[Report] "Don't Spread Your Mat"… Rows of Cardboard Boxes Lined Up at Tapgol Park

On the 6th, at Tapgol Park and in Chuncheon, elderly people arrived in the morning
to mark their spots with 'paper boxes' for free meals

"I've been here since 6:20. Prices have gone up a lot, so I came out to get a meal. Right now, I can't get a job anywhere, I have no money, so I can't be a boss, and if I try to start something, I think I'll just lose money. Just wandering around like this is the happiest thing. For now, at least I'm healthy." (Grandfather Park Cheol-min, 78, pseudonym, resident of Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi)

The elderly gathered here said that fights sometimes break out over seats. Because of this, a self-proclaimed 'Autonomous Order Team' was also formed. Photo by Seoyul Hwang chestnut@

At around 7:30 a.m. on the 6th, I visited the left sidewalk of Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. For some time now, there have been no people here, only a long line of cardboard boxes placed on the ground. Elderly people place boxes marked with their turn numbers to receive free meals. Some boxes have area names and numbers like 'Sinwol-dong 41', 'HUFS 42', 'Ssangmun-dong 43', while others have identifiers like 'Driver Park' or 'Mr. Cha' to mark themselves. Passersby hurrying to work also asked the elderly placing the boxes, "What kind of line is this?" Foreigners boarding a tour bus parked on the adjacent road stopped to take pictures. Grandfather Kim Kwang-seok (80, resident of Gangseo-gu, Seoul) said, "I came from Hwagok-dong at 6 a.m. and placed box number 19," adding, "When they give out lunch boxes here, I take them home to eat in the evening."

The elderly who secured their spots with boxes gather behind Tapgol Park. Around 8:40 a.m., they line up to receive morning rice balls provided by Wongaksa Temple. The elderly typically have about two meals a day here. After receiving rice balls and seaweed soup, Grandfather Park returned to his '28 Uijeongbu' box and began his breakfast. When asked what kind of work he did before, he replied, "I don't even know how the years have passed," and started recounting his history. Park worked as a bus driver from 1984 until he quit three years ago. Feeling lonely, he started coming here about a year ago. When asked his name, he said, "My children don't know I come here; if they find out, there will be a fuss," adding, "I tell them I'm going to Seoul and back so they won't stop me." He refused several times to reveal his real name.

At around 7:30 a.m. on the 6th, on the left sidewalk of Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. About 100 boxes brought by elderly people to receive free meals were placed here. Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

Among the elderly here, some come from far away like Chuncheon in Gangwon Province, as well as from Gyeonggi and Incheon, just to get a meal like Grandfather Park. When asked if coming from so far is too much, the grandmothers and grandfathers unanimously said, "Since seniors ride the subway for free, coming from far away for a meal is not a big deal." On this day, Grandmother Shim Myeong-woo (70, Namyangju, Gyeonggi) started her day at 4 a.m. She took the first train at 5 a.m. from Deokso to arrive here by 6 a.m. She explained that since the subway station is far from her home, she rests along the way, and time passes quickly. Shim, who said she placed her box for the 12th time today, shared, "I live with my children's father, but since his health is poor, I have been coming alone to get lunch boxes since last September."

Fights sometimes break out due to the competition starting early in the morning. On the 24th of last month, a grandfather who secured a spot in front shouted curses at a grandmother for "cutting in line." Fortunately, the situation did not escalate into a physical fight due to others' intervention. Grandmother Shim said, "We fight every day over spots and getting meals." Because of this, a self-proclaimed 'self-regulation team' seems to have formed among them to maintain order voluntarily. In the middle of the box line, there was a box with a note saying, "This place is for those who come in order. Only one box per person is allowed. Anyone who breaks the rules such as cutting in line will be expelled."

11:40 AM. As it was time to distribute free meals, the box owners returned to their places. Photo by Seoyul Hwang chestnut@

The waiting time is also a social activity for the grandfathers and grandmothers. Grandfather Lee Won-heum (70, pseudonym, resident of Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul) struck up a conversation with Mr. Park (62), who was pushing a cart full of scrap paper. Park said, "I might have to leave my home starting tomorrow and live in a sauna," and Lee responded, "Oh dear, what can you do?" showing concern by asking, "Do you have regulars who get boxes?" The grandfather, who has been coming here for 15 years, knew many people from that time. During about 20 minutes of chatting, he even exchanged playful hand gestures with another passing grandfather. After receiving rice balls from Wongaksa Temple, he said, "I'll go home briefly to eat the rice balls and come back," bidding farewell before heading home.

On days when they oversleep, they often miss out. When a friend who usually comes did not show up, Grandfather Kim Kwang-seok called and said, "Are you just waking up now? Okay, bye," then told the other grandfathers around, "It takes an hour and a half to get here from home, so he can't make it." Around 11:30 a.m., the box owners found their seats, but Grandfather Kim Mal-su (76), who arrived late, had to stand and wait until the meal distribution was over and only received hardtack and water without a lunch box. The number he received at that time was in the 210s. Kim said, "Maybe more people came out today because the weather is nice," and lightly offered a compliment, "You look good, so things will go well," before quickly heading off to find another free meal service.