"Please Use It to Build a School in Zambia" Seventeen's Hoshi Donates 100 Million Won to Community Chest of Korea

by Lee Kyungho

Published 16 Sep.2025 14:32(KST)

A banner commemorating the groundbreaking ceremony of a school construction project supported by Hoshi's donation is displayed locally in Zambia. Community Chest of Korea

The Community Chest of Korea (Chairman Kim Byungjun) announced on September 16 that Hoshi (real name Kwon Soonyoung), a member of the group Seventeen, donated 100 million won to build a public school in Ndola, Zambia, in southern Africa, and that a groundbreaking ceremony was recently held.

Previously, in 2024, Hoshi donated 100 million won to support the construction of the National Orphan School in Laos. With this additional donation of 100 million won, he is now supporting the construction of a second overseas school to improve the poor educational environment in Zambia.

The new school being built is a local elementary school, with approximately 350 children enrolled across eight grades, from kindergarten to seventh grade. However, until now, there were only two classrooms, forcing multiple grades to share a single classroom under difficult conditions.

Upon hearing about this situation, Hoshi and his parents decided to build two new buildings (five classrooms) and remodel the existing school facilities. This project is being carried out through Gyeonggi Northern Community Chest of Korea, in cooperation with the Korea Nazarene Mission in Zambia and Life of the Children, to help children nurture their dreams in a more stable educational environment.

Hoshi stated, "I want to give at least a little strength and encouragement to children growing up in challenging environments," and added, "I hope the children will grow up healthier in the new classrooms."

In 2021, Hoshi donated 100 million won and became the 2,655th member of the Honor Society, a group of high-value individual donors who have contributed more than 100 million won to the Community Chest of Korea. He is also actively spreading positive influence as a UNESCO Youth Goodwill Ambassador together with the other Seventeen members.