Korean celebrities to join charity concert in Osaka, Japan

Korean actors, singers and other celebrities are expected to gather in Osaka, Japan, for a charity concert to help sick children.

Actors like Song Seung-heon, Jeong Joon-ho and singers like SG Wannabee, Kangta and Shinhwa will show up for the giant concert in the Osaka Dome January 23 to raise funds for the International Vaccine Institute (IVI). Jeong Joon-ho especially, was designated a promotional ambassador for IVI last month on Dec. 19.

IVI is a an international organization established by the United Nations Development Program in 1997 and based in Seoul, Korea. It researches, trains and provides technical assistance for professionals working on vaccines needed in 20 different nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America. So far it has 38 nations and the World Health Organization as members.

John D. Clemens, the IVI director-general, and other Korean IVI officials based in Japan are expected to attend the event along with an estimated 30,000 Hallyu (Korean wave) fans.

The concert will also forward invitations to Akie Abe, wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and other prominent Japanese from both the public and business sectors along with some 200 children and the disabled living in poor conditions.

An awards ceremony will take place for IVI activities and other promotional events to highlight Korea's image as a host country.

Last year singer Lee Hyo-lee, Jang Nara, Shinhwa, Park Eun-hye and others went out to help children in the third world.

Korea's CTC Entertainment and Japan's SJ Entertainment will be in charge of the latest concert, sponsored by Mindan Osaka (a South Korean residents' association based in Osaka) and Asiana Airlines.

Osaka is home to Japan's largest concentration of ethnic Koreans. About 300,000 Korean-Japanese reside there.