Painting a World in Two Square Meters

Nearly half of all senior households in South Korea live under the poverty line. Hong Gu-hyeon, a 66-year-old artist who has been living in ajjokbang for over 20 years, is one of them. Those earning less than 50 percent of the median income qualify to receive government subsidies for “basic living.” In 2017, there were 1.5 million people that received the basic living stipend. That is 3.1 percent of the nation’s population. About 25 percent of these recipients are seniors older than 66 years ol