Actor Jang Keun-suk made a donation of 1.2 billion won to his university this week without telling the school or the media, Hanyang University said Thursday.

Jang, who majors in theater and film at the school, made the deposit without notifying the school, but students found his name among the list of scholarship fund donators on the school’s website.

Jang is considered one of the newest Korean Wave stars with his TV dramas and movies becoming hits across Asia. The 24-year-old actor was named the most influential Korean artist in Asia during the 15th China Music Award earlier this year.

After his “secret” donation was unveiled to the public, the actor said he had wanted to “quietly support” students who are in need of scholarships.

Hanyang University plans to establish a “Jang Keun-suk scholarship” with the donation and support theater and film majors.

“I express gratitude to Jang on behalf of the school and the students,” Kim Yong-soo, head of the school’s public relations office, said.

“We will think of various ways to use the money.”

By Shin Hae-in (hayney@heraldcorp.com)