"Hasty Eviction Driven by Hatred Against Homeless"... Activists Point to Incheon City Over Airport Eviction Orders

As Incheon International Airport Corporation requested homeless people staying at Incheon Airport to evacuate, a homeless human rights organization pushed back, claiming that "Incheon City's lack of a street homeless support system is the root cause of this situation."

Recently, the Incheon International Airport Corporation attached eviction orders to the belongings of homeless people inside Incheon Airport.

The eviction order cited Article 56 of the Airport Facilities Act, along with warnings stating, "Please immediately cease camping and evacuate outside the passenger terminal," and "Failure to comply with the eviction request may result in fines, detention, minor fines, or criminal punishment in accordance with the Airport Facilities Act."

Recently, as record-breaking heatwaves drove homeless people to seek refuge at Incheon Airport, media reports emerged that they caused discomfort by urinating anywhere or cursing at passersby. When the corporation subsequently asked the homeless people to evacuate, the homeless human rights group "Homeless Action" stepped up to criticize the move.

On the 3rd, Homeless Action issued a statement titled "Incheon International Airport Corporation, Stop Homeless Eviction Measures Riding on Sensational Reports."

Homeless Action described the reports concerning homeless people as "framing that incites discrimination and hatred," and criticized the airport corporation for responding to such hate reporting with a "hasty eviction measure."

They also stated that this situation occurred due to the convergence of welfare vacuums created by Incheon City's complacent administration—such as neglecting the establishment of a public support system for the homeless—along with sensational reporting and the airport corporation's eviction measures.

Homeless Action stated that "Incheon International Airport Corporation should halt its hastily pushed eviction measures and fulfill its responsibilities as a public institution," and plans to hold a press conference at Incheon Airport on the 12th to urge the cessation of the eviction measures.

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Lee Dain | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.