A 74-year-old undocumented Korean, Sungja Lee, was repatriated to South Korea on June 14 with the assistance of The Nanum House, a New York-based support center for homeless Koreans. The center is responding to growing fears among undocumented immigrants amid heightened immigration enforcement.
According to The Nanum House, Lee lost her job during the COVID-19 pandemic and experienced serious health problems that left her in extreme financial hardship. She later sought assistance from the center.
The organization provided her with food, housing, emotional care, and medical support. After recovering her health, Lee expressed a deep desire to return to South Korea. The Nanum House helped her obtain an emergency passport and secure a plane ticket.
Sungwon Park, Director of The Nanum House, said the organization will continue supporting Lee after her arrival in Korea. “Once she lands in South Korea, our Korean branch will assist with airport pickup, temporary shelter, restoration of resident registration, and enrollment in the national health insurance system,” Park explained.
The Nanum House, located in Flushing, New York, supports vulnerable Korean Americans—such as the elderly, individuals with mental illness, and undocumented immigrants—by providing housing, counseling, welfare, and education programs. For undocumented individuals wishing to return to Korea, the center helps facilitate the repatriation process with the individual’s consent.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
