Legendary Korean singer Insooni has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Woman of Influence Award by Pearl S. Buck International, marking a significant recognition of her decades-long humanitarian work supporting young people from mixed-race and multicultural backgrounds. The 68-year-old artist becomes the first Korean to receive this prestigious honor from the U.S.-based nongovernmental organization since the late first lady Lee Hee-ho was recognized in 2000.
Insooni's selection for this award stems primarily from her groundbreaking educational initiative, the Haemil School, which she founded and continues to operate in Hongcheon, located approximately 350 kilometers east of Seoul. This tuition-free residential alternative school serves as a sanctuary and educational haven specifically designed for multiethnic and biracial students who often face discrimination in mainstream Korean society. The school represents Insooni's personal commitment to addressing the challenges faced by children from diverse racial backgrounds.
The singer's own life story deeply connects her to this cause, as she was born to a South Korean mother and an African American father in the aftermath of the Korean War. Growing up as a biracial child in Korea during a time of even greater social conservatism, Insooni experienced firsthand the challenges that mixed-race individuals face in Korean society. During her childhood, she received crucial support from Pearl S. Buck International's child sponsorship program while being raised by her mother, an experience that would later inspire her philanthropic work.
Today, Insooni serves as a board member for Pearl S. Buck Foundation Korea, an affiliate of the international organization, maintaining her long-standing connection to the group that once helped her. Pearl S. Buck International praised Insooni's remarkable journey and contributions in their announcement, stating, "In addition to her longstanding first-hand connection to the work and mission of Pearl S. Buck International, Insooni also embodies the humanitarian, cross-cultural, and advocacy legacy of Pearl S. Buck."
The organization further highlighted Insooni's extraordinary achievements in overcoming systemic barriers, noting that "She overcame deep societal racial discrimination to become a success in the music industry and a household name in her home country." This recognition acknowledges not only her humanitarian efforts but also her groundbreaking role as one of Korea's first successful biracial entertainers, paving the way for greater acceptance and diversity in Korean popular culture.
Insooni will personally receive the Woman of Influence Award during a special ceremony scheduled for August 21 in Pennsylvania, where she will be honored alongside other distinguished recipients. This recognition comes at a time when Korea continues to grapple with issues of multiculturalism and racial diversity, making Insooni's work and this international recognition particularly meaningful for advancing social progress in the region.
