[One Thousand Characters a Day] The Body of a Veteran <3> - Anmasa

Editor's NoteThe veterans featured in The Body of Veterans do not stop at confronting the physical changes and damages that come from long years of work. They fill those gaps with pride or take care of colleagues facing similar issues, actively working to change the situation. Living with their transformed bodies, they interpret and diagnose not only their attitudes toward work but also the problems and disconnects they encounter in the workplace in their own words. For example, respect for animals is discussed in the workplaces of fishermen and horse trainers; reflections on life and death arise in the workplaces of midwives; considerations of gender roles appear in the workplaces of actors and illustrators; and aging, illness, and disability are topics in the workplaces of masseurs and body therapists. Masseur Choi Geumsuk learned massage after losing her eyesight. Feeling the slightly protruding blood vessels and muscles with different textures at her fingertips, she says she has come to soothe not only the bodies but also the hearts of those living with tense muscles. Word count: 756 characters.

When a person lies in one position for a long time, their joints stiffen. Bedsores can also develop. She vaguely understands the feelings of those who cannot move until their skin softens.

"I think of it as touching the muscles that they cannot move themselves."

The work itself is hard. Massage is a physically demanding task from the start. "There are many muscles that cannot be felt." Some muscles are deeply embedded. "In those cases, you have to apply pressure deeply." It’s not just about forcefully pressing with your hands. The muscles you can feel differ depending on the posture. So, the person receiving the massage is sometimes laid on their side or made to sit up. When treating people with limited mobility, the masseur has no choice but to do the work: lifting arms, raising legs, turning them to the side. Each time, it requires strength.

Still, it is enjoyable. When she couldn’t leave the room, people around her recommended massage work. They said it could be both a job and a form of service. She wondered if she could help anyone with her current body, but those words really attracted her. Before she knew it, she was living just as they said.

"The mothers there are really, really beautiful. Many have dementia (Alzheimer’s disease). Some cannot walk because of Parkinson’s disease. Thinking of them as my own mother, truly my own mother, makes me feel good inside."

She liked the stories the elderly shared while waiting for her. They don’t just complain about their pains. Like muscles relaxing along her hands, they gradually open up about everything?from dreams they had last night to the years they have lived.

"I realized that I’m not just touching bodies, but touching hearts."

- Written by Heejeong, Photos by Choi Hyungrak, The Body of Veterans, Hankyoreh Publishing, 20,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.