Free food centre for the elderly in Seoul faces extinction amid rising property values: Video
A free food centre that has served Seoul's most vulnerable for decades is now facing the threat of extinction.
The Babfor service centre, founded by Pastor Choi Il-do, has been a lifeline for many, providing hot meals to hundreds of people daily. However, the rapid gentrification of the area has put the centre at odds with its new, affluent neighbours.
Located in the Dongdaemun district, at its peak, the centre served up to 1,200 meals a day, and even now, around 700 people rely on it for their daily sustenance.
The centre was established in a low-rent area, historically known for its red-light district, to cater to the needs of the city's impoverished residents.
As land values in Dongdaemun have soared, the once low-rent area has transformed into a desirable location for upscale developments.
This redevelopment has led to a clash between the Babfor centre and its new neighbours, who claim that the presence of the food centre attracts too many people, leading to increased crime.
Residents of the newly built luxury condos argue that the centre's operations have negatively impacted their property values, with some claiming losses of up to 200 million won (approximately $145,000) per apartment.
"[Apartment owners] began to spread a rumour that Babfor devalues their apartment by at least 100 million KRW [$72,389] or 200 million KRW, thus they are suffering loss," Pastor Choi Il-do told AFP.
This month, a court case will decide whether Choi must demolish parts of his centre, which authorities now allege were constructed without the necessary permits.
