Actress Nam Gyu-ri recalls living in harsh conditions, including flooded homes

South Korean actress and former SeeYa member Nam Gyu-ri has opened up about her past hardships, recounting experiences of living in extremely challenging conditions, including rooftop rooms and semi-basement apartments.

During an appearance on the SBS TV show 'The Story of That Day,' which focused on the 1971 Gwangju Grand Purchase Incident, Nam Gyu-ri shared personal anecdotes that resonated with the program's theme of difficult living situations. The incident involved the relocation of slum residents to Gwangju, where inadequate infrastructure like water, electricity, and transportation led to severe living conditions.

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I lived in rooftop rooms, and I also lived in semi-basement apartments, and even in goshiwons.

"We lived in rooftop rooms, and we also lived in semi-basement apartments, and even in goshiwons (small, basic living spaces)," Nam Gyu-ri revealed. She vividly described the impact of heavy rainfall on her former residence: "When heavy rain came, the water wouldn't drain from the rooftop room. When I came home, everything inside the house was floating."

Her personal testimony added a layer of raw emotion to the historical discussion, illustrating the severe lack of basic amenities and the precariousness of life for those in substandard housing. The program highlighted how residents faced dire circumstances due to the government's failure to provide essential infrastructure after their forced relocation.

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When heavy rain came, the water wouldn't drain from the rooftop room. When I came home, everything inside the house was floating.