[The Second Take] Selling Big Issue Reflects the Will to Maintain Connections

Most Homeless People Are Not Deviant or Maladjusted
Empathy for the Solution Presented in the Movie 'Dream'

In the movie 'Dream,' Son Beom-su (Jung Seung-gil) and Kim In-seon (Lee Hyun-woo) are homeless soccer players. They make a living by selling magazines on the streets and in subway stations. "Big Issue! 3000 won! A magazine for the homeless! Big Issue!" Big Issue is a popular culture magazine founded in the UK in 1991. It grants sales rights exclusively to the homeless to help them become self-reliant. It creates various opportunities such as self-help, social transactions, and business solutions to overcome poverty.

Big Issue vendors operate legally in designated locations but face various difficulties. The biggest hardship is the shame of having to acknowledge their status as homeless (Homeless) while selling. Mr. Lim Sang-cheol, who worked as a Big Issue vendor, wrote in his book Life of Today, Tomorrow, and the Day After, "After doing it for a long time, the gazes of passersby might become chronic, but there has been little change from the beginning until now."

"Rather, now I feel less free and often burdened by people's stares. I don't know why. I think a part of my heart rejects the word 'homeless.' It might be a fear of falling even further down."

Despite feeling repulsed, they solicit customers not because they are shameless, lack pride, or are unaware of embarrassment. It is to find hope in the difficult life of homelessness. "Between the life I pursue and the life of frustration, sometimes I fear becoming a person who forgets the past misfortunes instead of using them as a foundation. But I intend to live my life with the mindset that 'I am living my own life.'"

Unfortunately, public support that promotes a fresh start is insufficient. Although the Act on Welfare and Self-Reliance Support for the Homeless was enacted over ten years ago, many still remain in blind spots. The regulations concerning the homeless are limited to ▲people living without fixed housing for a considerable period ▲people using homeless shelters or living in them for a considerable period ▲people living in places with significantly inadequate residential suitability. Long-term residents of goshiwons, motels, and inns, or residents of non-residential multi-use facilities such as PC rooms, comic book cafes, and jjimjilbangs are excluded. Only visibly apparent homeless people are designated as policy targets.

Several local governments still exclude basic livelihood security recipients, residents of small rooms, people without resident registration cards, and foreign homeless people from free meals. Cards are issued only to those with confirmed histories of homelessness.

The situation with medical services is no different. To receive medical benefits, one must meet conditions such as being homeless for three months or having unpaid national health insurance for over six months. One must also be registered in homeless self-reliance or protection facilities to apply for type 1 benefits.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of type 1 beneficiaries decreased from 903 in 2015 to 271 in 2021. Most do not meet the conditions and cannot even dare to visit hospitals when sick. Even type 1 beneficiaries experienced medical gaps for a while as public medical institutions were converted into infectious disease centers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

'Dream' points to a change in perception as a solution to protect these people and open paths for them to live. A representative example is Hwang In-guk (Heo Joon-seok), the soccer team manager, persuading a local government official who cut off sponsorship. "Actually, when people think of the homeless, the image is strong that they smell bad and are dirty..." "Then at least in the form of anonymous donations..." "Why should we do such things?" "Only a small minority smell bad and are dirty. Why not do it? Is there any guarantee that no one will be pushed outside this fence in their life?"

The majority of homeless people are not related to personal deviance or maladjustment. They are simply victims of the capitalist structure of survival of the fittest. It can be summed up as needing understanding and support. One side seems already prepared. Another reason for selling Big Issue is likely the will to maintain connections.

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