TV Host Donates Controversial Real Estate to Charity

Popular TV show host Kang Ho-dong, who quit after a string of scandals surrounding his business dealings, has decided to donate a controversial plot of land in the 2018 Winter Olympics city of Pyeongchang to charity.

The land, which exposed Kang to accusations of property speculation, will go to a charity run by Asan Medical Center in Seoul. Kang's manager told the Chosun Ilbo on Tuesday the TV host "thought about donating the land after announcing his indefinite retirement from show business last year and discussed the matter with his wife. As the father of a son, he wanted to do something good for children and decided late last year to donate the land to Asan Medical Center." The manager said the formalities have been completed.

Since 2009, Kang had visited the pediatric ward of Asan Medical Center every Children's Day and carried out volunteer work without publicizing it, the manager claimed, which was apparently the reason why he chose to donate the land to the hospital.

Kang bought the farmland in Pyeongchang for W700 million (US$1=W1,125) in 2009 and apparently in July last year bought more near the Yongpyong Ski Resort and Alpensia Resort for W1.3 billion. Associates denied real estate speculation when land values there soared after Pyeongchang was chosen to host the 2018 Winter Games, saying the purchase "was part of a long-term investment."