SM, Red Cross sign agreement on social contribution

From left, f(x)'s Victoria, Girls' Generation's Seohyun, Super Junior's Yesung, SHINee's Taemin and members of the newly formed Red Cross Youth (in vests) pose during a photocall for the signing of SM Entertainment with the Korean Red Cross on social contribution in Seoul, South Korea on April 5, 2011. [SM Entertainment]

Top Korean talent agency SM Entertainment has signed an agreement with the Korean Red Cross on social contribution, SM announced through a press release on Wednesday.

The two parties met on Tuesday morning and agreed to contribute to public welfare with the aim of spreading humanitarianism and establishing volunteer work as a culture.

The Korean Red Cross then honored SM for their contribution to creating humanitarian financial resources
while SM established a Red Cross Youth formed of its trainees as part of its initiative in taking the lead to cultivate leaders in volunteer work, the statement read.

The signing event was attended by SM's chief Kim Young-min as well as the agency's artists Super Junior member Yesung, Girls' Generation member Seohyun, SHINee member Taemin and f(x) member Victoria.

SM has worked with the Korean Red Cross for several years now -- their artists including The Grace, Super Junior and f(x) have acted as the promotional ambassadors for blood donation since 2007 and just last month, SM donated one billion won to be delivered to quake-stricken Japan.

Founded in 1995, SM has become one of the most influential entertainment agencies in Korea alongside YG and JYP Entertainment. They are one of the first firms to discover and train K-pop idol stars including H.O.T. and S.E.S. who date back to the late 90s.

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Jessica Kim jesskim@