A Police Officer Who Has Been Using Personal Funds to Help Homeless People Every Month for 9 Years... "I Will Help More" and Even Obtained a Certification

Seongwoo Lee, Sergeant at Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul, Praised for 9 Years of Support for Local Homeless People
Efforts Spanning Nearly a Decade

A heartwarming story has been shared about a police officer who spends one-third of his salary (about 1 million won) to provide meals and essential living supplies for homeless people.

Seongwoo Lee, Sergeant at Daerim Police Substation, Yeongdeungpo Police Station, Seoul.
Photo by Dong-A Ilbo

On the 28th, Dong-A Ilbo reported that Sergeant Lee Seong-woo (56) of the Daerim Police Substation at Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul has been dedicated to helping nearby homeless people for a full nine years. On his days off, he spends about 1 million won of his own money to meet homeless individuals, provide daily necessities, and even find rented rooms without deposits for them.

Sergeant Lee, who became a police officer in 1992, mainly worked at frontline police substations and outposts, frequently encountering incidents and accidents involving homeless people, especially livelihood-related crimes such as theft. Around 2016, after being assigned to the Noryangjin Police Substation at Dongjak Police Station in Seoul, he began to watch over homeless people living around subway stations in his jurisdiction, thinking, "If homeless people can avoid immediate hunger and cold, might they stay away from crime?"

Over the past eight years, Sergeant Lee has helped 25 homeless people find shelter. Until a few years ago, he also paid their monthly rent, but as the number of homeless people he regularly interacts with increased to 15, supporting rent became difficult. However, he continues to visit their homes frequently to prepare meals and provide used home appliances to help those who were once homeless adapt well to their new lives.

Sergeant Lee said, "When helping homeless people, I ask them to 'give back as much as they receive and strive for independence.'" In fact, some homeless individuals have started to practice this. Mr. A (47), who was once homeless, overcame alcohol dependence with Sergeant Lee’s help and now participates in public work at a nearby community center, supporting himself. He even pays for meals for other homeless people. Mr. A said, "Meeting with the police officer two or three times a week gave me strength," and added, "If my life improves further, I will help those around me."

Meanwhile, Sergeant Lee also responded to the 'Bangbae-dong Mother and Son' case in 2020, where a mother in her 60s passed away from an illness, and her son in his 30s with developmental disabilities began living on the streets. After resolving the case, Sergeant Lee obtained certifications as a social worker and a disability activity support worker to provide more professional care for marginalized groups.

Sergeant Lee said, "(The money spent to support homeless people) is not a small amount given my circumstances, but it is very rewarding," adding, "I feel proud when I see homeless people living good lives without committing crimes."