hankyoreh

A homeless man sleeps on the steps in front of Seoul Station, while civic organization members and homeless people hold a press conference to protest the state-run railroad operator Korail‘s eviction of homeless people from the station, Aug. 22.

Korail officials drove out dozens of homeless people for the first time around 1:30 a.m. and prevented them from bringing sleeping bags and mattresses as the station re-opened at 4:30 a.m. Monday morning. There were reportedly no major physical confrontations between the homeless and Korail officials who expelled them. Korail said it has no choice but to evict them using force due to growing complaints from passengers that homeless people cause inconveniences and even threaten travelers’ safety.

The expelled homeless people from Seoul Station spent the night inside other stations in Seoul.

Civic organizations helping the homeless have undertaken “two days, one night resistance actions” including a culture festival and a forum inside Seoul Station. They have criticized that Korail‘s forced eviction is not fundamental solution, but also would threaten their lives and cause other adverse effects. They said the government should provide a comprehensive package of measures ranging from housing, to employment and healthcare.

(Photo by Park Jong-shik, Story by Lee Moon-young)