[Anchor]

A private shelter that has served as a sanctuary for the homeless 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.

Equipped with air conditioners and fans running constantly, as well as 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 haven for the past 15 years, offering protection from scorching heat and heavy rain in the summer, and bitter cold and heavy snow in the winter.

The space is visited by 300 to 400 people every day. Because the Seoul City free soup kitchen, Ttaseuhan Chaeumteo, is just a one-minute walk away, it is often difficult to find an empty seat before and after 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 provided services such as 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 several years despite rising market rates, 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 heat and 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 free soup kitchen one hour earlier than the current schedule to prepare for potential complaints arising from homeless individuals gathering around the facility after the Seoul Station shelter disappears.

(Video coverage: Lee Sang-hak, Video editing: Yoon Tae-ho)