"I Endure by Giving Myself Acupuncture on My Injured Leg"...The Reality of the Uncounted Homeless in the Seoul Station Underpass

Came to Earn Money, Ended Up on the Street: Rise in Foreign Homeless Population
A “Blind Spot” in the Safety Net: No Statistics or Clear Management Authority
Personal Risks and Threats to Public Safety... "Systemic Solutions Needed"

"Why am I the only one being discriminated against? Why me!"

On the 22nd, Joo Gwang-ho, a man in his 60s from Yanji City, China, was sitting in a shelter made of cardboard near Seoul Station, sharing his story. Photo by Oh Ji-eun

In the afternoon of July 22, in the underpass near Seoul Station. Joo Gwangho, 62, from Yanji City, China, vented his frustration as he recounted how he was driven out of his workplace. Joo came to South Korea in 2014 on a visit and work (H-2) visa—a visa primarily issued to Chinese-Korean residents at the time, though its issuance has since been suspended. "I left my job because the employer harassed me," he said. "My health deteriorated, making it hard to find another job, and that's why I became homeless," he confessed.

Similarly, Kim Kibong, 65, and his brother Kim Giryong, 62, who are also homeless near Seoul Station, came from Jilin Province, China, to earn money in Korea. "If my health improves, I want to work again," they said, but their reality is far from easy. The older brother, Kim, has been limping since injuring his leg four years ago. Even after hospital treatment, there was no improvement. To endure the pain, he tries acupuncture himself or relies on painkillers from free community clinics to get through each day.

A homeless American in his 70s (left) found in Seoul Station Plaza is having a meeting with a staff member from the U.S. Consulate. Seoul Station Hope Support Center

Although the number of foreigners in Korea who have lost the ability to work due to accidents or illness and been forced onto the streets is rising, there are virtually no systems in place to help them. There are no separate statistics, and the roles of relevant agencies are unclear, leaving private organizations responsible for everything—from confirming identities to providing medical care and supporting repatriation. Concerns have also been raised that long-term homelessness could lead to issues such as drunken disturbances or exposure to crime, adversely affecting public safety.

According to the Seoul city government on July 27, the number of homeless people has increased from 3,041 in 2023 to 3,067 in 2024, and to 3,110 last year. However, there are no separate statistics by nationality, so the exact number of foreigners is unknown. In a nationwide survey conducted every three years by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of homeless people as of 2024 was 12,725, with 75.7% of street homeless concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area.

The Namdaemun Police Station and Dasiseogi Comprehensive Support Center in Seoul both reported a noticeable increase in foreign homeless individuals around Seoul Station. The Seoul Station police substation recently dealt with a drunken homeless Danish man, and in March last year, a homeless American man in his 70s showing signs of dementia was found wandering the plaza. Unable to identify him due to the loss of his passport, a support center finally coordinated with the American consulate to repatriate him to the United States.

Many of the foreign homeless people encountered on the streets said they came to Korea to make money, only to end up homeless. Many cases involved entering the country on Overseas Korean (F-4) visas or work/tourist visas, then either overstaying their permitted period or losing their ability to work due to accidents and illness, ultimately leading to homelessness. The longer they live on the streets, the more they struggle with alcohol dependence, mental health issues, and chronic diseases, which further increases their exposure to crime or their vulnerability as a marginalized group.

The current support system for homeless people in Korea is primarily designed for citizens, making it difficult for foreigners to access public homeless shelters or receive medical assistance. Even if they are taken to hospital, they are not covered by national health insurance, so treatment costs can reach tens of millions of won. For undocumented migrants, the complicated repatriation process often leads to prolonged homelessness.

Both the Ministry of Justice and the police face structural challenges that prevent them from taking more active roles, citing legal limitations. As a result, temporary solutions—such as persuading embassies and seeking out free clinics for treatment—are left to private organizations. Organizations and institutions supporting homeless people say that verifying identities is their biggest challenge. Many have lost their passports, but embassies are reluctant to share the necessary information for identity verification, citing privacy concerns.

The Dasiseogi Comprehensive Support Center manages foreign homeless individuals on humanitarian grounds, but the lack of legal foundation is problematic. With limited staffing and budget, they are left to handle everything from connecting people with medical care, to working with embassies, and managing repatriation.

Mr. Kim Kibong, in his 60s, from Jilin Province, China, was limping after injuring his leg at the work site. Photo by Oh Jieun

Experts point out that if the responsibility for managing foreign homeless people remains unclear and they are left without proper support for long periods, the burden of public safety, administrative management, and social costs will fall on Korean citizens. Beyond the dangers faced by the individuals themselves, incidents can escalate to drunken disturbances and assaults, and there is a high risk of friction between the homeless and other citizens in public spaces. If a crime occurs and the homeless individual's identity is unknown, it becomes difficult to investigate, compensate victims, and provide any follow-up care.

Experts warn that leaving foreign homeless people in this blind spot undermines the social safety net. Professor Jeong Jaehoon of Seoul Women's University, who is also President of the Gyeongbuk Happiness Foundation, said, "The current structure, where the private sector shoulders the burden with no clear responsible authority, is unsustainable." He added, "There should be institutional measures in place to expedite the repatriation process for undocumented migrants, and at least ensure basic medical care and case management for legal residents and those in urgent need of protection."

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