Singer-actor Lee Seung-gi donates 300 million won to KAIST

Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi donated 300 million won ($244,000) to KAIST, the tech university said Friday. According to the school, Lee contacted KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung to ask about the donation. All money will go ...

Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi, right, poses for photos with KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung after donating 300 million won ($224,000) to the tech university. [KAIST]

Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi donated 300 million won ($244,000) to KAIST, the tech university said Friday.

According to the school, Lee contacted KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung to ask about the donation. All money will go toward building the school's New York Campus, which is under development.

"I am honored to be able to donate to a school dedicated to nurturing talent," the actor said in a press release.

"I have decided to donate to KAIST, hoping that Korea will become an educationally strong country."

The actor has been actively making donations after receiving 5.4 billion won from his former agency Hook Entertainment — profits the company had failed to properly share with the singer.

Last month, Lee donated 550 million won to the Korean Red Cross to help increase bloodmobiles and free food distribution buses around the country. He also donated 2 billion won to Seoul National University Children Hospital.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]