“It’s been raining a lot and it must have been hard, but these young people came, kept me company, and fixed my house—I can’t thank them enough. When have I ever been this grateful...?" - Kim Bok-sun (84)

“What we did was so small, but they appreciated it greatly and said many kind things. I feel like we received more than we gave.” - Jeong Jeong-hyeon (first-year student, Department of Architectural Engineering)

On June 30, in Dosan-ri, Gochang-eup, Gochang County, a village that is usually quiet because many young people leave for work and many elderly residents live alone came back to life.

The sound of hammers and saws repairing roofs worn away by time and old kitchens filled the air. Grandmothers wiped the students’ sweat with grateful smiles, and the students, saying it was only the right thing to do, flashed lively grins as they worked.

Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), which opened its Gochang Campus this year, has been touching hearts by carrying out home-repair volunteer work directly for Gochang residents.

Each year, Nam Hae-gyeong, Head of Campus Development (Professor, Department of Architectural Engineering), has led efforts to repair homes for marginalized groups such as elderly people living alone and households with disabled members in island regions. This year, JBNU is practicing sharing by visiting the Gochang area where it opened a campus.

About 60 people are participating, including trainees from the Hanok Workforce Training Project Group at the Gochang Campus, trainees from the Hanok Architecture Technology Comprehensive Center, undergraduate and graduate students from the Department of Architectural Engineering, and students majoring in Hanok in the Graduate School of Environmental Studies. They will visit and provide volunteer services to marginalized households through July 18.

In addition, the Dungji Foundation, a subsidiary of Korea Rural Community Corporation, provided support for building materials. The Gochang County Hairdressers' Association and the Korean Society of Rural Architecture also offered support, providing haircuts for village elders and arranging portrait photography sessions.

The houses they worked on until 6:00 p.m. that day were those of Kim Geum-sun and of Lee Se-beom and Yu Gwan-sun. They removed old, leaking tiles and carried out metal-sheet work, remodeled kitchens and plumbing, and replaced wallpaper and flooring stained and molded by rainwater.

Kim Geum-sun said, "No one comes to our rural village, so it’s wonderful that the students act like grandchildren, keeping me company and repairing the house. The house was so old and leaked in the rain, and living alone I couldn’t even think of repairing it, so I have no way to express my gratitude."

Jeong Jeong-hyeon, a first-year student in the Department of Architectural Engineering who worked hard that day, said, "Many friends take part in various activities during vacation, but I really wanted to come to university and try volunteering for neighbors in need. The small help we offered was regarded so greatly and my gestures were soothed by the grandmother, so I actually received a lot of warmth."

Ahn Gyu-sang, a fourth-year student in the Department of Architecture, said, "With graduation approaching, I do feel some pressure, but participating in the annual home-repair volunteer activity seems to give back more to me than I give. I am very happy to see the elders smile again this year, and I feel proud to have taken part in a good deed."

The "home-repair volunteer activity" has been quietly and steadily carried out each year by Nam Hae-gyeong, Head of Campus Development, and students from the Department of Architectural Engineering, delivering messages of hope to elderly people living alone in island regions, people with disabilities, and multicultural families.

Volunteer work will be carried out on eight houses in Gochang County through July 6, and the home-repair activities will continue in the Buan area from July 9 to July 18.

Nam Hae-gyeong, who has led the home-repair efforts for several years, said, "On the first page of Architectural Design 101 it says, 'Architects should serve society through architecture.' We will continue to carry out home-repair volunteer activities with students to create opportunities to look after our valued neighbors."