There are many homeless people near Seoul Station and during the summer months, the temperatures in the underground footpath near the station where the homeless sleep often becomes uncomfortably hot. Fortunately, some of the suffers can find aid from volunteers who provide medical services. The Weekly Hanyang news team went to this underground footpath (between the Daewoo Building and Seoul Station) to meet the volunteering medical practitioners of the College of Medicine at Hanyang University. They belong to the volunteering club at the university called 'Free Will'.

'Free Will' was established in 1992 and started its activities with medical services to rayon factory workers in Won-jin. The club focuses on medical related issues and social problems and the members try to help out underprivileged people who cannot afford medical treatment. At present there are 45 members in the club and they continue to provide their medical services in various clinics across the country. The president of 'Free Will' Ji-young CHOI (2nd year, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine) said, "We now operate two clinics, one at Seoul Station and another in JaYang-dong. We provide medical services for free mainly to homeless people, elderly people who live by themselves, and other underprivileged people."

The group started providing their medical services at Seoul Station Clinic back in 1998. The clinic originally started its operations together with other volunteering clubs from four different universities and the Association of Physicians for Humanism. The clinic was located in Eul-ji-ro back then. Since there are many homeless people near Seoul Station, the club decided to launch a new clinic there. It operates between 7am to 11pm. The Association of Physicians for Humanism provides funds to buy medicine and necessary equipment and/or to rent facilities. The members at the clinic are comprised of two doctors from the Association of Physicians for Humanism and four to five assisting students from 'Free Will'.

Seung-joon KIM (2nd year, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine) who participates in the volunteering services at Seoul Station said, "Anyone can help out other people. But I guess many think it's difficult. I find it's not so easy to make time to do this work but I believe it's rewarding. There still needs to be a lot more attention paid to the medical conditions of the homeless because it is very difficult for them to get proper medical treatment they sometimes need. There should be more organized systems for those people on the government level. As for my part, I'll continue doing this volunteer work even after I graduate."

Another member of 'Free Will' who preferred to remain anonymous also commented saying, "We lack a budget to buy all the medicine we need and sometimes it's difficult to deal with some patients in the clinic who refuse to see a doctor and instead only demand medicine. What's worse is the fact that the number of the homeless people has not reduced and that their living conditions are just as poor as before. But if we look on the bright side, at least the homeless have positively changed their attitude towards us. I believe it is my duty to help the sick and that gives me the motivation to not give up hope that things will improve."

The JaYang-dong clinic is located in the Social Welfare Center in JaYang-dong. It started its free medical services in 1999 and is open every Saturday. The clinic already has regular patients from the local community. Yoon-yong NAM, who is an employee at the Center said, "We offer free lunch and medical services to the elderly who live alone in the area. Over 350 elderly people are registered as regular patients. They have all received medical treatment from members of 'Free Will' at least once. People who cannot make it to the hospital themselves or who cannot afford to buy medicine are extremely satisfied with the medical services."

The JaYang-dong clinic deals mainly with internal disorders like high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis. Around 6 Free Will members participate in the operation of the clinic every week. It currently operates every second and fourth Saturday and opens at 2pm and closes late in the evening, but the Free Will members are thinking about moving the clinic. There have been improvements in the community environment and the number of clinical staff has increased. Both of these changes are factors in the decision to relocate. One member said, "We are organizing a workshop at the moment where we will try to discuss the current issues in the clinic and provide some tangible solutions."

With warm hearts nobly providing such charitable services, perhaps the summer heat will not be as unbearable to some underprivileged people who can find some reprieve in generosity of 'Free Will.'