The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Tue, April 13, 2021 | 10:04
-------------------------
Lonely deaths of homeless foreigners arise
고국 떠나 떠돌던 '파란 눈의 노숙인' 쓸쓸한 죽음
Posted : 2015-08-11 17:55
Updated : 2015-08-11 19:27
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Kim Se-jeong

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday it was trying to identify a homeless man who died of cancer at the end of last month.

According to the city government, it has not organized a funeral for the man who died in Seoul Medical Center on July 23 in Sinae-dong, Jungnang district, because of a lack of information about his nationality and name.

Before he died, he had introduced himself as Thomas Daniel from Israel to social workers. Also, they found a foreign registration card which stated him as British. But both embassies confirmed that he is not one of their citizens and his registration card turned out to be fake.

"We have requested police help," an official from the city government said.

When homeless people whose families and friends are unknown die, usually, the district government runs a notice looking for their families for one month before cremating the body, the remains of which are stored in a charnel for 10 years.

But there is no procedural rule for homeless foreigners like Daniel. "We may cremate his body after one month, then see," the official said.

According to the city government, the man was first spotted in January near Gangnam Bus Terminal. Social workers discovered he had physical and mental problems. In July, he was diagnosed with biliary tract cancer and was sent to Seoul Medical Center on July 16, where he died one week later.

He is just one of many homeless foreigners whose personal information is not known.

In January, a Taiwanese man was found dead near Bangsan Market in Jung district, Seoul. He was quickly identified as Taiwanese, and his body was cremated after one month because no family showed up to recover the remains. "For this man, at least we could identify him as a Taiwanese," said a Seoul social worker, surnamed Park, who takes care of homeless people.

Earlier this year, the city revealed that there are 430 homeless people living around Seoul, Yeongdeungpo and Euljiro stations. Among them, 14 are non-Koreans. Most of them are from China, while others are a Taiwanese, Kazakh, Australian and Egyptian. But it says it's hard to know the exact number of non-Korean homeless people.

"It's hard to say if it's increasing or not," Park said. "There's always been some around. Right now, we are taking care of one person from Egypt."

The Korea Human Rights Policy Institute urged the city government to treat homeless foreigners the same as Koreans.

A city official said it has difficulty taking care of them. "It is hard to track them down. They seek help but disappear suddenly." The official explained that they are mostly illegal aliens so that they don't want to enter homeless shelters because of the language barrier and a fear of being deported.


고국 떠나 떠돌던 '파란 눈의 노숙인' 쓸쓸한 죽음

외국인 노숙인 사망후 절차 규정없어 지자체 '난감'
서울시 파악 외국인 노숙자 14명…대부분 불법체류자

수년 전 한국에 들어와 일정한 주거 없이 떠돌던 외국인 노숙자가 쓸쓸히 세상을 떠났다. 그는 신원은커녕 국적도 제대로 확인되지 않아 장례 등 사후절차를 밟지 못하고 있다.

10일 서울시에 따르면 지난달 23일 서울 중랑구 신내동 서울의료원에서 60대로 추정되는 외국인 '토머스'씨가 지병인 담도암으로 치료를 받다 숨졌다.

토머스 씨는 생전에 자신을 이스라엘 출신이라고 밝혔다. 레바논, 미국, 체코 등을 돌아다니다 5년 전 영어교육 사업을 하려고 한국에 왔는데 사업이 기울며 불법 체류자로 전락해 길거리 생활을 했다는 게 그의 설명이었다.

반포 지하상가 등지에서 지내던 그는 올해 초 서울시 다시서기종합센터의 지원을 받아 서울역 인근 고시원에서 생활해왔다.

그러나 오랜 거리 생활에 몸 곳곳에 종양이 생기고 손을 심하게 떠는 등 건강이 악화했다. 병원 진료를 받아보니 담도암 판정이 나왔다.

다시서기센터 관계자는 '담도암이 주변 장기로 전이돼 몸이 심각하게 망가진 상황이었다'며 '신원과 가족사항을 물었지만 끝까지 답을 하지 않았다'고 전했다.

그가 숨을 거두자 서울시는 장례 절차를 밟으려 했지만 아직 국적도 정확히 확인하지 못한 상태여서 이러지도 저러지도 못하고 있다.

