Ryu Si-won Joins Stars Helping Japanese Quake Victims

Ryu Si-won, one of the most popular Korean actors in Japan, says he is deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the earthquake in Japan and wants to visit the country to help relief efforts there. "I've given three concerts in the Sendai region, which was the hardest hit by the earthquake", Ryoo said. "I toss and turn at night thinking about the suffering of the people of the region, many of whom I probably saw in my concerts".

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Ryoo has donated W200 million (US$1=W1,132) to earthquake victims.

"I can't go to the affected area just yet because of the aftershocks and the nuclear accident and I am not sure what I could do there", Ryoo told the Chosun Ilbo. "But very soon I plan to do volunteer work in Japan with a group of people who share the same view". He said it is important to give money, but individual volunteers can also speed up the recovery efforts. "During the oil spill of the coast of Taean [in South Chungcheong Province] a few years ago, we saw that happen when volunteer after volunteer rushed to the site to help with the clean-up", he added.

Ryoo, who spends about six months of the year in Japan, said he experienced an earthquake while he was in Tokyo. "I remember it was around a magnitude 4 earthquake. The hotel room shook and I was really scared", he said. "I can't even imagine what a magnitude 9 earthquake would be like. It must have been terrifying. The survivors must be in shock and probably need treatment".

Ryoo, who is better known in Japan as a singer than an actor, has given around 80 concerts in Japan that drew some 450,000 people.