In present-day South Korea, where the contribution of Korean War veterans who dedicated their lives for the peace of the country is often overlooked, one organisation is working hard to widely publicise and record their noble deeds through memorial ceremonies, campaigns, and community programmes.

For more than 10 years, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Jecheon Branch has provided free haircut and beauty services for senior veterans in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province.

The service takes place once a month at the Jecheon Veterans’ Hall, where five veterans’ organisations are based. The programme, called “Donghaeng” (Walking Together), began in September 2015 to express appreciation for veterans and encourage interaction through volunteer activities.

On volunteer days, seniors gather at the hall while volunteers cut and style their hair, spending time conversing and connecting.

The benefits to veterans cannot be understated. According to Sang-gu Lee, head of the Jecheon branch of the Defoliant Veterans' Association of Korea, some veterans who previously found regular haircuts financially burdensome have had costs eased. 

Moreover, Lee maintains that since the volunteer programme began, participation in veterans’ gatherings has increased, membership in the association has nearly doubled, and the volunteer days have gradually become a space where members talk, reconnect, and build friendships.

The response from veterans has been warming.

Mr. Young-su Park (79) shared:

The Donghaeng volunteer programme has also expanded to include cultural and recreational activities for seniors, including accordion music performances, traditional games like jegichagi and tuho, and craft programmes such as fan-making, flower pots, and cypress aroma sachets.

These activities encourage participation and help create a lively community atmosphere.

Volunteer hairstylist Jae-nam Lee (60) said:

More than one decade of consistent community service by the Jecheon branch of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group has passed. Looking ahead, a branch representative said that the group will continue expanding efforts to support veterans and honour their sacrifices through ongoing volunteer service.