Over 50 Years of Beauty Volunteer Work at Nursing Homes and Orphanages
Personal Donations of Consolation Goods Worth About 100 Million Won
"I Will Continue Volunteering Until the Day I Live"
At Jeju Dongmun Market, Ms. Moon Sun-ae, known as the "Scissor Hands," is a veteran with 62 years of experience in hairdressing this year. Not only has she volunteered extensively, but the amount of consolation goods she has delivered to orphanages and nursing homes over the years also reaches about 100 million won. She has been recognized for her continuous volunteer work, including sponsoring single-parent families through sisterhood connections, and has even received commendations from the former governor and the Minister of Health and Welfare. Her volunteer career spans over 50 years.
On the 30th, the KT Group Hope Sharing Foundation announced, "Ms. Moon Sun-ae has been selected as the main recipient of this year's second Hope Sharing Award." Ms. Moon dropped out of high school and picked up scissors. After working as a hair salon assistant for over ten years, she opened "Okcheon Hair Salon" and began volunteering with others in the beauty industry. It was the 1970s when the concept of volunteering was still unfamiliar. Some people who volunteered together quit because it was difficult, but Ms. Moon found strength by thinking of the elderly waiting for her. Ms. Moon said, "Jeju Island's roads and transportation were not good, so it was a daily routine to walk five hours round trip to cut the hair of the elderly," adding, "My husband and children’s support was a great strength."
Okcheon Hair Salon is famous for its affordable prices. A haircut costs 5,000 won, and a perm is 20,000 won. Many neighbors in difficult circumstances or foreign workers visit. Often, they leave without paying, but Ms. Moon records the unpaid amounts as receivables. Ms. Moon said, "Volunteering is like a tonic and happiness to me," adding, "Being able to help someone through the hairdressing skills I learned is truly gratifying and rewarding." She also said, "Since I am happiest when doing hairdressing, I plan to continue both hairdressing and volunteering as long as I can during my lifetime."
The "Hope Sharing Award" was established in 2021 by the KT Group Hope Sharing Foundation to encourage the activities of individuals (and organizations) who have contributed to creating beautiful social values through sharing and to spread the value of sharing. The award is given to various neighbors around us who have practiced sharing regardless of region, age, or field of activity.
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