[Exclusive] "After starving for three days, I did it without realizing" ... Starving again even after serving time for theft

Multiple Disadvantaged Neighbors Found in Welfare Blind Spots in Changwon Area
Need for Practical Support Measures Including Improvement of Basic Livelihood Security Recipient Selection Method

The living conditions of the Baek family struggling with financial difficulties.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Sharon] A man in his 50s, who could be called a 'modern-day Jean Valjean' in the Changwon area, was once again rescued after struggling with deteriorating health and starvation, and is now receiving help from the local community.

Baek Mo (52), living in Jinhae-gu, Changwon City, was found starving in a single-room apartment in early last month. When a volunteer group helping homeless and disadvantaged neighbors heard about Baek’s situation and visited his home, he was lying on the floor, expressing his hunger. At the time of discovery, he pleaded for help, saying, "My body hurts so much. I wish I could at least get treatment at a hospital."

Baek is an ex-convict who was released at the end of July. Since his release, he has neither received proper treatment nor been able to find food. His hands and feet were swollen, and the small refrigerator in the corner of his home was covered with mold.

His situation was not much different a year ago when he committed theft. Until 2017, Baek lived as a small business owner, but successive business failures left him drowning in debt and his family broke apart.

The State of the Baek Family's Hungry Refrigerator

Struggling with arthritis and various chronic illnesses, Baek found it difficult to find a job and live. In September last year, he committed a crime by rummaging through a parked car with an open window. He claimed, "I was tempted in the moment and stole a wallet, but soon realized it was wrong and threw the wallet back in front of the car before leaving." However, he was soon arrested on theft charges.

Baek reflected on his mistake, saying, "After starving for three days, I saw nothing else. My body hurt, but I had no money to go to the hospital, and no one came to see me, so I guess I acted without thinking." Although there were ramen noodles at home, the gas was cut off, so he couldn’t even boil water.

At the time, Baek visited the local community center hoping to become a basic livelihood security recipient to at least sustain his life, but was told, "You do not meet the eligibility criteria," and had no choice but to leave. Ultimately, after committing a crime and paying the price, he returned but still had nowhere to ask for help.

Professor Yoon Hong-sik of Inha University’s Department of Social Welfare pointed out the need to change the method of selecting basic livelihood security recipients, saying, "Due to the fundamental problem of public assistance that selects recipients based on assets and income investigation, welfare blind spots have been recurring then and now."

After learning about Baek’s situation, Jinhae-gu classified him as a basic livelihood security recipient and began managing him belatedly. A Changwon City official said, "To become a basic livelihood security recipient, guardian consent is required, but it is difficult if family contact is not possible," adding, "Baek was selected as a basic livelihood security recipient a few days ago. We will help him receive proper treatment and care going forward."

Earlier, at the end of July, 77-year-old Ham Mo, who lived in a small room in the Jinhae area, was found collapsed and starving for a week by neighbors, narrowly saving his life. The doctor who treated Ham at the hospital explained, "At that time, the patient’s blood sugar was 39; if it had been a day later, he would have died." Ham is currently recovering his health with help from Jinhae-gu.

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