[Report] "We Are Also Human" Severe Discrimination and Hate Against Homeless People with COVID-19

98 Homeless, Shelter Residents, and Workers Test Positive for COVID-19
"Please Just Go Away" Some Citizens Continue Hate Speech Against Homeless
Homeless Show Negative Test Results Saying "We Are Being Well Managed," Expressing Frustration
Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters "Expanding Medical Facilities for Homeless... Meal Support Also Being Carried Out Without Disruption"

On the afternoon of the 3rd, a homeless person is leaning against a step in the plaza of Seoul Station, soothing the hardships of daily life. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporters Seunggon Han, Soyoung Kim, Choyoung Kim, Jumi Lee (Intern)] "People look at us like we're some kind of bugs... We are human beings too."

Recently, as COVID-19 cases have been continuously reported among homeless people, criticism from citizens toward the homeless has been mounting. They are being accused of ignoring quarantine rules such as not washing properly and not wearing masks correctly, which has led to COVID-19 infections and is shaking the social safety net. Furthermore, some harsh criticisms have emerged blaming the homeless entirely for the spread of COVID-19, escalating into what is effectively a 'homeless hate' situation.

This kind of hatred toward a specific group during the COVID-19 crisis is not unprecedented. In May last year, when COVID-19 spread from clubs in Itaewon, Seoul, hate and discriminatory expressions against sexual minorities rapidly increased. Negative views toward sexual minority groups, such as those associated with 'OO sleeping rooms,' became generalized. Experts emphasize the need to empathize with the pain of socially vulnerable groups like the homeless and to raise voices for the advancement of their human rights.

On the afternoon of the 3rd, a homeless person is enduring the cold with cloth and plastic on one side of Seoul Station Plaza. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

◆ "Honestly, I really hate homeless people. Aren't they always carrying COVID-19?"

On the 3rd, many citizens met at the Seoul Station waiting room harshly criticized homeless people who tested positive for COVID-19, while some responded with comments like "We are all human, so pointing fingers isn't right."

Kim, a man in his 40s who works at an office, said, "First of all, I wish masks were distributed more generously to homeless people," adding, "Testing is good, but prevention seems more important."

Regarding the perception of homeless people who tested positive for COVID-19, he emphasized, "Well, I don't have any particular thoughts. Aren't we all human, both them and us?"

There were also opinions expressing anxiety because homeless people do not have a fixed residence. Lee, a woman in her 50s, said, "I often go to Seoul Station, and naturally, passing by homeless people makes me a bit more cautious. It is a little unsettling and scary."

On the other hand, some critical opinions suggested that the fact that homeless people caught COVID-19 makes the situation more anxious and the spread faster. A man in his 70s said, "I am very worried," raising his voice, "They have nowhere to stay, and since they are out in large numbers like that, it makes me even more anxious."

There were also hateful remarks implying that homeless people do not care even if they catch COVID-19. A woman said, "Honestly, homeless people live a desperate life," adding, "I think even if they get infected, they probably don't care. Only we suffer."

A homeless person is showing a negative COVID-19 test result to the press. Most homeless individuals have undergone multiple COVID-19 tests, emphasizing that there is no risk of COVID-19 spread that concerns citizens. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

◆ "After the screening clinic was set up and people gathered... Before that, not a single COVID case"

The homeless themselves expressed that they are truly unfairly treated. Kim (53), who has been homeless for 20 years and was met on a step in the Seoul Station plaza, immediately showed the reporters his 'COVID-19 negative test result certificate.'

He said that most homeless people, like himself, tested negative, and only a few caught COVID-19, but all homeless people are being labeled as 'dirty' and 'more dangerous because they are homeless,' which he found infuriating.

Kim said, "People are making noise and insulting us because some of us caught COVID-19, but I think this is wrong." He continued, "Isn't Seoul Station plaza a place anyone can go? Why are we being driven out, insulted, and pointed at?" raising his voice. He expressed frustration, saying, "We can't even enter the waiting rooms. When people see us, they say 'COVID' and just chase us away."

At that moment, a man in his 70s passing by said, "Why are you talking to homeless people? You'll catch COVID," adding, "I can't live because of homeless people. I wish they would all just go away," causing a brief commotion.

There have been claims that homeless people caught COVID-19 because crowds gathered after a screening clinic was set up at Seoul Station.

