Shincheonji Volunteer Group Jecheon Branch Marks 10 Years of Free Haircut Service for Veterans

Monthly Volunteer Service for Senior Veterans

For the past 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’ organizations are based. The program, 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 help them with haircuts and spend time talking and catching up.

Reducing Costs and Strengthening Community

According to Lee Sang-gu, head of the Jecheon branch of the Korean Agent Orange Veterans Association, the program has brought practical benefits to members.

Some veterans previously found regular haircuts financially burdensome, and the monthly service has helped reduce that cost.

Lee also noted that since the volunteer program began:

• Participation in veterans’ gatherings has increased

• Membership in the association has nearly doubled

The volunteer days have gradually become a space where members talk, reconnect, and build friendships.

Veteran Park Young-su (pseudonym, 79) shared:

“After getting a haircut, I feel refreshed and naturally want to meet more people. On volunteer days, I come to the gathering because the volunteers welcome us warmly and talk with us.”

More Than Haircuts: Expanding Volunteer Activities

The Jecheon branch has also expanded the Donghaeng volunteer program to include cultural and recreational activities for seniors, such as:

• Accordion music performances

• Traditional games like jegichagi and tuho

• Craft programs such as making fans, flower pots, and cypress aroma sachets

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

Volunteer hairstylist Lee Jae-nam (60) said:

“It may seem like a small act, but when I see the seniors smiling after the haircut, I feel even greater joy.”

A Decade of Consistent Community Service

After a decade of steady volunteer work, the program has helped reduce financial burdens, increase participation in veterans’ gatherings, and strengthen community connections.

A representative of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Jecheon Branch said the group will continue expanding efforts to support veterans and honor their sacrifices through ongoing volunteer service.

Source: https://vo.la/IOljzHG