Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung Plans To Continue Her Father’s Legacy When His Vision Impairs

Girls’ Generation member and actress Sooyoung revealed that she plans to continue her father’s legacy by being involved in the Korean Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Girls’ Generation member Sooyoung | @sooyoungchoi/Instagram

On a YouTube channel called OneshotHansol, Sooyoung had a conversation with visually impaired creator Hansol, during which she discussed her recent donation of ₩300 million KRW (about $226,000 USD) to oligoNgene Pharmaceuticals, a company established to develop a cure for genetic retinal diseases. This act garnered significant attention and praise.

Sooyoung (left) delivered the fund to a study organized by Professor Park Tae Kwan of Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital. | Medical Observer

Sooyoung explained that her father is the chairman of the Korean Foundation Fighting Blindness and that she and many others have donated to help develop gene therapy.

There is an organization called the Korean Foundation Fighting Blindness, and my father is the chairman of that organization. Most people think I donated that entire sum of money, but other patients donated as well.  The money was donated to Soonchunhyang University for gene therapy purposes.

— Sooyoung

| OneshotHansol/YouTube

She described her father’s experience with retinal pigmentary degeneration syndrome (Retinitis Pigmentosa).

My father also has what’s called Retinitis Pigmentosa. He was diagnosed in 2004 and back then, there was barely any information about that disease… Not a lot of eye doctors or professors in that field had much information on it at that time, so my father took the initiative and became the chairman of the Korean Foundation Fighting Blindness. He translated and shared academic research papers from abroad about this disease.

— Sooyoung

| OneshotHansol/YouTube

Sooyoung revealed that she could tell her father’s wishes for her to be more involved in the organization but is hesitant to ask.

He always says, ‘I wish you would do this,’ or ‘It would be nice for you to participate in this event.’ But I know deep down he only asks me two or three when he wants to ask me about ten different responsibilities. From a daughter’s perspective, I can tell how much consideration it took for him to ask me, so I try to help as much as I can.

— Sooyoung

| OneshotHansol/YouTube

She further expressed her commitment to continue her father’s work, revealing that her father’s vision will not last much longer.

My father has said, ‘I don’t think what I’m doing can last much longer because my vision is fading more by the day. So, it’s about time I educate you to take over my place to manage it, or invite patients with rare eye disorders and diseases all over Asia and help them get surgery. I would love it if you could do it for me.’

— Sooyoung

| OneshotHansol/YouTube

Although Sooyoung felt like she was lacking to take such a position, her father encouraged her that she has “all this popularity and fame” for a reason. However, she still believes it’s her responsibility to continue his legacy once he can no longer see.

I know he committed his life to this foundation, so I believe that if my father can’t see anymore, it’s a task I should take on.

— Sooyoung

| OneshotHansol/YouTube

Sooyoung’s warm-heartedness and willingness to take over her father’s legacy moved netizens’ hearts. In the interview, she conveyed a heartfelt message to her father, touching the viewers’ hearts once more.

To my father, I would like to say that I’ll do my best, not as a daughter but as his companion and partner to have a bigger serving minset. I love you. I respect you so much.

— Sooyoung

| OneshotHansol/YouTube

Watch Sooyoung’s full interview with Hansol here.