A Day in the Life of Ko Gyeongjin, Lunchbox Delivery Worker
Feeling Relieved When Delivered Lunchboxes Disappear
If Left Untouched, It's a Warning Sign
At 10:30 a.m. on the 24th, at Bundeok Jugong Apartment in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul.
After the morning rush hour, as few residents were around, Gyeongjin Ko (57) was busily moving through the apartment complex, calling out, "Delivery!"
Ko delivers the "Giunchan Dosirak" lunchboxes, which provide side dishes to middle-aged people at risk of dying alone, as well as the "Dolbom SOS Dosirak" lunchboxes, which are aimed at single-person households in need of care.
The lunchboxes Ko delivers are placed in front of the doors of apartments, villas, and goshiwons in Bundeok-dong and Mia-dong, Gangbuk-gu, where vulnerable groups such as elderly people living alone, low-income households, and reclusive individuals reside. With lunchboxes in both hands, Ko finished deliveries to the 11th and 8th floors and immediately rushed to his car trunk without a moment's rest. His hair was soon drenched in sweat.
On the morning of the 24th, Gyeongjin Ko (57) is delivering lunchboxes to vulnerable households in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seungwook Park
Many local governments are running lunchbox and beverage delivery programs for vulnerable groups. In Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, this year the "Healthy Beverage Delivery Program" for low-income single-person households was expanded to cover all age groups. In Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, the number of recipients for the "Milk Delivery Program for Checking on the Elderly" increased from 100 to 150.
The number of vulnerable single-person households increases every year. According to the Korea Social Security Information Service, as of March this year, there were 1.41 million single-person households receiving basic livelihood security, up from 1.25 million in 2023 and 1.39 million in 2024. If isolated and reclusive single-person households, for which there are no statistics, are included, the number of vulnerable households is estimated to be even higher.
Delivery programs such as lunchboxes are also intended to help prevent solitary deaths among vulnerable households. If a lunchbox left the previous day remains untouched, it is a warning sign. Ko said, "Most of the homes I deliver to are elderly people living alone or reclusive households, and it could mean that something has happened." He added, "If that happens, I immediately contact the responsible public official to check the situation."
Ko delivers lunchboxes every day except weekends, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no time to rest if he wants to finish deliveries before lunchtime. Ko said, "Since I travel all over Gangbuk-gu, if I don't start running as soon as I get out of the car, I might not be able to finish on time," adding, "It's the same whether it's raining or snowing."
On the morning of the 24th, Gyeongjin Ko (57) is delivering lunchboxes to vulnerable households in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seungwook Park
Because Ko goes wherever vulnerable people live, his car is covered in scratches. Ko said, "In areas crowded with villas or studio apartments, the alleys are so narrow that it's hard to take care of the car," and "Many of the people who receive lunchboxes live in villas, which I have to visit one by one, rather than in apartments."
Ko is now in his fifth year of deliveries. He said, "At the end of last year, I witnessed the solitary death of an elderly person living alone, and I was tormented by the thought, 'If only I had been a little faster.'" He continued, "I delivered on Friday, but the lunchboxes were still there on Monday and Tuesday the following week, and when I found the elderly person collapsed and reported it, but in the end..."
Ko said he feels encouraged when he sees a note on the door after a delivery that says, "Thank you, I will enjoy the meal." Ko said, "Many people don't want to come outside, so the fact that they express their gratitude is, in a way, a very welcome thing." On this day, Ko finished his lunchbox deliveries at around 12:50 p.m. Fortunately, he also confirmed that all the lunchboxes he had delivered to doors the previous day were gone. Smiling, Ko was finally able to head to a restaurant for his own lunch.
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