Kim Jang-hoon is channeling his famous “donation disease” into classrooms. The veteran singer revealed that middle school festivals have booked him six times this season — twice as many as the three college festival bookings — and that he has started giving scholarships to students out of his own pocket.
He shared the news during the Gyeongju special of MBN and Channel S’s “Jeon Hyun-moo Plan 4,” which aired October 16, Sports Chosun reported. When host Jeon Hyun-moo asked whether the meme craze around him was still going strong, Kim replied, “I think it’s still going. A lot of teenagers come to my shows.”
Kim said he turned down the school events’ appearance fees and instead began handing out scholarships himself. “My ‘disease’ flared up again, so I started giving the kids scholarships,” he joked, using his trademark self-deprecating nickname for his compulsive generosity.
Explaining why he spends his own money, Kim said, “아이들과 호흡하는 게 영광” (“Connecting with the kids is an honor”). His fellow cast members were reportedly taken aback by the revelation.
Kim has long been known for his philanthropy, from supporting children and teenagers and performing for disability awareness to Dokdo-related campaigns. He has previously said his cumulative donations have surpassed 20 billion won.
No official statement on the scholarship amounts was available. The singer continues to balance his meme-fueled resurgence with the charity work that made him a household name.
