to consider that sharing this moving experience with more people might be a better thing. She added emotionally, “Even though they are writing to thank me, saying they truly received my help, I feel like I've gained even more.”
Lee Hyeri described the feeling as “something that couldn't be filled no matter what I did, slowly being filled through sharing,” which further solidified the meaning of her continued charitable efforts.
Lee Hyeri debuted in 2010 as a member of the girl group Girl's Day and has been active in the entertainment industry for 16 years. According to Korean media reports, her publicly disclosed donations have amounted to at least 600 million Korean won, and her long-term commitment to charity has garnered significant attention.
