When Middle-Aged Men on the Brink Were Given Knives and Cutting Boards...

Members of Yodongnam (Men Cooking in Dongseon-dong) making side dishes. (Photo by Seongbuk-gu Office)

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"We just wanted to make sure those in need could have at least one meal, and it has come this far."

At noon on the 20th, a 'Unique End-of-Season Party' was held in the shared kitchen on the basement level 1 of the Dongseon-dong Community Center in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. The main participants of the day were eight members of the 'Cooking Dongseon-dong Men' (Yodongnam) and volunteers in their 60s to 80s.

In February last year, residents of Dongseon-dong in Seongbuk-gu invited about ten middle-aged and older single men who were at a dead end in life to the shared kitchen attached to the Dongseon-dong Community Center. What drew them out of their homes and into the company of others was a warm meal. A special cooking class led by four volunteers in their 60s to 80s, including Choi Jeom-soon (63), who serves as the general affairs officer of the Dongseon-dong Community Social Welfare Council, began this way.

Choi said, "It was a gathering to cook and share a meal together," adding, "At first, they barely made eye contact and their hands trembled when holding kitchen knives, but seeing them enjoy themselves, the Yodongnam kept meeting repeatedly and looked forward to the next time."

Due to a limited budget and urgent need for support, Father Lee Moon-su of 'Youth Table Mungan' donated 6 million won, enabling the 14-month journey to continue until this month. Father Lee, well known as a clergyman who runs a 3,000 won kimchi stew restaurant for young people, generously contributed part of his funds.

Thus, the Yodongnam, who were on the brink, learned to cook and shared meals every third Wednesday of the month in the shared kitchen. They prepared ingredients, seasoned dishes, conversed with each other, and opened the doors of their hearts that had long been closed. Their posture changed, their expressions brightened, and their gait improved.

Hong In-tae (61), a Yodongnam member, said, "I used to just get by with instant food without motivation, but now I shop and cook myself, taking care of my health."

At first, they barely made eye contact and their hands holding the kitchen knives trembled, but seeing them enjoy themselves, 'Yodongnam' was held repeatedly. Volunteer Choi Jeom-soon, who served as a cooking instructor and mentor. (Photo by Seongbuk-gu Office)

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There is an analysis that 8 out of 10 people living alone are at risk of 'lonely death.' According to the '2022 Lonely Death Prevention Status Survey' report released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs at the end of January, 78.8% of single-person households surveyed (9,471 people) were classified as at risk of lonely death. Among the high and medium risk groups, 60.9% were men.

The government estimated last year that there are 1,525,000 people at risk of lonely death, with the proportion of high-risk individuals among single-person households highest in their 50s (33.9%), followed by 60s (30.2%), and 40s (25.8%).

The Dongseon-dong Community Social Welfare Council, a resident organization, carried out the Yodongnam project in Dongseon-dong because many middle-aged people at high risk of social isolation live in this area. Dongseon-dong has a high proportion of single-person households in Seongbuk-gu, especially a high rate of low-income middle-aged single men.

Although the cooking class ended that day, the group decided to continue the Yodongnam community by meeting on the same date each month to clean the neighborhood and share meals. At the same time, the Samseon Saemaeul Geumgo main branch formed a sisterhood partnership and agreed to support the Yodongnam community.

Seung-ro Lee, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, who attended the event, said, "At some point, I realized the value of Yodongnam as they conversed freely, checked on each other’s well-being, and became masters of cooking." The mayor added, "Above all, seeing them gradually regain their health made me feel the warmth of neighbors and the power of community," and said, "We will make various efforts to ensure that single-person households in Seongbuk-gu enjoy happier and healthier daily lives."

The Dongseon-dong Community Security Council, with the help of the Seongbuk-gu Dongseon-dong Resident Center and the Cheongnyeonmungan Social Cooperative, held a cooking class for middle-aged and older single men at high risk of isolation. Yodongnam, volunteers, Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro (fifth from the left in the second row), and Father Lee Moon-su (sixth) are posing for a commemorative photo. (Photo by Seongbuk-gu Office)

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