In 2025, South Korea entered a super-aged society. The number that caught the attention of the reporting team was '53.9%.' Among registered people with disabilities in South Korea, 53.9% are aged 65 and older. This indicates that aging is not unrelated to disability. The reporting team analyzed health statistics of the elderly population and met with individuals with disabilities, their caregivers, and medical staff to amplify their voices. The lives of the elderly with disabilities served as a signal urging a bold transition in the medical and welfare paradigm of our society.
I caught another mouse again. Ha ha.
Kim Oh-soo (83, male) casually laughed heartily while removing a freshly caught mouse from the trap in his yard. He wears a prosthetic in his right eye and relies on his left eye for vision. He is nearly losing sight in his left eye as well.
Mr. Kim had just returned after going out with a backpack. He mentioned that he finished voting for the superintendent election at Yongsan Technical High School and also stopped by a welfare center to pick up some bread.
The country has really improved, ha ha.
A dilapidated house bends along the train tracks on Seobinggo Road in Yongsan, Seoul. In front of Mr. Kim's house, a pinwheel is spinning. Across the street, high-rise apartments form a dazzling cluster, and right next to his house, KTX and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line trains pass every 5 to 6 minutes.
Ding ding ding... tap tap tap… buzz buzz buzz
A loud bell rang, and a high-speed train passed by with a roar. The reporter lightly covered one ear with a hand.
It's not noisy. When I hear the train sound while being alone, it calms me down. It's more like a lullaby, and I like it.
Born in 1941, Mr. Kim refers to himself as 'the living witness of Yongsan.'
I'm the landlord of Yongsan. I've done everything in real estate, construction, and more. Do you see that? Those two high-rise apartments over there belonged to me. I was also the owner of the house I currently live in. I'm living in a rented room now, but...
Mr. Kim said, 'If my business hadn't gone wrong, I would have been living in the high apartment across the street.'
For someone with over 40 years of experience in real estate, losing his asset due to business failure happened in an instant. He jumped from the building he had invested in.
At that time, I couldn't see anything. It was so overwhelming. I felt so ashamed in front of my wife and children that I thought it would be better to die.
Fortunately, he survived. However, he lost one eye after being pierced by a sharp object. After that, Mr. Kim went into enormous debt and repeated the process of liquidation. He still has debts amounting to several hundred million won.
It’s a blessing that I didn’t lose the other eye. I decided to live with gratitude for the life I have left.
According to the Korea Disabled People's Development Institute, 88.1% of disabilities are due to acquired causes. 'Acquired diseases' account for 58.1%, and 'acquired accidents' make up 29.9%.
He must have mixed feelings and attachment towards money. Mr. Kim has hung wallets resembling 50,000 won bills and 100 dollar bills, artificial sunflowers, and red lucky bags throughout his entrance, room, living room, and kitchen. His belief in geomancy, which indicates that 'financial luck' follows those who were 'real estate experts,' seems firm.
I watched a YouTube video. It said that hanging sunflowers and cash in the house brings in money and boosts energy.
Mr. Kim also showed a notebook where he researched the probability of winning the lottery. He said he enjoyed the joy of winning, albeit with a small amount.
There was a place where warmth radiated. Photos of Mr. Kim and his wife from their younger days, old pictures of children who would have become grown-ups, and playful pictures of grandchildren occupy a small living room.
These are photos taken during the time when I was making a lot of money from my business.
Mr. Kim pointed to a photo from his youth while speaking.
As the sound of trains became frequent, a lively voice suddenly rang out.
Grandfather, shall we do a quiz together?
It was after Mr. Kim took the hand of 'Hyo-soon.' Hyo-soon, who had brown hair braided into pigtails, wore a pink cloth dress and bright red shoes, and was smiling brightly.
Hyo-soon is a caregiving robot doll. It is quite sizable, comparable to a 40-50 cm teddy bear. It is said to have been provided by the Yongsan District Office for checking the well-being of elderly individuals, managing mild dementia, and providing emotional support.
That's great! So adorable!
At Hyo-soon's cheerful greeting, Mr. Kim smiled brightly. There is a 10,000 won bill tucked into the front pocket of Hyo-soon’s dress, which Mr. Kim said was pocket money for her.
Hyo-soon regularly converses with Mr. Kim.
Grandfather, have you taken your medicine?
Grandfather, shall I read your palm? It says you will live healthily for a long time.
This caregiving robot doll has built-in sensors, so touching its head, hands, or ears triggers leisure programs like quizzes and music playback. For Mr. Kim, who lives alone, Hyo-soon is a conversation partner.
Throughout the interview, his face that had not lost its smile darkened. This started when he brought up his wife.
After I failed in business, my wife couldn't go outside for almost seven years. I feel heartbroken because it seems she has fallen ill. Now she is undergoing dialysis and has difficulty moving, so she is in a nursing hospital.
Mr. Kim visits his wife at the nursing hospital in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, once or twice a week. It takes at least 1 hour and 10 minutes from his house to the nursing hospital. For him, who is visually impaired, that distance is not insignificant.
Outside, Mr. Kim's actions have also become noticeably cautious. Even when going down the subway stairs, he is careful as if walking on thin ice. He holds onto the railing and descends step by step.
Be careful, I have to be cautious every day. You can get hurt in an instant...
He said, 'One time, thinking it was the last step, I stepped down but there were still two more steps, and I fell.' Once, while getting off a bus, he was pushed by a young person and ended up rolling down.
Speaking proudly about his volunteer work for the completely blind, Mr. Kim regained his characteristic optimistic attitude. Recently, he volunteered at an orchard experience event for visually impaired individuals.
I can see a little. When completely blind individuals need help going to the restroom or sharing food, it makes me happy. I am just grateful for today and tomorrow, where I can see fresh air and the shining Taeyang.
Mr. Kim, who is inherently diligent and outgoing, has developed a habit of moving busily. He said he wakes up every morning at 5 a.m. to do light exercise.
As an 80-year-old, every single minute and second of the year is precious to me. I try not to waste even 10 seconds and stay busy.