A 15-Year Haven for the Homeless Near Seoul Station Exit 13 to Close

[Anchor] A private shelter that has served as a sanctuary for homeless individuals near Seoul Station is set to close its doors in three months. For 15 years, it has provided a refuge from extreme heat and cold, but it can no longer afford the soaring rent. Reporter Yoo Soo-Hwan has the story. [Reporter] In front of Exit 13 of Seoul Station. Unlike the outside temperature, which is nearing 31°C (88°F), a cool breeze flows through this space during the summer. With air conditioners and fans running constantly, and equipped with cold water, hot water, and 16 computers, this is "Dream City," a private shelter for the homeless located right in front of Seoul Station. Since opening in 2011, it has served as a sanctuary for the past 15 years, providing a place to escape the sweltering heat and heavy rain in the summer, and the bitter cold and heavy snow in the winter. The space is visited by 300 to 400 people every day. As the Seoul City free soup kitchen, "Ttasuhan Chaeumteo," is located just one minute away, it is difficult to find an empty seat around meal times. [Shelter User (4 years): The soup kitchen is right next door. We wait here until it is time to eat, and after having our meal, we can stay here until 7 p.m. on weekdays.] This shelter, which also offered luggage storage, mobile phone charging, free haircuts, and even medical support, will close in October. This is because the landlord, who had not raised the rent for the past few years despite the rising market rates in the area, stated that they could no longer lease the space at the same price. For the homeless, this means losing not only a space to escape the heatwaves and heavy rain but also a community where they could share conversations, even if only for a short while. [Kim Ki-yong/Shelter User (8 months): It will be a huge shock, especially for the elderly. If you stay here, they provide meals (at the Seoul City free soup kitchen) and bread in the morning. I don't know what will happen once this place moves.] Pastor Woo Yeon-sik, who operated the private shelter, plans to move to Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, to create a new space for elderly people living alone. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it plans to open the soup kitchen one hour earlier than the current schedule to prepare for potential complaints as homeless individuals are expected to gather around the soup kitchen after the Seoul Station shelter disappears. (Video coverage: Lee Sang-hak, Video editing: Yoon Tae-ho)
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