[MZ Police Officer] "The Most Efficient Way to Volunteer"... The Youngest Substation Officer Who Has Donated Blood 138 Times to Save Lives

<42> Officer Jung Joongsik of Hwayang Police Substation, Gwangjin Police Station, Seoul

Editor's NoteThe Generation Z era is here. New employees in their 20s and 30s are now shaping the future of organizational culture. The police are no exception. The police force consists of a variety of departments, including criminal investigation, general investigation, security, intelligence, traffic, administration, public relations, inspection, and women and youth. Work environments differ across provincial headquarters, police stations, mobile units, substations, and police boxes, and the nature of the work varies greatly by region. From the perspective of the youngest officers, we introduce their departments and hear their vivid stories about work and life as they see it.

"I have always thought about how to help others efficiently."

Police Officer Jung Joongsik (35), whom we met at the Hwayang Police Substation of Gwangjin Police Station in Seoul, defined blood donation as the answer to efficient volunteering. Officer Jung, who was appointed in August this year, achieved his 100th blood donation in December 2023 and has since donated blood a total of 138 times. He has received the Silver, Gold, and Honorary Medals from the Red Cross for his contributions, and has also registered as a potential donor for organs, tissues, and hematopoietic stem cells. He smiled and said, "I thought it would be good to do as much as I can."

On the 11th, Police Officer Jung Joongsik (35) of the Hwayang Police Substation, Gwangjin Police Station in Seoul, is communicating via radio inside a vehicle. Photo by Seungwook Park

Officer Jung first began donating blood in 2015, just before graduating from university. At the time, he needed volunteer hours to meet his graduation requirements, and he heard that each blood donation would count as four hours of volunteering. That was how he started. "As I continued to donate blood, I started to accumulate blood donation certificates," he said.

What started as a way to graduate soon became a source of fulfillment. In 2017, when he heard that a family friend was about to undergo major surgery, Officer Jung donated his accumulated blood donation certificates free of charge. This is because the amount of blood recorded on the certificates is deducted from the patient's out-of-pocket expenses for blood transfusions. "A while later, the family friend thanked me, saying the donation had been a great help during the surgery. It struck me that even though blood donation doesn't take much time, it can make a huge difference to others," he recalled. "That sense of satisfaction motivated me to keep donating blood and to register as an organ and hematopoietic stem cell donor as well."

70 Donations in Three and a Half Years... A New Habit Sparked by 'Urgent Platelet Needed'

Officer Jung's commitment to blood donation continued steadily. From 30 donations in June 2020, he reached 100 donations by December 2023-an increase of 70 donations in about three and a half years, averaging two donations per month. "Up to my 30th donation, I donated whole blood every two months," he explained. "One day, I saw a sign saying 'Urgent Platelet Needed' at the blood donation center and learned about apheresis, which collects only platelets. Since apheresis can be done every two weeks, I continued donating platelets until the urgent need was met."

Another opportunity to give came his way. Officer Jung, who plays amateur baseball, once received a request from a teammate whose acquaintance needed blood donation certificates for leukemia treatment. Without hesitation, he handed over 50 certificates. "I find happiness in being able to help others through blood donation," he said. "Even now, I always carry several blood donation certificates in my wallet in case someone might need them unexpectedly."

On the 11th, Jung Joongsik, a 35-year-old police officer at the Hwayang Police Substation of Gwangjin Police Station in Seoul, is communicating via radio. Photo by Park Seungwook

His material donations have continued as well. Starting with a monthly donation of 10,000 won to support children in need, he has increased his monthly contribution to 50,000 won and has donated a total of about 1.7 million won. "Because I donate blood frequently at the blood donation center, I sometimes get calls asking about making donations," he said. "I started because I thought it was worthwhile to save a little and help hungry children, and over time, I was able to increase the amount I give."

Blood Donation Keeps His Police Ideals Alive

Blood donation and police work are connected by their spirit of service. As a child, Officer Jung dreamed of becoming a police officer after watching police characters in cartoons, but his path was not easy. After graduating with a degree in police administration, he failed several open recruitment exams and worked as a security guard for four years. "I worked shifts as a facility security guard, and the more I worked, the more I longed for my dream of becoming a police officer, which I had tried to forget," he said. "I decided that rather than regret it later, I would use my savings and severance pay to give it one more try, and that's how I was able to become a police officer."

On the 11th, Police Officer Jung Joongsik (35) of the Hwayang Police Substation, Gwangjin Police Station in Seoul, is seen taking out a blood donation certificate from his wallet and speaking. Photo by Park Seungwook

These days, Officer Jung feels the weight of being a rookie police officer every day. Compared to his seniors, he lacks experience, so there are times when he is unable to process incident reports or prepare the necessary documents, and he is not yet used to paperwork. "I always try to watch and learn from what my seniors do," he said. "I keep reminding myself not to jump to conclusions or overdo things on my own."

Officer Jung believes that his focus on efficient volunteering is a perfect fit for police work. "As a police officer, not only do I respond to calls, but I also patrol and work to keep citizens safe-serving the community at all times. I will always do my best with a spirit of service and a sense of responsibility," he concluded.

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