"I Wouldn't Eat That"... Outrage Over 'Cake on Rice' Mockery Directed at Post by Virtuous Man Devoted for 30 Years

Online Users Flood Social Media with Negative Comments Over Cake Placed on Rice in Meal Service

A photo of free meal service at Anna's House posted by Father Kim Hajong on his Instagram on the 13th. Instagram capture

Online users have drawn criticism for recklessly mocking and denouncing a free meal service for the homeless and disadvantaged youth, simply because a piece of cake was served on top of rice.

On June 23, posts by Father Ha-jong Kim (Vincenzo Bordo), a 69-year-old Italian priest who runs the social welfare facility "Anna's House" in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, have been rapidly spreading across multiple social networking services (SNS).

On June 13, he wrote, "A birthday comes once a year, but every day at Anna's House is like a birthday," and added, "Thanks to the bakery’s constant cake donations, our friends can share sweet birthday cake together even when it’s not a special day." He also expressed his gratitude for the support and released a video showing the meal service scene.

The video showed a tray filled with white rice, braised spicy chicken, kimchi, acorn jelly, and other side dishes, with a piece of cake being served together. However, some online users focused solely on the image of the cake placed on top of the rice, posting critical comments such as, "Even for a free meal, what is that?" "Cake on top of rice?" and "I wouldn't eat that even if it was free."

Criticism Lacking Context... Pointing Out "Lack of Understanding of the Situation"

However, the video clearly showed that the tray was already filled with several side dishes, and the cake was an additional dessert received through donations. Due to limited space, it appeared unavoidable to place the cake on top of the rice, as using a separate plate was not an option.

In response, other users rebutted, calling the criticism "complaints made without considering the full situation." Further comments included, "The food was provided through donations and was just served that way due to the tray's layout," and, "Regardless of how it’s served, a meal is precious for those in desperate need."

There were also remarks highlighting, "An Italian priest has come to a foreign country to raise donations and provide free meals," and, "It is frustrating to see people posting malicious comments without understanding the context."

Nearly 30 Years of Devotion... 'Anna's House' in the Spotlight Again

Father Ha-jong Kim. Instagram capture

Father Ha-jong Kim was sent to Korea in 1990 and established "Anna's House" in 1997 to help the rapidly growing homeless population during the Asian financial crisis. He now operates not only the free meal center but also dormitories, a self-reliance center, and youth shelters, working tirelessly to support vulnerable groups. His achievements have been recognized domestically; he acquired Korean citizenship through special naturalization in 2015 and was awarded the Order of Civil Merit, Dongbaek Medal, in 2019.

Meanwhile, "Anna's House" has also faced controversy in the past over some inappropriate actions by others. In 2020, a mother and daughter who arrived in a Mercedes-Benz tried to take free meal lunch boxes intended for the homeless. When Father Ha-jong Kim tried to stop them, they became angry, but ultimately took the lunch boxes, sparking public debate.

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