Parents did not apply, so substantial support was not provided… several crisis household notifications only
Water and electricity bill notices piling up… Neighbors say, “Life became difficult after the father fell ill.”
A fire incident occurred in an apartment in Incheon, leaving an elementary school student in serious condition. The family was identified as eligible for living support, but did not receive it because they did not apply. According to news reports, Incheon’s Seo-gu district received a notification from the Ministry of Health and Welfare in September last year, indicating that this household was suspected of being a vulnerable crisis household, and counseling should be conducted.
The local administrative welfare center visited the household for counseling, but no living support followed as the parents did not apply. The father recently began kidney dialysis, leaving the mother as the sole breadwinner. Their income increased slightly at the start of the year, leading to no further counseling. Moreover, the family owned a car, which was another reason they were deemed ineligible for welfare support.
Despite these reasons, the family appeared to face financial difficulties. When visiting the apartment on the day of the fire, the mailbox was filled with overdue notices for water and electricity bills. Neighbors noted that the family’s situation worsened after the father became ill, although previously there seemed to be no problems.
A district official acknowledged receiving several notifications to counsel the family, adding that the welfare center is checking related details and plans to provide emergency living expenses. An official noted the need for proactive administration even if the family did not apply for aid and suggested possible ordinance changes to support these efforts. The council is considering systematic management of households identified as in need, beyond just providing counseling.
On the morning of the previous day, a fire was reported in a fourth-floor apartment in Incheon’s district. The fire left a girl (identified as “A”) with second-degree facial burns and in cardiac arrest; she was rushed to a nearby hospital and remained unconscious. It was suspected that A was cooking instant noodles on a portable stove, with electrical issues found behind the TV, but the exact cause was not confirmed.