
Korean Star Sean Raises $1.5M, Involves 260K Citizens in Charity Marathon
Korean entertainer Sean transformed a simple idea into an extraordinary reality, mobilizing 260,000 citizens to collectively donate $1.5 million through a nationwide walking campaign. Now, he's embarking on an inspiring mission to complete marathons across all seven continents while helping his teenage sons potentially break a world record.
What started as an imaginative thought has blossomed into one of Korea's most heartwarming charity success stories. Sean, a beloved Korean entertainer known as the "icon of donations," recently achieved something remarkable by bringing together 260,000 citizens in a donation marathon that raised an incredible 2 billion Korean won, approximately $1.5 million USD.
The campaign's concept was beautifully simple. Participants downloaded a pedometer app and earned 100 won (about 7 cents) for every 10 kilometers they walked or ran. Sean shared this vision a year ago on MBC's variety show "Reveal My Star's Life: The Manager," wondering aloud what could happen if millions of citizens each contributed just a small amount. The answer exceeded everyone's wildest expectations.
Within just 28 hours of launch, participants had collectively walked 1 billion steps, generating 1 billion won in donations. The momentum continued building until the campaign reached an astonishing 20 billion steps and doubled its donation total. With over 260,000 online participants, the event set a new Korean record for charitable engagement, proving that when communities unite around a shared purpose, extraordinary things happen.
Sean's commitment to giving runs deep. He revealed that in the previous year alone, he personally donated 5.5 billion won (roughly $4 million USD), demonstrating that his influence extends far beyond entertainment into meaningful social impact. His generosity has earned him widespread admiration and the affectionate nickname that reflects his positive influence on others.

Looking ahead to 2026, Sean is setting his sights on an even more ambitious goal. Having already conquered four of the world's seven major marathons, including prestigious races in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Sydney, all within a single year, he now plans to complete marathons on all seven continents by adding Africa, Antarctica, and South America to his achievements.
The Ripple Effect: What makes Sean's upcoming journey even more special is his plan to involve his teenage sons, Harang and Hayul, in this incredible adventure. The current world record for youngest person to complete the seven major marathons is held by a 20-year-old. If Sean's sons successfully finish these challenging races, they would shatter that record and create history together as a family.
This multi-generational approach to achievement showcases how positive values and determination can be passed down and amplified. Sean isn't just running marathons or raising money. He's modeling for his children and the entire nation what it means to set audacious goals, work tirelessly toward them, and use personal success as a platform for helping others.
The donation marathon event itself provided touching moments, including Sean's manager Kim Sebeom bravely attempting the 10-kilometer course despite struggling in minus-6-degree weather. While Sean finished strong and even performed on stage afterward, he compassionately ran the course backward to encourage other participants and search for his manager, demonstrating the supportive spirit that made the entire campaign successful.
Sean's story reminds us that one person's vision, combined with community participation, can create waves of positive change that touch millions of lives.
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Based on reporting by Google: marathon world record
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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