Korean Stars to Build School in Himalayas

Singer Lee Moon-sae and 17 other Korean entertainers are planning a week-long trip to a remote Nepalese village to help build a school.

Lee organized the volunteer group for the trip, which has been dubbed the Seollebal Himalaya Expedition. "Seollebal" is a portmanteau of the Korean words "seolleda", meaning "feeling expectant", and "balgeoreum", meaning "footsteps".

From left, singer Lee Moon-sae, actress Lee Tae-ran, and actor Park Sang-won at the launch of a volunteer group dubbed Seollebal Himalaya Expedition to help children in Nepal

The group, which includes actor Park Sang-won, actress Lee Tae-ran, supermodel Park Se-ryen, and film director Han Ji-seung, held an organization ceremony at a café in Seoul on Thursday.

"We want to do something for the poor people of Nepal to return the warmth and genuineness we have experienced in the Himalayas", the group announced. "We will spend a week from May 15 at a village in Dhading working as volunteers".

The group will build a concrete school to replace a 40-year-old collapsing earthen school and install Western-style bathrooms. It will also donate various items such as exercise equipment, school supplies and clothing.

Lee, who will lead the expedition, said he had traveled to Nepal several times for climbing trips. Each time he was pained to see children dressed in rags and denied the opportunity to enjoy modern civilization. "I have wanted to do anything that I could to offer hope and encouragement to the children of Nepal", he said.

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