Choi (61), a homeless person, said, "Before, none of the real homeless people at Seoul Station caught COVID-19. Not a single case came out. But suddenly, cases started appearing. Why? Because people who live at home kept coming and going here. The people who are actually homeless here didn't get infected."

He added, "The real homeless people here have all taken COVID-19 tests at least five times. Before the clinic was set up, there were no confirmed cases at all. But after the clinic was established, confirmed cases appeared."

'Corona Support Board' Made by Homeless People. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

◆ Serious discrimination and hate against socially vulnerable groups after the COVID-19 crisis

As harsher discriminatory views continue toward homeless people infected with COVID-19, human rights organizations have diagnosed that discrimination and hate against foreigners, sexual minorities, and religious groups have become more entrenched since the COVID-19 crisis.

Lee Wan, head of the Asian Human Rights and Culture Solidarity, criticized in a presentation titled "COVID-19, Social Stigma, and Recovery Measures" last October, saying, "Rather than new social groups being stigmatized, discrimination against minorities in Korean society has become visible and intensified through infectious diseases."

Park Hanhee, a full-time lawyer at the Public Interest Lawyers' Group 'Law Making Hope,' emphasized the need to amend the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act to expand the subjects of infectious disease-related rights from 'citizens' to 'residents' and to explicitly establish measures against discrimination and hate.

She argued that the vulnerable groups defined in Article 49-2 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act should not be limited to 'children and elderly using social welfare facilities' but should be redefined to include various groups such as people with disabilities, those in poverty, migrants, and vulnerable workers.

Lawyer Park suggested, "Most forms of discrimination caused by COVID-19 are manifestations of existing discriminatory structures that become more apparent in disasters. Unless the overall social discrimination issues are resolved, these problems will inevitably continue."

Amid ongoing criticism that COVID-19 responses toward homeless people are inadequate, members of the Seoul Human Rights Commission, an advisory body on human rights policy, called for urgent measures.

In an emergency statement on the 2nd, Seoul Human Rights Commission members pointed out, "Last year, even as COVID-19 spread into a pandemic, Seoul City did not allocate additional housing budgets to protect street homeless people, and this remains the case this year. In particular, the 'emergency sleeping space' policy, where ten to as many as seventy people share sleeping and hygiene spaces including restrooms, is significantly inadequate to protect homeless people from COVID-19 infection risks."

Han Sanghee, chairperson of the Seoul Human Rights Commission and a professor at Konkuk University Law School, expressed concern, saying, "As COVID-19 rapidly spreads recently centered on homeless people, they are wandering without places to stay due to COVID-19 fears, resulting in human rights violations."

On the afternoon of the 3rd, homeless people lined up at Seoul Station Plaza to receive support items such as free meals. The homeless maintained social distancing by keeping space between themselves and the person in front. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

Meanwhile, Seoul City has decided to strengthen COVID-19 measures targeting homeless people. On the 3rd, Park Yumi, Director of the Seoul City Citizen Health Bureau, stated at a COVID-19 online briefing held at Seoul City Hall, "Because of the characteristics of homeless people, if there is a delay between testing and receiving results, it becomes difficult to find them again, so Seoul City is preparing to conduct rapid antigen tests more quickly."

Director Park added, "Even after conducting mass testing, we continue to conduct regular weekly tests," and "More confirmed cases may emerge depending on the results of regular mass testing."

The quarantine authorities also decided to respond more closely to COVID-19 prevention among homeless people. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that they have completed proactive testing for about 9,500 people including street homeless people and will conduct rapid antigen tests in parallel for homeless people whose whereabouts are difficult to track after testing. Rapid antigen tests are diagnostic tests where individuals collect nasal mucus themselves and insert it into a test kit to determine COVID-19 infection within about 30 minutes.

Yoon Taeho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, said, "While strengthening quarantine measures, we will ensure that essential services for homeless people continue without interruption," adding, "We will expand medical facilities for homeless people and ensure that essential services such as meal support proceed without disruption."

Additionally, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters plans to re-emphasize the designation of quarantine officers at homeless living facilities and prepare and distribute strengthened quarantine guidelines tailored to the characteristics of each homeless facility, including the establishment of temporary waiting spaces.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the previous day (3rd), among 7,602 tested homeless people, residents of small rooms, and workers, 98 were confirmed positive (as of 9 p.m. on the 2nd).