Amid growing public criticism of Beijing for forcibly deporting North Korean defectors to their home country, about 30 Korean celebrities were to hold a concert Sunday evening to urge China to stop the repatriations.

The concert at Yonsei University’s 100th Memorial Hall in Seoul was to be hosted by “Cry with Us,” an organization recently formed by celebrities including actor Cha In-pyo, his actress wife Shin Ae-ra, veteran singer Yoon Bok-hee, comedian Park Mi-sun and pop singer Ivy.

Some 30 teenagers who defected from North Korea and currently live in Korea were to also attend the event.

The celebrities were to read a letter of appeal in Korean, English and Chinese, urging China not to repatriate North Korean defectors.

The celebrity group started their campaign to support North Korean defectors caught in China on Feb. 21 across from the Chinese Embassy in Hyoja-dong, Seoul. Last month’s event was co-hosted with Yeomyung school, a special school for North Korean defector students.

Seoul’s Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan on Friday renewed calls for China to stop the repatriations during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.

Meanwhile, Rep. Park Sun-young of Liberty Forward Party, who had been holding a hunger strike across from the Chinese Embassy protesting China’s repatriation of North Korean defectors since Feb. 21 lost consciousness on Friday. She is currently being treated in hospital.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)