THE KUKMIN DAILY

On January 10 as usual, there was a group of homeless persons in front of Yeongdeungpo Station. A drunk person talked endlessly. Another sat as if dazed. Passers-by were indifferent, but some gave the group cold, sideways glances.

It was the same on a particular day 10 years ago. Homeless persons were gathered in front of Yeongdeungpo station while people passed along the street in apparent blindness to their presence. Kim Chung-ho (31, photo), then a high school student, was different. “I lived nearby, so seeing homeless persons was an everyday thing. But on that day, the scene was strangely vivid. My heart ached, and I wanted to do anything I could for those homeless people.”

This conversation with Kim took place at Haetsal Bogeumjari (Sunshine Nest), a support facility for homeless persons in Yeongdeungpo-gu, where Kim is employed as a social worker.

As a junior in high school, he had no particular career goal. He gradually lost his passion for study, perhaps because he did not have a dream. Then his elder sister challenged him, “You’re Christian. Why don’t you have a vision, when you believe in God? Start praying honestly today, and ask God what your vision is.”

With some misgivings, Kim began to pray. During this period his heart started beating faster when he looked at homeless persons. “I was surprised to become interested in them. Usually people avoid them. I prayed more earnestly for a definite answer. And finally I felt confident that I was called to embrace them.”

This confidence made him want to study. He chose social welfare as his college major. In 2008, as part of the requirements for the Christian Social Welfare course he was taking, he visited Sunshine Nest, a welfare facility for homeless persons. Sunshine Nest was established by Yeongdeungpo Urban Industrial Mission and is partially funded by the government and the Korean church.

“On my visit here, I learned anew about homeless persons: Each and every one of them has been forced to enter street life. Though this was not their choice, they are objects of scorn because of their appearance. I felt sorry for them and excited at the same time.” Shortly before graduation, while searching for a job, he found the announcement of an opening at Sunshine Nest. He applied for the post immediately and has been a social worker there since 2010.

I asked Kim his definition of “homeless person,” and he answered, “Someone who has experienced tremendous failure at least once.” He continued, “Many have gone bankrupt due to a failed business or unsuccessful marriage. What I find serious is that about half of the homeless persons I have met are orphans and had very unfortunate childhoods.”

Many homeless persons have experienced a sense of unworthiness from early on, and their feelings of failure have been repeated through poverty and others’ contempt to the point that they are left with no will for life. “There are those who curse or yell. At first I didn’t understand them. But I learned that they do this to get others’ attention. They want to be noticed even in this undesirable way, for they have been feeling so ignored.”

Sunshine Nest provides shelter for 60∼70 homeless persons a day. It also supports about 500 persons a year in finding jobs, and helps them find places to live. Sometimes Sunshine Nest and the Housing Welfare Foundation cooperate to provide homeless persons with rental housing at reasonable prices.

“I feel happiest when I see them adapt to their work, cherish their new nests, and recover their life enough to be able to meet their families.”

Kim said his motive for work is his faith in God. He left his home church after marriage, and now he and his wife attend Saengmyeongeuljuneun (life-giving) Church (PCK Hapdong) in Seoul.

“In Matthew 25, Jesus says ‘Just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ I think Jesus is one of the homeless persons. After all, God showed me the vision to embrace them. Even when I meet challenges, I will remember my calling and work harder at my service.”

Reporter Lee Saya (Isaiah@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
Photo by intern reporter Bo Yeon Kim


Original Article in Korean:
[예수청년] “주린 자에게 생명의 빵을” 선한 명령 지킵니다: 노숙인 돌보는 사회복지사 ‘김충호씨’