"For Children with Pediatric Cancer"... Navy Officer's Family Donates Hair

Staff Sergeant Eunju Lee and Her Family from the Navy 8th Combat Training Group

Staff Sergeant Eunju Lee (age 37, 235th class of Navy Non-Commissioned Officer Cadets) of the Navy 8th Combat Training Group donated hair together with her triplet daughters, Eunjin Jang, Yujin Jang, and Sojin Jang (all age 5), on March 3 to support children with pediatric cancer. Staff Sergeant Lee and her triplets, each having grown their hair for about one year and six months, donated 25 cm each, totaling 1 meter, to the Korea Social Contribution Foundation's "Eomona Movement Headquarters."

Sergeant Eunju Lee of the Navy 8th Combat Training Group and her triplet daughters (from left, Eunjin Jang (first), Yujin Jang (second), Sojin Jang (third), all 5 years old) are holding 25cm-long hair strands they cut to help children with pediatric cancer and taking a commemorative photo in front of the Reserve Force Management Battalion building under the 8th Combat Training Group on the 26th of last month. Photo by the Navy

"Eomona," which stands for "Sharing Hair for Young Cancer Patients," produces custom wigs from healthy hair donations of at least 25 cm. These wigs are provided free of charge to approximately 1,500 children with pediatric cancer every year.

This is not the first act of kindness by Staff Sergeant Lee and her triplet daughters. In 2024, Staff Sergeant Lee also donated a total of 1 meter and 5 cm of hair together with her triplets (30 cm from Staff Sergeant Lee, and 25 cm from each of the triplets).

Staff Sergeant Lee's first hair donation dates back to 2020. While pregnant with her triplets, she learned about the hardships faced by pediatric cancer patients who lose their hair during chemotherapy, which inspired her to start donating hair. After giving birth in 2021, she donated 30 cm of her own hair for the first time in 2022. The triplets joined their mother in donating hair starting in 2024. Although the triplets were too young at first to fully understand how the donated hair would be used, they now say, during their second donation with their mother, that they truly understand the meaning of sharing love together.

Staff Sergeant Lee was commissioned as part of the 235th class of Navy Non-Commissioned Officers in 2012 and has served on the destroyer Wang Geon and the Aegis destroyer Yulgok Yi I, among others. She currently works in mobilization planning at the Reserve Force Management Battalion under the Navy 8th Combat Training Group. Her husband, Staff Sergeant Donghui Jang (1501st class of professional non-commissioned officers), is also serving in the Navy, with the couple dedicating themselves to protecting Korea's maritime sovereignty.

Staff Sergeant Lee stated, "As a member of the Navy protecting the seas of Korea and as a mother raising triplets, I will continue to donate hair for children with pediatric cancer, even if it is a small gesture. Just as my triplets' hair grows longer and stronger, I hope our love for our neighbors will also continue to grow."

The eldest triplet daughter, Eunjin Jang, also said, "I feel proud that our amazing mom and us triplets can donate our hair together. I want to keep growing my hair so I can give strength to children who are sick."

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