On January 17, SBS's 'Curious Stories Y' broadcasted a concerning story about an elderly grandmother who had been unable to leave her nursing home due to her son’s neglect of her care fees. 

The son, a former period drama actor, has failed to pay his mother's care fees, which have accumulated to 13 million KRW (about $9,000) and has cut off contact.

The program introduced two elderly women residing in the nursing home, named Yoon Mi Ja (pseudonym) and Choi Soon Nam (pseudonym). Both women shared similarities, such as having only one child and working in education and the arts in their youth. 

Choi, in particular, had been a teacher, and Yoon had been a dance instructor. They both developed short-term dementia at nearly the same time and had been living together in the nursing home for about two and a half years. However, their time together is coming to an end as the nursing home is set to close.

The heartbreaking part of the story is that Choi's family has not contacted the nursing home for over a year, leaving her without support. According to the nursing home director, “It wasn’t about the money. If it had been, we wouldn’t have continued to care for her even with 13 million KRW (about $9,000) in unpaid fees. The real issue was where the elderly woman would go.”

Choi herself expressed her frustration, saying, “I wish someone would take me home, but who will take me?” Her desperate longing for her son, Park, a former period drama actor, was evident as she repeatedly wrote down his contact number in hopes of remembering it. 

She was always keeping her phone charged, waiting for his call. A nearby restaurant owner shared that Choi could be seen standing outside, calling her son every day, waiting for him to show up.

Despite Choi’s claims that her son, Park, was living in the United States, it was revealed that he had been accessing locations in South Korea. Park, once a renowned actor known for playing deathbed roles in historical dramas, disappeared from the screen some time ago. 

A close acquaintance revealed that he had started a new chapter by opening a restaurant, but his business venture had failed, leaving him with significant debts. He later transitioned into the health supplement industry but has since left that role as well, according to his former office.

In a shocking turn, it was revealed that Choi’s retirement pension, which she was entitled to as a former teacher, was being claimed by her son, Park. This left her without proper access to her pension, further compounding her financial struggles.

The production team referred to the situation as neglect and contacted elder protection agencies. After getting in touch with Park, he admitted to avoiding the nursing home’s calls due to the unpaid fees. He explained that he had been suffering from panic disorder and depression, making it difficult for him to communicate with others. He promised to repay the outstanding amounts monthly.

Fortunately, elder protection specialists intervened, reissued Choi’s bank card, and took steps to ensure she could receive her public pension. They also announced that an investigation into potential abuse would be pursued with the police.

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