The Korea National Red Cross (KNRC) has collected more than 10 billion won (US$8.9 million) in a national fundraising campaign for those affected by Japan's massive earthquake and tsunami.  

South Koreans from all walks of life donated 10.5 billion won in 532,000 cases to the KNRC as of Saturday, the sixth day of the campaign, KNRC officials said.

Among the top donors were Korean TV stars popular in Japan, including Lee Byung-hun and Choi Ji-woo, who sent 700 million won and 200 million won, respectively.

KB Financial Group and Woori Financial Group donated 1 billion won each while Hyundai Motor Group and GS Group contributed 100 million yen and 50 million yen, respectively.

The number of people confirmed dead or listed as missing in Japan surpassed 20,000 on Sunday, nine days after the magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami struck off Japan's northeastern coast. There were fears of a far higher death toll from the disaster that wiped out vast areas along Japan's northeastern coastal regions.

(Yonhap News)