Homeless People on the Streets: "Our Lives Are Shaken to the Core... Reality Is Hell"

I Don't Even Expect My Own Home, Just Want a Real House
The Whole Country Is Caught in Real Estate Speculation... Laws and Systems Are Desperately Needed
Even Living Diligently Saving, No Money to Buy a House

The "Homeless Joint Action," an alliance of 69 organizations, held a candlelight rally demanding real estate reform on the afternoon of the 29th in front of Boshingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with about 40 members attending. (Photo by Homeless Joint Action)

"A filthy world where people die repaying debts their whole lives... Reality is now hell."

"When land and house prices rise, the lives of ordinary citizens without homes like me are completely shaken."

Homeless citizens frustrated by rising housing prices took to the streets. This was to express their anger at the soaring sale and jeonse prices since the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration. They said, "Reality is hell for the homeless," and raised their voices demanding "policies that can curb real estate speculation."

The "Homeless Joint Action," a coalition of 69 organizations including the National People's Action, Korean Progressive Alliance, and the World Without Housing Worries Solidarity, held a candlelight rally demanding real estate reform at 5:30 p.m. on the 29th in front of Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The rally was held with about 40 people gathered in accordance with COVID-19 quarantine measures.

Participants sat apart following social distancing guidelines, holding placards and insisting that policies to lower housing prices must be implemented immediately. There was widespread anger that the lives of homeless ordinary citizens have been pushed to the brink due to the government's wrong policies and reckless real estate speculation. The rally was conducted with representatives from organizations and political parties, as well as homeless citizens, taking turns to speak.

Jeon Jong-deok, Secretary General of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, said, "We raised candles together to build a country worthy of the name, but the Moon Jae-in administration doubled housing prices and turned the entire country into a real estate speculation republic through 'Yeongkkeul' (borrowing to the limit) and 'Debt Investment' (borrowing to invest)," emphasizing that "laws and systems to prevent real estate speculation must be established."

Attendees also strongly criticized the government's failure in real estate policies.

Kim Ye-won, co-representative of the Green Party, said, "Statistics show that housing prices have doubled within four years since the Moon Jae-in government took office," adding, "Considering that the government has consistently emphasized housing stability, this is an act of deceiving the people. If the government does not step up, citizens must take action to secure the basic right to housing."

The 'Homeless Joint Action,' an alliance of 69 organizations, is holding a candlelight rally demanding real estate reform on the afternoon of the 29th in front of Boshingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with about 40 members attending. (Photo by Homeless Joint Action)

Lee, a resident of a public rental apartment by Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, said, "The government seems to think that building and supplying rental apartments is everything, but ordinary people want to buy a house even if they have to borrow money," pointing out that "(current policies) are a much more regressive form than before. Apart from the 10-year public rental fake, the reality is that only low-quality public rental housing is being supplied."

Kim, living in a semi-basement in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, said, "Do you know what it feels like to sleep hearing the buzzing sound of a refrigerator next to your head in a 4-pyeong (approx. 13.2 sqm) studio?" adding, "I no longer even hope to own my own home, which has truly become a dream. I just wish the house I move to in two years is a proper house above ground."

Park, living in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, said, "A 30-year loan life, a life without money feels like hell," adding, "A filthy world where people die repaying debts their whole lives, reality is now hell."

Jung, living in Seoul, said, "I graduated from a well-known university, have a decent-paying job, and have lived diligently saving money, but I have no money to buy a house," emphasizing, "How can this country kill both the will to live and the will to work like this? Where did this country start to break down?"

Meanwhile, the Homeless Joint Action presented six major demands that day: ▲abolition of special privileges for rental business operators ▲substantial strengthening of real estate holding taxes ▲expansion of public rental housing supply ▲strengthening tenant rights such as lowering jeonse and monthly rent ▲prohibition of farmland ownership by non-farmers ▲restriction on real estate ownership by conglomerates.