Deceased 'Gangseo-gu Family' Found... They Were Basic Livelihood Security Recipients

Discovered Long After Death... No Outstanding Utility Fees Reported

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] It has been confirmed that a family found dead after a long time in a multi-family house in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, were recipients of the Basic Livelihood Security Program.

According to Gangseo-gu Office and Gangseo Police Station on the 6th, the deceased mother, Ms. A, and her son were recipients of the customized Basic Livelihood Security Program managed by the district office, receiving livelihood benefits, medical benefits, and housing benefits. A female relative who also died with them was also a recipient of the Basic Livelihood Security Program, although registered at a different address.

The customized Basic Livelihood Security Program supports living expenses, medical expenses, housing expenses, and education expenses according to the characteristics and circumstances of each household among those whose recognized income is below the selection criteria for each benefit, and who either have no support obligor or have one with low income and assets.

Earlier, they were found dead around 2:35 p.m. on the 5th in a multi-family house in Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu. At the time of discovery, the bodies were reported to be significantly decomposed.

The exact time of their deaths has not yet been determined. A district office official explained, "It has been confirmed that no overdue utility bills were recently sent to this household."

The police responded to a report from another son of Ms. A, stating "the family is not responding to contact," and discovered the mother and son dead in the house where they lived. The reporting son and Ms. A’s husband were also understood to be living separately from the mother and son.

There were no signs of forced entry by outsiders or weapons presumed to have been used in a crime found at the scene. No suicide note was discovered either.

The police plan to conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause and time of death, keeping in mind the possibility that they may have taken their own lives.