Dermatologist duo helps delinquents' do-over

Timeless Dermatology director Dr. Shin Won-ung, left, and Dr. Lee Kyung-goo / Courtesy of Timeless Dermatology

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Timeless Dermatology co-directors Shin Won-ung and Lee Kyung-goo may look like typical doctors operating a dermatology clinic in the affluent Gangnam area, but they are differentiating themselves in a very special way.

Apart from their daily routine of treating skin diseases and providing skincare services, the dermatologist duo is also donating their talent to society by removing tattoos from juvenile delinquents' bodies.

“Some kids just have a rough adolescence and make decisions they regret. An increasing number of Korean people have started getting tattoos these days, but there are still negative perceptions about them, especially toward teenagers' tattoos,” Shin said.

“Some kids want to have a chance for a do-over. But it's hard, especially for a young kid, to do it with such negative perceptions toward them. We just want to help them.”

Lee said he first met a number of juvenile delinquents when he served his military duty at the Gimcheon Boys Correctional Institute in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province.

“They were just kids who never got enough opportunities like others had,” he said.

“Shin and I studied together at college. We talked about what we could do to help them after serving our terms.”

Currently, two police stations in the Gangnam area are introducing Shin and Lee to teenagers who want to have their tattoos removed, but they said they are also open to treating any teenagers.

Separate from their tattoo removal service, the duo said they plan to host a community conference for young children suffering from atopic diseases.

Shin and Lee first met when they studied at Korea University. The two friends both chose to become dermatologists. They started Timeless Dermatology a 14 months ago.