Toenail lost, leg injured — singer Shon vows to complete 7th Liberation Day run: 'Someone has to do it'

Singer Shon has injured his right leg with just one month to go before the Liberation Day "815 Run," but says he has no intention of giving up on finishing the race.

On Wednesday, Shon posted a photo on Instagram showing a support band wrapped around his right leg.

"With one month left until the 2026 815 Run, I've run into a right leg injury. I'll do my best to work through it," he wrote. He added that he had lost the toenail on his left big toe two weeks earlier.

"I'll focus on happiness rather than pain and prepare well for my seventh 81.5-kilometer letter of gratitude," he said. "I do this because someone has to."

Well-wishes poured in after the news. Actor Kwon Hwa-woon left a comment saying "I hope you recover quickly," while broadcaster Shim Eu-ddeum expressed her concern with a tearful emoji. Fans also sent messages urging him not to push too hard: "Recovery comes first — don't overdo it," "Please heal well and finish the race in good health," and "What you do is wonderful, but please don't let it harm your health."

The 815 Run is an 81.5-kilometer race held to honor the spirit of Liberation Day and express gratitude to independence fighters. Shon has organized the event since 2022 alongside a campaign to improve housing conditions for descendants of independence patriots.

Donations raised so far have funded homes for 19 households of independence patriots' descendants. Entry fees and contributions go toward supporting the families of national merit holders.

Shon is a Korean American rapper who debuted in 1997 as a member of the hip-hop duo Jinusean. He married actor Jung Hye-young in 2004 and has two sons and two daughters.