[News Today] DEATHS IN WELFARE BLIND SPOT

[LEAD]
In Seoul, a man in his fifties was found dead, suspected of dying alone. He had sought help at a community center, but was turned away due to insufficient funds, a fact only recently uncovered.

[REPORT]
This residential building is just 200 meters away from an upscale area in southern Seoul.

Police received a report about a tenant who lived in a semi-basement flat of the building that could not be reached for months.

After arriving in the house, police found the tenant dead at the scene.

Neighbor/
He would pass by us without ever greeting us. He did not get along with the residents.

The man in his 50s surnamed Kim had failed to pay rent and utility bills for around three to four months.

Last year, the local community service center informed Kim of an emergency welfare assistance system. But it was discovered that he was not given the aid.

Official at Sinsa-dong Community Service Center/ (VOICE MODIFIED)
At the time, there were instructions to check welfare blind spots, identify those living in semi-basement or rooftop flats. So he was selected as a beneficiary.

Based on available information it was found that Kim who was jobless for six months, visited the community service center last January. But his request was turned down citing lack of budget at that time.

But just a few hours later, a budget for him was allocated. But by then he had already left the center.

In another similar case, a man in his 60s, a welfare recipient, was found dead in a multi-unit house in Eunpyeong-gu District, Seoul,

Over the past three years, more than 3,000 were reported to have died alone annually.