이스라엘 출신이라는 그의 생전 언급에 대사관 측에 신원조회를 요청했지만 이스라엘 대사관으로부터는 '우리 국민이 아니다'라는 답변이 돌아왔다.

유품을 정리하는 과정에서 영국 여권을 발견해 영국대사관에 확인을 요청했지만 여권은 위조된 것으로 판명났다.

국내에서 무연고 사망자의 사후 절차는 자치구의 몫이다.

내국인 무연고 사망자는 한 달간 공고를 내고 가족이 나타나지 않으면 화장해 납골당에 10년간 유골을 안치한다. 가족이 나타났을 때 인계하려는 조치다.

하지만 외국인 무연고 사망자에 대한 규정은 없다.

중랑구 관계자는 '토머스씨의 유족을 할 수 있는 데까지 확인해 보겠지만 끝내 가족을 찾지 못하면 내국인 관련 규정에 따라 사후처리 절차를 밟는 방안을 검토할 것'이라고 말했다.

서울시에 따르면 현재 서울역과 영등포역, 을지로입구역 인근에서 생활하는 노숙자는 모두 430여명이며 이 중 외국인 노숙자는 14명이다.

서울시는 올 1월 대만 국적 노숙인이 동사한 것을 계기로 2월부터 서울 시내에 거주하는 외국인 노숙인을 파악하고 관리 중이다. 대부분은 중국인과 조선족이며 호주, 카자흐스탄, 대만 출신이 각 1명이다.

대부분 불법체류자 신분인 이들은 강제추방에 대한 걱정과 언어 문제 때문에 노숙자를 위한 일시보호시설에도 들어가기를 꺼리는 것으로 알려졌다.

서울시 관계자는 '외국인 노숙자들도 건강에 문제가 발견되면 응급상황으로 간주해 우선 치료를 받게 한다'며 '하지만 불법체류 신분이라면 합법적으로 일자리를 소개하고 자활을 연계하는 데는 한계가 있다'고 말했다.

김형완 인권정책연구소장은 '국적이 없는 외국인 노숙자도 인간으로서 똑같이 존엄한 권리를 가진 만큼 생존에 위협을 당하는 상황에 대한 지원과 사후 처리 절차 등에 있어서도 내국인과 차별하는 일이 없어야 할 것'이라고 말했다. (연합뉴스)
Emailskim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
LG
 
  • Survivors of xenophobia, hate crime captured in photos
  • Concerns growing over deepening social divide amid pandemic
  • Concerns rise over Seoul mayor's proposed social distancing scheme
  • Spurs to take action after Korean star Son Heung-min racially abused
  • China's top official admits Chinese vaccines have low effectiveness
  • Teachers' portrait rights, copyright infringed on under online education
  • Iran openly expresses discontent over frozen assets in Korea
  • Korea voices grave concerns over Japan's expected decision to release Fukushima water into sea
  • New virus cases back under 600 on fewer tests; curbs extended amid spring resurgence
  • Will Hyundai Card vice chairman avoid handling labor issues?
  • Actress Seo Yea-ji accused of controlling boyfriend Actress Seo Yea-ji accused of controlling boyfriend
  • BLACKPINK's Rose sets 2 Guinness World Records with solo release BLACKPINK's Rose sets 2 Guinness World Records with solo release
  • Mamamoo to hold online concert on British streaming platform next month Mamamoo to hold online concert on British streaming platform next month
  • NCT DREAM to put out 1st full-length album on May 10 NCT DREAM to put out 1st full-length album on May 10
  • 'Way Back Home' follows rape survivor's path to healing from trauma 'Way Back Home' follows rape survivor's path to healing from trauma
DARKROOM
  • Locust outbreak

    Locust outbreak

  • Death toll rises as protests continue in Myanmar

    Death toll rises as protests continue in Myanmar

  • Say 'NO' to racism (Part 2)

    Say 'NO' to racism (Part 2)

  • Say 'NO' to racism (Part 1)

    Say 'NO' to racism (Part 1)

  • Worst dust storm chokes Beijing

    Worst dust storm chokes Beijing

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group