Singer Sean marked the 80th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation Day with an 81.5-kilometer (about 50.6 miles) charity run―then later moved fans by sharing a raw photo of his battered feet.
On Sept. 1, Sean posted to Instagram a shot taken right after he crossed the finish line on Aug. 15, writing, “We’ve got this, Korea! After finishing 81.5K on Aug. 15, 2025―my badge of honor.”
The image shows just how grueling the effort was: several toenails were lifted or ready to fall off. “Four toenails on my left foot lifted, and the big and second toenails on my right are about to go. The other four are still hanging in there,” he joked, taking the pain in stride.
He added, “On this 80th Liberation Day, I was simply grateful to deliver an 81.5K ‘thank-you letter’ with everything I had―because it’s something that needs to be done.”
The run was part of Sean’s donation-driven campaign “2025 815 Run,” a symbolic 81.5 kilometers for Aug. 15. Braving intense heat, he clocked 7 hours and 50 minutes to honor and support the descendants of Korea’s independence activists. More than 19,000 people took part, and the over 2.3 billion won raised was donated in full through Habitat for Humanity Korea to improve housing for those families.
Since 2020, Sean has led the annual “815 Run,” and since 2021, the “3.1 Run,” timed to the March 1 Independence Movement commemoration―turning miles into impact every year. Funds so far have built new homes for 19 families of independence heroes, with the 20th through 22nd homes currently underway.
Beyond these runs, he continues wide-ranging philanthropy, including supporting the construction of a children’s rehabilitation hospital and an ALS care hospital, volunteering coal briquette deliveries, and sponsoring children at home and abroad. His cumulative donations have surpassed 6.5 billion won.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)