On November 14, Chonnam National University (CNU) announced that actress Lee Young Ae donated ₩10 million (about $7,500) to help the medical treatment and repatriation of Sirinya, a Thai student who was in a coma due to a brain hemorrhage.
Sirinya, who was studying Korean at CNU’s Language Education Institute, was found unconscious in her dormitory in July. She was diagnosed with a subdural hemorrhage and remained in a coma in intensive care for over three months.
After news broke that Sirinya’s family was struggling to cover hospital and transportation costs, CNU’s student volunteer group, Rhythm of Hope, started a fundraising campaign. Although their original goal was ₩9 million, donations from other students, faculty, and even local citizens ultimately more than doubled the goal.
Deeply moved by the situation, Lee Young Ae stepped in with a personal donation of ₩10 million. The actress also sent a heartfelt message to the student group: “I am the one who should be grateful to the students for doing a good deed.”
Sirinya remains unconscious and dependent on medical equipment. In preparation for the return to Thailand, Korea Air has set up five seats on the flight to accommodate the necessary oxygen and medical devices. The airline also promised full support during the evacuation process.
Sirinya is scheduled to return to Thailand on a flight departing Incheon International Airport at 7pm on November 15.
CNU continued to support Sirinya’s family by providing accommodation and interpretation services, while Rhythm of Hope members actively assisted throughout the entire repatriation process.
Lee Young Ae’s kind gesture not only helped ease the family’s burden, but also highlighted the impact of community-driven compassion in times of crisis.
Sources: Daum
