Yoo Jae Suk: South Korea’s ‘Nation’s MC’ Gives Back — Donates Millions Of Won To Elderly ‘Comfort Charity’ Who Are Sex Slavery Victims

If there is one individual that stands out as the most popular in the nation of South Korea, it will probably be Yoo Jae Suk. The reason why he is recognized with such an honor is because he is known as South Korea’s “Nation’s MC” (Master of Ceremonies). He has been the primary host of many Korean shows, including concerts and award shows. Yet, Jae Suk is best known for his role as lead host for many popular Korean variety shows such as Infinite Challenge and Running Man.

Given the fact that his “Nation’s MC” title is centered around the entertainment industry, there are times his on-screen character is promoted in a way some people may think he is stuck up. This is especially true on Running Man, when he is often said to have a temper (as shown in the video below). In reality, that is not the case. Behind the scenes, Jae Suk is the man who knows everyone on set by name. Jae Suk is also a man who makes sure everyone is taken cared of too. Such a humanitarian demeanor is not limited to being on set either as he donates to many great causes. Just recently, Yoo Jae Suk donated millions of won to both elderly comfort charity and to sex slavery victims.

Yoo Jae Suk, who is known for being very generous, gave a total of 50 million KRW (about $43,000 USD) first to the House of Sharing, as reported by AllKpop. The homepage of the Gwangju home of the comfort women was updated on April 14 showing Jae Suk’s donation.

Specific amounts of Yoo Jae Suk’s donation will go to different projects for the House of Sharing. Jae Suk gave 30 million KRW ($26,000 USD) towards the construction of the “Human Rights Center for the Comfort Women Victims of Japanese Soldiers” building. Another 20 million KRW ($17,000 USD) went towards the welfare of the comfort women. That equates to the aforementioned total of 50 million KRW ($43,000 USD).

To be frank, it is very noble of Yoo Jae Suk to donate money to the comfort women, a cause that has lost traction over time. For those unfamiliar with the term, comfort women are women, or at the time of the situation just young girls, who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Sadly, generational turnover has made such a cause quite obsolete to many young people today.

Yoo Jae Suk has been a generous giver to the House of Sharing since 2014. Back then, he gave a total of 20 million won. In 2015, he doubled that amount and gave 40 million won. Ahn Shin Kwon, the manager of the House of Sharing, has provided a statement thanking Jae Suk for his years of dedicated donations as well as giving the “Nation’s MC” recognition despite his reluctance to publicize them in the first place.

TODAY at 3 p.m.: Maija Devine on the untold stories of Korean comfort women. Join us! https://t.co/ImO1dN43HC pic.twitter.com/WioRR9l5mm

— Dole Institute (@DoleInstitute) March 10, 2016

“Up to now, Yoo Jae Suk has donated a total of 110 million KRW ($95,000 USD). He must be busy with his broadcasting activities, but he does not forget to put the elderly comfort women victims first, so we are grateful toward Yoo Jae Suk.

“Despite his reluctance to publicize his donations, we’ve decided to announce them in gratitude for everything he did for the victims despite his busy schedule.”

When it comes to Yoo Jae Suk’s professional career, he is still doing hosting duties for both Infinite Challenge and Running Man. Jae Suk also does hosting duties for Season 3 of Happy Together, Two Yoo Project Sugar Man, and Same Bed, Different Dreams.

[Image via Running Man Fan Club]