"No Brand Bread?" "Give Us Icheon Rice" Complaints... Homeless Shelter Operator Feels 'Helpless'

Complaints About Food Types or Origins Raised
Father Kim Hajong: "I Hope It Is Received With Gratitude, Not Entitlement"

This is the menu prepared on the 12th at the 'Anna's House' free meal service run by Father Kim Hajong. Photo by Father Kim Hajong Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Father Kim Hajong, who runs the free meal service for the homeless called 'Anna's House' in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, expressed frustration over people complaining about the types or origins of the food.

On the 12th, Father Kim opened up on his social media (SNS) saying, "It's strange... Should we prepare a menu like a hotel restaurant at our Anna's House too?"

He shared a story, "Yesterday (the 11th), I gave a homeless person a lunchbox and bread for the next morning," and revealed that an elderly woman opened the bread bag and said, "I don't eat this kind of bread. Do you have Paris Baguette red bean bread? If you do, please exchange it."

He also mentioned that one day, after receiving a lunchbox, an elderly man came back and said, "Father, this isn't rice from Icheon, right? If it's not Icheon rice, I won't eat it. Please use Icheon rice from next time."

The rude demands did not end there. Since this year, water has also been provided with the food, but some homeless people said, "The water is too warm. Please give it chilled or frozen next time."

Father Kim confessed, "I am very embarrassed every time I hear such demands." He emphasized, "I wonder if we really need to prepare a menu. Lunchboxes, snacks, and donated items are not things that exist as a matter of course."

He continued, "It is possible because of the support of many people, as well as the love and hard work of volunteers and staff. I hope people understand this and receive the food with gratitude, not with a sense of entitlement."

Father Kim Hajong, wearing an apron instead of a cassock, poses in front of Anna's House in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do.
Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, in December last year, controversy arose when a mother and daughter who arrived at 'Anna's House' in a Mercedes-Benz tried to receive free meals. At that time, Father Kim informed them that lunchboxes were insufficient, but they reportedly became annoyed, saying, "It's a place that gives free food, so why are you stopping us?" which sparked public outrage.

Meanwhile, the social welfare foundation 'Anna's House' is Korea's first indoor free meal service established in July 1998 to help the rapidly increasing unemployed and homeless after the foreign exchange crisis. Along with operating self-support facilities and homeless welfare projects, 'Anna's House' also runs programs to help runaway youth return to their families. Father Kim Hajong is originally from Italy and came to Korea in 1990, becoming a naturalized citizen in 2005.

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