Korean Stars Participate in Ice Bucket Challenge

Shin Soo Choo
Shin Soo Choo Accepts Ice Bucket Challenge |

Shin Soo Choo
(Photo : FACEBOOK)
Shin Soo Choo Accepts Ice Bucket Challenge
Hyun Jin Ryu
(Photo : FACEBOOK)
Hyun Jin Ryu Accepts Ice Bucket Challenge With Juan Uribe

Earlier this month, many celebrities from all over the world are participating in what they call the "Ice Bucket Challenge" where a volunteer literally takes up a bucket of ice water and pours it over his head. This practice or even ceremony was started to raise awareness of the Lou Gehrig Disease, and many sports stars and celebrities including Lebron James, Derek Jeter have posted videos of themselves doing it. Many Korean stars have also started accepting the "Ice Bucket Challenge".

One of the earliest Korean celebrities to accept this challenge was Shin Soo Choo, outfielder for the Texas Rangers. While sitting in the dugout Choo asked a teammate to pour a bucket full of ice water over his head. Later in that day's game Choo hit 2 for 5, creating his first multi-hit game in almost a week.

Hyun Jin Ryu, starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers also accepted the challenge. Ryu posted a video of himself on his Facebook page where Juan Uribe, the Dodgers' 3rd baseman poured ice water over his head.

One of the interesting things about the "Ice Bucket Challenge" is that whoever undergoes the ice water shower gets to pick three other people to go through the challenge. The popular Korean rapper, Gae-ko from Dynamic Duo, after accepting the challenge selected Jinyoung Park, Sooman Lee and Hyun-suk Yang, the CEOs of Korea's three largest entertainment agencies; JYP, SM Entertainment and YG Family. Ethel Kennedy was believed to have chosen President Obama.

The "Ice Bucket Challenge" has several different origins. The most directly linked tradition is the "Cold Water Challenge" that was popular in the Northern-Hemisphere, and was adopted by the Fire Department as a kind of fundraiser to bring in support for the Special Olympics.

More Korean celebrities participated in the campaign to raise awareness of the Lou Gehrig Disease. Some of these people include Korean soccer star Heong-Min Son (Leverkusen), actor Insung Cho, and comedians Jun-Ho Lee from "Gag Concert" (KBS) and Gwangsoo Kim from "Running Man" (SBS).