![Singer and musical actor Kim Hee-jae [Grace ENM]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/09/news-p.v1.20260609.bc534a878cef4ac09bbfcacf5e9a9ff1_P1.png)
The fan club of singer and musical actor Kim Hee-jae has surpassed 200 million won (about $129,000) in cumulative donations after six consecutive years of giving.
The fan club, known as "Kim Hee-jae and Heerangbyeol," said it donated 20,211,880 won to the Community Chest of Korea to mark Kim's birthday. The club is the first registered member and a gold-tier member of the Community Chest's fan club donation program "Chakhan Fan Club," and including this latest contribution, its total cumulative donations have reached 228 million won.
The Community Chest of Korea introduced the Chakhan Fan Club program in 2023. Fan clubs can join by donating or pledging at least 30 million won within three years, and are classified into three tiers based on cumulative giving — green (30 million won or more), silver (50 million won or more) and gold (100 million won or more).
The latest funds were raised through a birthday donation relay the club held from May 19 to May 29. The money will go toward living expenses and medical costs for people facing financial hardship.
Kim's own charitable example has driven the fan club's giving. He rose to prominence after appearing on the TV competition "Tomorrow's Mr. Trot" in 2020, and began a tradition of charitable acts with a donation marking his first anniversary as a solo artist in 2021, saying he wanted to be "a singer who spreads a positive influence on the world, like light and salt." In December 2023, he donated 30 million won to the Community Chest's "Hope 2024 Sharing Campaign" under the fan club's name. Inspired by his lead, Heerangbyeol has since donated annually through birthday campaigns and the Hope Sharing Campaign, starting with a contribution tied to his debut single release in 2021.
A Heerangbyeol representative said members came together again this year to celebrate the birthday of "Kim Hee-jae, who always warms those around him," adding, "We hope the love and care he has shown will reach neighbors in need as a small source of hope and encouragement."
Lee Seong-do, head of the Community Chest of Korea's fundraising division, expressed deep gratitude for "the mature fan culture Heerangbyeol has demonstrated through six years of consistent giving," and said he hoped "the beautiful journey of Kim Hee-jae and his fan club will brighten our society and help spread the value of sharing."
Meanwhile, Kim recently completed a run as Romeo in the musical "Romeo and Juliet" at Seoul's KEPCO Art Center, which ran from March 24 through May 31 and sold out every performance. He is expected to remain active across music and acting in the months ahead.
terry@heraldcorp.com
