Yuna Kim donates 100,000 USD to Türkiye and Syria earthquake recovery fund
The latest donation from the figure skating Olympic champion and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador will provide food, water, education and protection to children affected by the natural disaster.
Figure Skating
Figure skating star Yuna Kim has donated 127 million Korean won (USD 100,000) to aid earthquake recovery efforts in Türkiye and Syria.
The announcement was made by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund’s (UNICEF) Republic of Korea Committee.
As per the former athlete's wishes, the money will be fully used to provide nutritional foods, drinking water and sanitation, education, and protection for children affected by the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria.
"It hurts my heart to think of the children who do not give up hope even at this moment in the ruins. I decided to donate in the hope that children can return to a safe daily life as soon as possible, and I sincerely hope that rescue can reach all children," the Vancouver 2010 gold told Korean media.
Yuna Kim: a history of philanthropy
This is by no means the first time Kim has made charitable donations to assist disaster relief.
In 2010, before she became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, the two-time figure skating world champion donated over USD 83,000 to victims of the Haiti earthquake.
A year later, she gave her prize money of USD 27,000 for winning silver at the World Figure Skating Championships to children affected by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
Kim has also donated funds to protect children who have suffered due to war and natural disasters in Syria, the Philippines, and Nepal, and supported COVID-19 efforts in her homeland.
Next year, she will serve as an honorary ambassador for the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 taking place from 19 January to 1 February.
The skater also served as an athlete ambassador for the first two Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG), Innsbruck 2012 and Lillehammer 2016.
You can read our exclusive interview with the skater on her Gangwon 2024 appointment here.