Song Hye Kyo Has A Busy Year Of Giving

Throughout the last year actress Song Hye Kyo has worked to make things easier for Korean tourists, especially those interested in the history of Korean independence. And she has also worked to make life easier for the visually impaired.

She helped produce Korean guidebooks for a variety of locations throughout the world and most recently for the Ahn Joong Kun Memorial Hall in Harbin, China.

The guidebooks were created together with Seo Kyung Deok, a Korean public relations specialist and professor at Sungshin University. The offering of the guidebooks was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the death of Korean patriot Ahn Joong Kun.

"Although the historical site is in China, I felt that it was inconvenient that there were no Korean guidebooks at our own historical site," said Song Hye Kyo. "I hope that this small thing will attract more visitors." 

"We donated 10,000 copies of the newly designed guidebook in celebration of the independence movement by Ahn Joong Kun," said Professor Seo. "As we greet October 26, the day that patriot Ahn Joong Kun passed away, we will provide Korean guidebooks to visitors who need them."

The guidebooks contain information that makes it easier for Korean visitors tour the memorial hall, including photos and tributes from Chinese leaders, as well as details of Ahn Joong Kun's life. An audio tour is also available for the blind.

As a result of her appearance as the blind heiress Oh Young in the hit drama "That Winter The Wind Blows," Song became more aware of the lack of reading materials available for the visually impaired. When she learned that there were no Braille guidebooks available at the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, she funded a project for the publication of 1,000 Braille guidebooks. The hall tells the history of Korea's independence fighters, focusing on the independence movement during the Japanese colonial period.

"In local museums, not so many Braille brochures have been provided for the blind," said Song. "After I played a role of a blind woman, I realized how many difficulties they face in their daily lives. To help them, I decided to support in publishing Braille brochures."

Song and Seo have also donated Korean informational services to New York's Museum of Modern Art and the Boston Art Museum. They are in the process of offering services to the Tate Modern museum in London and the Van Gogh Museum in The Netherlands.

Song has signed on to play the part of a teen mom in the upcoming film "My Palpitating Life."