Bae Yong-joon and Park Soo-jin’s 3 Billion Won Donation Viewed with Distorted Perspectives
In December last year, Yonsei University Health System’s newsletter reported that Bae Yong-joon had donated 3 billion won to the health system, including funds for its development. His donation is intended to support the health system’s growth as well as cover treatment costs for low-income-group youth and infants.
Bae Yong-joon explained his reasons for donating, “Despite the difficult circumstances in the medical field, I decided to contribute in hopes that the health system would continue to develop and grow as a leading institution in future medicine. I sincerely hope that this donation will serve as a foundation for the health system’s innovative future and help create a healthier world for all, including low-income-group youth and infants.”
Prior to this, it was revealed that Bae Yong-joon and Park Soo-jin had been listed as donors at a prestigious private school in Hawaii, where their two children are enrolled.
Bae Yong-joon and Park Soo-jin have effectively withdrawn from the entertainment industry. The couple married in 2015, welcomed a son in 2016 and a daughter in 2018, and moved to Hawaii to live there.
Following news of their donation, some netizens left skeptical comments.
One wrote, “I heard Bae Yong-joon donated 3 billion won to Yonsei University Health System. Yonsei University Health System operates Severance Hospital (Shinchon), Gangnam Severance Hospital and Yongin Severance Hospital. If he donated that much, would he and his family—including his in-laws—receive VIP treatment or priority reservations in emergencies?”
Other netizens responded, “There’s always a reason behind donations”, “That’s exactly why they donate” and “If you donate more than 1 billion won, you can probably designate people for priority treatment.” These comments suggested that Bae Yong-joon’s donation might be motivated by personal benefits for his family.
On other forums, users commented, “Donating to a hospital ensures priority treatment when needed. It’s like setting things up in advance”, “If you want to avoid being denied treatment in the future, it’s best to donate” and “Now I see why people donate to hospitals—it actually comes with a lot of perks.”
Such skepticism likely stems from the past controversy surrounding the couple’s hospital usage. In 2017, when Park Soo-jin gave birth to their first child, accusations arose that they had received preferential treatment at Samsung Seoul Hospital.
Although the couple faced criticism regarding their hospital privileges in the past, their 3 billion won donation is still commendable.
Even for the wealthy, donating such a large sum is not an easy decision. Given their public status, Bae Yong-joon and Park Soo-jin’s generosity sets a positive example and helps foster a culture of giving.
Many netizens expressed support, “This is great. People with that kind of wealth would use VIP hospital services anyway, so let’s hope they donate even more to support struggling medical departments” and “Some people donate because they have financial flexibility, but many save up and give out of personal conviction. Not all donors are rich, and we should stop assuming they are.”
Others praised the couple’s contribution, commenting, “Getting priority treatment for doing good deeds is amazing”, “Those who give should receive benefits” and “If their donation can save multiple lives, they deserve some perks. Besides, they probably have enough money to be treated as VIPs anyway.”