aespa's Ningning donates 20 million KRW (approx. 13,500 USD) to help 600 elderly households in Seoul beat summer heat

aespa's Ningning has donated 20 million KRW (approximately 13,500 USD), helping provide essential summer relief for elderly people living alone in Seoul who are at risk during the ongoing heatwave. On July 15, the Seoul Branch of the Korean Red Cross announced that it will launch its Summer Heatwave Relief Support Project using Ningning's donation. The initiative, which has a total budget of approximately 27 million KRW (around 18,200 USD), was designed to help protect vulnerable seniors from heat-related illnesses amid persistent high temperatures and tropical nights. The program will support 600 single-person elderly households enrolled in the Seoul Branch's "Warmth for Every Home" outreach program, which assists individuals considered at risk of dying alone. Recipients will receive portable neck cooling fans to help lower body temperature, along with three types of ready-to-eat nutritious meals—including samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), galbitang (beef short rib soup), and dohganitang (ox knee cartilage soup)—to help them maintain their health during the summer.

To minimize heat-related risks and ensure timely assistance, the supplies will be distributed twice before the end of the month. Rather than relying on standard parcel delivery, the project will use a hands-on care approach. Korean Red Cross volunteers familiar with their local communities will personally visit each household to deliver the items, check recipients' living conditions and overall health, and provide guidance on staying safe during extreme heat. Park Myung Sook, chair of the Seoul Council of Red Cross Volunteers, said, "We sincerely thank Ningning for her generous support. Together with our volunteers, we will do our utmost to ensure her kindness reaches those who need it most." Ningning's donation stems from an appearance on the YouTube web variety show Nothing Much Prepared in May. After taking part in a drinking word-chain game with host Lee Young Ji, she pledged to donate 20 million KRW to the Korean Red Cross. Although Ningning won the game, she voluntarily donated the full amount anyway, earning praise for her generosity.