"Don't Call 119, No Money" Boss Gives 200,000 Won to Collapsed Elderly Living Alone

Helping Hand from Eyeglass Shop Owner Kim
Late Issue Sparks Flood of "Where is the Eyeglass Shop?" Inquiries

A story about an optician who offered a helping hand to a poor elderly man who collapsed on the street and could not get up has become a hot topic.

According to a JTBC report, on the morning of May 19th in Chung-hyeon-dong, Seoul, Ban Tae-hoon, a single elderly man living on government support as a basic livelihood security recipient, suddenly collapsed due to dizziness. Ban said at the time, "My heart was pounding and my head was spinning," describing the situation. He tried to get up again but failed. For more than 10 minutes afterward, Ban remained unable to get up and was left without help as time passed.

On the morning of May 19th, in Chung-hyeon-dong, Seoul, Mr. Ban, a solitary elderly person who collapsed due to dizziness while entering a store, refused to call 119 claiming he was a basic livelihood security recipient. Mr. Kim, the owner of a nearby optical shop, helped by giving him 200,000 won.
[Photo by JTBC]

At that moment, Kim, the owner of a nearby optical shop, noticed Ban and approached him. Kim told Ban, "I will call 119 (emergency services)," but Ban refused Kim’s help, saying, "I am a basic livelihood security recipient. I have no money. Please don’t call 119."

Hearing Ban’s words, Kim went into his shop and came out with four 50,000 won bills, totaling 200,000 won, and handed them to Ban. Despite being disoriented, Ban recalled Kim saying, "Sir, is money the problem? A person’s life is what matters."

It is also known that Kim told Ban he did not have to repay the 200,000 won.

In an interview with JTBC, Ban wiped tears with a handkerchief and said, "Thanks to this kind person, I overcame a life-threatening moment and was reborn," expressing his gratitude, "I keep tearing up. In such a harsh world..."

After receiving timely treatment and being discharged from the hospital with Kim’s help, Ban visited the optical shop again to express his thanks. Kim said, "It seemed like a myocardial infarction, and that would have been a race against time," adding, "I just did what I had to do. It’s a very trivial matter. That could have been me."

The CCTV footage from that time was posted on an online community, drawing attention to Kim’s good deed. Netizens who heard the story reportedly expressed their intention to visit the optical shop to purchase glasses. Kim’s optical shop is known to be located inside the Chungjeongno Station in Seoul.