Following the destructive August 26 floods in Nepal, Lee Know of the K-pop boy band Stray Kids donated 100 million won (about $72,600) through World Vision. After Lee Know’s donation, his bandmate Felix donated 50 million won (about $37,000) to the Korean Committee for UNICEF, specifically for Nepal flood relief, on his birthday. Stray Kids’ leader Bang Chan followed with a 200 million won (about $144,000) donation, giving half to the Korean Committee for UNICEF for Nepal flood relief and half to Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital. 

The gestures echo acts of support for Nepal by other Korean personalities in the past. For example, figure skater Kim Yuna and actor Lee Min-ho (a different celebrity from Lee Know, whose birth name is also Lee Min-ho) extended aid to Nepal after the devastating earthquake in 2015. 

For many Nepalis, this solidarity from Korean public figures has strengthened the goodwill between the two countries. Since diplomatic relations were established in 1974, Nepal-South Korea ties have grown through labor migration and an exchange of culture. 

At the time of his donation, Lee Know shared a message through World Vision Korea, which World Vision International Nepal passed on when I reached out to them. “I hope my support can offer some comfort and strength to those going through this difficult time,” Lee Know said. “I sincerely hope that displaced families and everyone working on relief efforts on the ground can return to their peaceful daily lives as soon as possible.”

According to World Vision International Nepal, Lee Know’s donation, along with other contributions, is helping it reach flood-affected communities in Rasuwa and Nuwakot. About 8,600 people have received emergency support so far, including food packages, shelter and hygiene kits, water tanks and pipeline support. Child friendly spaces have been set up for displaced children. Planned next steps include livelihood recovery, temporary learning centers, and restoring community health and water and sanitation facilities.

For Nepalis, the donations from Korean cultural icons have a special resonance.

“I felt really grateful. In Mahottari and Janakpur area we also face heavy floods every year, so when I saw a K-pop idol donated specifically for Nepal flood victims, it felt very personal. It feels like someone far away actually cares about us,” said Priyanshu Kumar Chaudhary, who is from Janakpur, in Nepal’s flood-prone Mahottari district.

Isha Shrestha, from Kathmandu, said her family wasn’t among those who suffered the most direct destruction. But, to her, the disaster still “felt very close” because of how deeply connected the capital is to the affected regions like Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading. When she shared the news of Lee Know’s donation with friends who don’t follow K-pop, she said, “They were genuinely surprised and appreciated that someone from Korea cared enough to support Nepal.” She believes that it’s a sign that such actions shape perceptions of South Korea “beyond K-pop and entertainment.”

But why do idols donate? Dr. Kaushal Kumar, chairperson at the Centre for Korean Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, believes that these gestures hold personal weight. Idols like Lee Know, he said, are driven by their humanitarian side. More specifically, they feel a sense of reciprocity toward their fans. In Kumar’s reading, the giving flows from the fandom itself, with the idols showing up for the people who consistently show up for them. 

“When I heard that Lee Know had donated 100 million won to help people affected in Nepal, I joined in with a small donation of my own,” a Stray Kids fan told the Korea JoongAng Daily on September 14. The fan said they chose to list the donor’s name as “Stay,” the group’s fandom name, giving as part of the fandom rather than as an individual. 

While celebrity giving is personal, emotionally resonant, and reaches Nepalis who might never read a bilateral aid agreement, state aid leaves lasting results as it helps rebuild hospitals and institutional partnerships. Chaeyoon Oh, an economic and development specialist at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal, underscored South Korea’s role in the floods’ aftermath. She said that Korea deployed its Disaster Relief Team and sent DNA-identification experts. More recently, South Korea sent emergency equipment through the U.N. Development Program (UNDP) at the request of Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. 

“To me, this goes beyond a government-to-government relationship,” Oh said. “It is an example of how people in one country can see the difficulties faced by people in another country and feel compelled to help.”

Dr. Dhruba Gautam, an expert associated with Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction Center (NDRC Nepal), confirmed that this Nepal-South Korea camaraderie is part of a larger track record. After the 2015 earthquake, South Korea’s aid agency, KOICA, provided $9 million to rebuild Trishuli Hospital and 10 health posts in Nuwakot. Following Nepal’s 2024 floods, South Korea gave $500,000 through UNICEF for medical tents and sanitation support. After this August’s floods, Seoul and the UNDP also supplied Nepal’s disaster authority with camera-equipped drones and portable generators for search and rescue. According to Gautam, South Korea’s clearest contribution has been through practical means such as the provision of equipment and health infrastructure. 

Roslyn Hanson Gabriel, national director of World Vision International Nepal, said that help from all sections of society is useful in combating natural disasters. “We are deeply grateful for the generosity and solidarity shown by supporters around the world, including Lee Know and many others who have stood with Nepal during this difficult time,” she said in a written response. “Contributions such as these help us reach children and families affected by the floods with urgent relief assistance while also supporting longer-term recovery efforts. Beyond the financial support, such expressions of global solidarity help shine a light on the needs of vulnerable communities and remind them that they are not facing these challenges alone.”

Diplomacy and culture reinforce the bond between two countries – with the help extended by individual personalities providing an emotional charge that state visits and MOUs find difficult to achieve, even though both work on building the trust between nations.

Both Chaudhary and Shrestha noted that gratitude for the aid is the beginning of a long journey to recovery. Chaudhary pointed to the persisting needs in his district: “We need long-term solutions like better river management, stronger houses, early warning systems. We are a strong community, we just need support to be more prepared.”

Shrestha put it directly when she said, “Thank you for standing with Nepal,” addressing Korean fans and celebrities. “But please remember us beyond the headlines. Long-term support for rebuilding communities and livelihoods can make an even deeper difference.”

This is a partnership that both governments and the general public on both sides seem intent on deepening. It’s the consistency that matters in connecting two nations in times of need. 

Comments from officials quoted in this piece were shared in their personal capacity. They do not necessarily represent the official positions of their respective institutions. The statement from World Vision International Nepal was provided by the organization in response to the author’s request for comment.

Donations for Nepal flood relief are being accepted through World Vision and UNICEF.