Chow Yun-fat Donated 810 Billion Won: "Two Bowls of Rice Are Enough for Me"

"Legend's Dignity: 'I Don't Care' About False Death Rumors"

"I only need two bowls of white rice a day."

Chow Yun-fat (Jou Yun-pa, 68), the eternal 'Dagger' and Hong Kong actor who donated his entire fortune of 810 billion KRW, said this at the press conference for the 28th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Asia Filmmaker of the Year Award held on the 5th at KNN Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan. He wittily added, "These days, due to diabetes, I sometimes only eat about one bowl a day."

Actor Chow Yun-fat (Photo by Yonhap News)

When it was revealed in 2018 that he had donated over 800 billion KRW, fans around the world took notice. Chow Yun-fat said, "It wasn't me who donated, but my manager wife," but added with a laugh, "It was money I earned with difficulty." He also said, "I receive an allowance," and "I didn't even know how much was donated." Chow Yun-fat further stated, "Since I came into this world with nothing, it doesn't matter if I leave with nothing."

Debuting in 1973, Chow Yun-fat led the golden age of Hong Kong film noir with movies such as A Better Tomorrow (1986) and The Killer (1989). He gained popularity by appearing in numerous films including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).

Chow Yun-fat visited Korea for the first time in 14 years since promoting the movie Dragonball Evolution in 2009. He said he runs 10 km every day along the Haeundae beach in Busan. "Since turning 60, I have been living not as a filmmaker but as a marathoner. If the response to my upcoming film One More Chance is not good, I might even change my profession," he said.

In July, Chow Yun-fat was caught up in rumors of death after reportedly falling into a coma due to COVID-19 infection. At that time, local media such as Sina Entertainment reported, "Chow Yun-fat fell into a coma due to a stroke" and "he has not regained consciousness," spreading concerns about his health. Regarding this, he said, "It happens often," and "I don't pay much attention to it." He added, "I continue jogging regularly and plan to participate in marathons in China. I am healthy to that extent."

Actor Chow Yun-fat (Photo by Yonhap News)

Movies like Parasite (2019) and the OTT Netflix series Squid Game (2021) gained global popularity. Since then, interest has expanded to K-culture, and K-content has become a brand. Regarding the worldwide K-wave, Chow Yun-fat viewed "Korea's achievements as encouraging." He added, "I am surprised by the freedom in Korean films. 'They even do stories and genres like this?' I appreciate that aspect. Ultimately, everything comes down to the power of content." He emphasized, "When any crisis comes, only that power is the solution," and said, "This is a common challenge in the film industry."

Chow Yun-fat conveyed a heartfelt plea for films and spoke about the 'meaning' of cinema.

"Without films, there would be no Chow Yun-fat. If I continue for another 50 years, I wonder if there will still be audiences watching my films. That much, films are my life and myself. That is what films mean to me. I have no aversion to the passage of time or developing wrinkles. Aging is not scary but a natural order. Being born and dying is the law of nature, and that is life. Looking back, I have no regrets. I have always done my best and will continue to do so."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.