The power of K-pop recently flowed as the boy band Enhypen inspired young blood donors globally.
The South Korean sensations collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote World Blood Donor Day 2026, and on Thursday 22 October their successful campaign injected new life into the cause at the Hybe Corporation headquarters in Seoul.
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on 14 June and serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
“I am proud of all Enhypen members’ commitment and collaboration with WHO to promote blood donation and save lives,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The last campaign was a great success, reaching millions of people. Enhypen and Engene have the real power to influence the world. I’m also their fan.”
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Through a series of social media videos and digital content developed with WHO and Elyx, the UN’s virtual global ambassador, Enhypen encouraged their millions of fans to put blood donation at the heart of their communities by learning about the importance of safe blood, making a pledge to donate and taking action.
WHO’s 2026 Drop Your Drop global blood donation campaign received more than 9 000 pledges from people across 177 countries, including over 3 250 participants identifying themselves as Engene, as fans are called.
“We launched this campaign hoping our fans would join us, and we’re grateful to see Engenes from all around the world taking part. We hope to continue creating meaningful change together with our fans,” said the group.
They led by example by visiting a Korean Red Cross blood donation centre in Seoul, where all members underwent donor eligibility screening and members Jay and Jungwon donated plasma, proving the campaign truly ran through their veins.
Enhypen rose to prominence in 2020 following their debut mini-album Border: Day One. To date, they have seven Billboard 200 Top 10 albums, including their first-ever No. 1 with The Sin: Bliss (2026).
“You can donate whole blood, plasma or platelets. I donated plasma today. I hope you all joined in this good cause too,” said Jungwon.
“One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives,” is the theme of World Blood Donor Day 2026, marking the importance of each act of donation as one of compassion, solidarity and collective responsibility.
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