Mold-infested room exacerbates health crisis for elderly Seoul resident

In a cramped, mold-infested basement room in Seoul, 66-year-old Kang Soon-nam (a pseudonym) battles for survival, her body ravaged by illness and her spirit burdened by isolation. The room, where she has lived for 24 years, offers little respite, its pervasive mold and dampness making even breathing a struggle. "I feel like the mold-covered room is stealing my right to breathe," she shared, her voice heavy with despair.

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I feel like the mold-covered room is stealing my right to breathe.

Her health crisis began last December when she collapsed on a bus after work. Doctors diagnosed infectious endocarditis, a severe heart infection with a high fatality rate if untreated. Kang believes her living conditions may have contributed to the illness. "I wonder if the breaths I took in this moldy house ultimately led to my illness," she said. The immediate need for heart valve replacement surgery presented a daunting financial hurdle. As she has lived alone since her divorce two decades ago, with no family to turn to, her entire savings amounted to just over 1 million won (approximately $720).

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I wonder if the breaths I took in this moldy house ultimately led to my illness.

Overwhelmed by physical pain and the shame of her situation, Kang borrowed money from friends to afford the surgery. "I felt like I had lived wrongly, that being alone meant even illness was a sin," she recounted. Post-surgery, she faced another battle: regaining mobility. With her livelihood dependent on her legs, she underwent intensive rehabilitation, driven by the fear of being unable to walk. Though her health has improved, she still experiences dizziness and shortness of breath with minimal exertion. Recently, she developed sudden hearing loss and symptoms of a stroke, requiring neurological care.

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I felt like I had lived wrongly, that being alone meant even illness was a sin.

Returning to her basement room in January after two months in the hospital, Kang found her boiler broken and her electric blanket malfunctioning. The landlord refused repairs, citing unpaid rent. Kang had fallen behind on her 300,000 won monthly rent due to her financial struggles. She borrowed money to fix the boiler, but the cost exceeded her funds. A repairman, moved by her plight, allowed her to pay the remaining balance later, a kindness Kang repays with 50,000 won installments each month. The dilapidated ceiling began shedding cement powder, making cooking impossible and adding another layer of hardship to her already precarious existence. She now relies on pre-packaged meals and food shared by neighbors.

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To me, my legs are all I have. I have to live alone until the day I die, so what if I can't walk?