Support Orphan Singer Sungbong Choi's Medical Fund

We are a group of long-time fans and supporters of South Korean orphan singer Sungbong Choi. We are appealing for funding support for his ongoing medical treatment for a number of conditions. 

Sungbong Choi from Seoul, South Korea, was a homeless gum-selling orphan who became known on the Internet following his debut audition on Korea's Got Talent in 2011. Sungbong is now an independent artist.

Nine years on, Sungbong's life continues to be fraught with challenges, the biggest of which are his health condition. Having lived on the streets for more than 10 years during his childhood years, Sungbong now has to cope with a number of medical conditions sustained through violence, beatings and abuse. Hunger, lack of nutrition and the harsh living conditions (bitter cold winter, unclean environment, etc.) during those years took a further toll on his health. Because he lived on drugs and alcohol when he was a street kid, he has a history of stomach and liver cancer. 

Sungbong is grateful to be given a chance to lead a normal life, but living a normal life requires him to receive monthly treatment for a number of medical conditions. He underwent chemotherapy to treat the stomach and liver cancer for a few years. He is still undergoing anticancer injections which he receives every six months. Last year, Sungbong was diagnosed with thyroiditis and he is now under medication. He is currently being treated for prostatitis and rhinitis. He completed a rhinitis surgery on April 2, 2020, his second one in three years, following a recent relapse in his condition. Sungbong is also under medication for a long-standing hearing problem and chronic ankle pain sustained from injuries when he was living on the streets. He is also undergoing regular electromagnetic therapy for severe depression which he has suffered for years. For the various medical conditions, Sungbong has to take more than 45 types of medicines every day. This is how much it takes for him to lead a normal life.

Sungbong has accumulated a fair amount of debt due to having to treat various medical conditions in the last 14 years. More than 70 percent of his living expenses are medical expenses. When not performing, Sungbong works as a construction worker, writes marketing materials and articles for news agencies to cover his living and medical expenses. However, majority of his conditions are not covered by the Korean national health insurance and with no family support, he is struggling to survive.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has led to further financial hardships for Sungbong. He lost a number of performances recently and his construction work opportunity has also reduced significantly. He is now struggling to meet his living and medical costs. Despite his sicknesses, he has gone back to the construction site when work is available just to make ends meet. Having to pay his medical debt with most of the money he earned, Sungbong is worried that he is drifting further away from his dreams of pursuing music. Music lessons and the rental for using practice room are beyond his means at the moment.

While Sungbong may be physically and mentally "broken", he is certainly not broken in his spirit.

Despite the ongoing battle with various physical and mental ailments, Sungbong said he wants to continue to give hope to the world through his voice and his songs. 

This fund is established to help Sungbong receive continuous medical treatment which he needs to lead a normal life, and to allow him to pursue his music career to bring hope to this increasingly challenging world. With your help, Sungbong will be able to continue to pursue his dream as a performing artist on the international stage.

Sungbong has a message to his donors: "If there is no way, I must make my own way. I want to walk to the end of my destiny, but I don't want to walk alone. Please walk with me. For many years, I was not loved and was constantly abused because I was a homeless orphan. The painful wounds of the past are still all over my body, and every night I try very hard to overcome the paranoia. I still want to dream. And I don't want to die yet. I hope you can help me dream again through this opportunity. I sincerely thank you so much."

Let us help this young man live his dream and hope as a musician who has been looked upon by his worldwide fans as an icon of hope. Your kind generosity and support will allow Sungbong to continue to sing. Singing is his life. Thank you.

Ongoing medical expenses for the next 18 months: USD90,000
Fundraising goal: USD90,000

Withdrawal plan: The organizer will transfer donation money to Sungbong Choi once or twice a month via a bank transfer.