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2008/11/13 17:27 KST
Young actress found to be hidden donor to charities

   SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- Twenty-one year old actress Moon Geun-young was unmasked Thursday as the mysterious celebrity donor of 850 million won (US$613,000) to charities over the last six years, according to charity officials.

   The Community Chest of Korea (CCK), a national network of 16 local nonprofit fundraising organizations, confirmed that Moon was the largest individual donor from 2003 to 2008.

   On marking the tenth anniversary of the organization, the CCK had announced a day earlier that the largest contribution was made by an actress in her 20s.

   Until earlier Thursday, the CCK declined to reveal the donor's identity as requested by Moon.

   The organization explained her donations were made irregularly in large sums of money between 50 million won to 100 million won, supposedly out of her earnings from starring in TV commercials or print advertisements.

   Often dubbed as the "national sister actress" by the South Korean media, she became a starlet with movie hits such as horror film "A Tale of Two Sisters" in 2003 and romantic comedy "My Little Bride" in 2004.

   She is currently starring as a young female painter disguised as a man on a Korean television show titled, "The Painter of the Wind," which is based on a historical novel.

   ygkim@yna.co.kr
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