2PM Junho commended for generosity and kindness towards disabled community
Amid renewed controversy and attention on the treatment of disabled persons in Korean society, 2PM member and actor Lee Junho has been publicly singled out by his former colleagues for the respect, kindness, and diligence he demonstrated while fulfilling his mandatory service as a social worker in a support facility for disabled persons.
On April 21st, a netizen claiming to be related to an employee of a public facility for disabled persons located in Seochogu, Gangnam, posted to an internet community with a picture of the facility's attendees enjoying a pizza party. The poster claimed that Junho had sent pizzas to the facility where he had previously been stationed during his service, in honor of Disabled Person's Day on April 20th. The poster also reiterated the previously reported fact that Junho donated a van paid for with his own money to the facility while serving in 2019.
On the 22nd, one of the facility's directors Yang Kyungmo spoke to an entertainment reporter, confirming that the post had been made by the niece of a staff member and further spoke extensively on Junho's impeccable character during his service. Yang said, "We are happy that it's become public knowledge how kind and considerate he is towards our people."
Junho was stationed at the faciity beginning in June 2019, and assigned to assist with providing daily basic care and socialization training for 10 individuals with moderate to severe mental disabilities. Yang said, "To be honest I thought with him being a star, he'd probably do the bare minimum and clock out but I was very wrong. Junho worked very hard at everything. When we were doing outdoor activities with our members, he would hold onto and watch over those with vision or mobility problems very closely, or clean them up when they drooled, he was very attentive and caring. He never once let on that he was tired from all the hard work and we were very grateful to him."
Director Yang also confirmed that Junho had donated the van to the facility in October of that same year. "This branch had only recently been established and we were still waiting to be assigned a vehicle. Junho heard us discussing that and carefully approached us and asked if he could donate one to us. We told him we would be very thankful if he did and he transferred 30 million won (~ $30K) to us on the spot."
Furthermore, Junho was very popular with the facility's attendees, who Yang says happily recognize him when he appears on TV in his recent CFs and dramas. "He didn't miss out on a single one of our field trips. He could have used his leave days or sick days but he was always there with us, going to Jejudo, Sokcho beach, the Seorak mountains, Kanghwado. Even though he must have been sensitive to noise as a musical artist, he didn't mind when the members screamed and took good care of them. They still point at his pictures and remember him."
On the April 20th pizza party, Director Yang clarified that Junho has maintained a relationship with the facility, keeping in touch with staff members and occasionally sending donations and gifts. Yang said, "We have already received so much from him but he texted us saying, 'I hope I can be of greater help in the future.' We can't express how grateful we are to him. We're so touched that he keeps us in mind."
Finally, on behalf of the facility's attendees and staff, Yang stated, "I truly hope public treatment and perceptions of disabled persons will further evolve. Many people see a few individuals being violent and think of disabled people as dangerous and distance themselves from the community. However, they are members of our society like anyone else and if you reach out to them with kindness, they will respond. I hope our society can become a happier place for both disabled and non-disabled people together."
Source: SBS 연예뉴스, 인사이트 (OP translations)
