Webtoon artist and TV personality Kian84 has stepped up with a sweeping act of kindness for seniors who collect recyclable cardboard to make ends meet.
According to his agency AOMG on the 22nd, Kian84 appeared on the YouTube channel Celebrity and personally took part in the donation process. Through this project, 100 seniors struggling to get by or left out of the welfare system were selected as beneficiaries, and ₩1 million (KRW) was delivered to each, totaling ₩100 million.
The recipients were chosen with the cooperation of the Seodaemun District Office and the Community Chest of Korea (Fruit of Love). The initiative is especially meaningful for elders who have long found it difficult to access aid, as it offered practical, immediate support.
Explaining why he donated, Kian84 said, "Maybe because I was raised by my grandmother, my heart aches when I see grandmothers and grandfathers." Childhood memories ultimately guided his decision.
The released video also shows Kian84 meeting the seniors in person and sharing conversations. One elder expressed gratitude, saying, "In my whole life, I've barely even heard of ₩1 million," and added that the first thing they wanted to eat was galbi (Korean grilled short ribs), moving viewers to tears.
Another senior opened up about their harsh reality: "Even after picking up cardboard for two months, it's hard to make ₩70,000–80,000," revealing they still couldn't stop working even after undergoing surgeries on both legs.
This donation continues Kian84's ongoing '100 Challenge.' In the past, he donated the entire ₩87 million proceeds from his first solo exhibition and ran a project giving ₩1 million per child to children in orphanages. Last year, together with fellow webtoon artist Park Tae-joon, he delivered a total of ₩60 million to 60 children at an orphanage.
"I'm grateful to be able to do something so meaningful every year," Kian84 said. "Donating gives me pride and a sense of fulfillment. I hope more people will join in."
Meanwhile, Kian84 is gearing up for the release of the Netflix variety show Daehwanjang Gianjang Season 2.