Heartwarming stories of military personnel donating their carefully grown hair have recently emerged from South Korea’s armed forces. Captain Ahn Woo Sang of the 20th Armored Brigade donated hair she had grown for over three years to the Donate Hair to Help Children with Cancer Campaign, which creates wigs for children battling cancer.
Captain Ahn became interested in hair donation after reading a 2018 Defense Daily article about other female soldiers participating in similar acts of kindness. She decided to join the campaign because her role as a female soldier meant her hair was less likely to be damaged by bleaching or harsh treatments.
From 2018 to 2021, Captain Ahn grew her hair for about three years and donated 25 cm of it. She immediately started growing her hair again and donated in 2024. Although growing her hair for six years was not easy, she endured the discomfort, motivated by the thought of offering hope to children suffering from hair loss caused by cancer treatments. Captain Ahn is now preparing for a third donation and said, “As a soldier in uniform, I am grateful to have the opportunity to help our citizens, directly or indirectly, in any way I can. I will continue to make donations while fulfilling my duties to earn the people’s trust.”
Sergeant Kang Seung Yeon from the Naval Logistics Command also donated 25 cm of hair, which she had carefully grown for two years, to support children with cancer. To ensure the health of her hair for donation, she took special care of it, using quality hair essences and oils. Sergeant Kang shared her feelings about the experience: “While my hair feels lighter, my heart is filled with pride and satisfaction. I hope my small act of giving during this cold holiday season brings courage and warmth to someone in need.”
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