Citizen Who Didn't Exist on Paper Gains Legal Recognition Through Dedication of Suwon City Official

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] A citizen who did not exist in resident registration or family relationship registration has been recognized as "existing" after more than 60 years, thanks to the efforts of a veteran team leader at Suwon City. News of this has recently come to light.

According to Suwon Special City on the 13th, Kang, a resident of Suwon, was born in 1964 but was sent to a relative's home without a birth registration by his parents. He spent his childhood moving between relatives' homes and was eventually placed in a childcare facility. After leaving the facility, he lived alone without a fixed residence.

Naturally, with no resident registration, he could not access basic social services such as medical insurance, welfare, or financial services, and was unable to find proper employment.

As a result, Kang's lifelong wish was to live an ordinary life like everyone else.

He visited several government agencies to establish his family relationship registration, but received only the response that "registration is difficult." Eventually, he gave up on everything and lived for decades in this state.

Then in August of last year, Kang visited Kim Kyung-sook, a veteran team leader at the Saebit Civil Affairs Center at Suwon City Hall. Without great expectations, he grasped at straws and poured out his life story and past struggles.

Upon hearing Kang's story, Team Leader Kim carefully confirmed his living conditions and facts. However, as Kang had said, since no birth registration had been filed, neither resident registration nor family relationship registration existed. Kim searched for ways to help restore his legal identity.

Veteran Team Leader Kim Kyung-sook guided Kang through the procedure for establishing family relationship registration and continued coordinating with related agencies. Beginning in September of last year with a petition for a judgment on "establishment permission of surname and bon" filed with Suwon Family Court, Kang's journey to establish family relationship registration began.

Kim connected Kang with legal experts to provide support for the legal procedures necessary to establish family relationship registration. From preparing documents for court submission to accompanying him on court appearance dates, Team Leader Kim was with him through every step. Whenever he visited Suwon Family Court, district offices, or administrative welfare centers, she was always by his side.

Finally, on June 18, Suwon Family Court granted the "decision to permit establishment of family relationship registration."

On June 24, he filed the establishment report and registered for new resident registration.

After recovering his legal identity after 60 years, Kang received his resident ID and can now exercise basic rights as a citizen of the Republic of Korea. He can also now utilize welfare services, medical services, and conduct financial transactions.

Kang said, "I visited various government offices for a long time to establish my family relationship registration, but ultimately failed and became discouraged. With the help of the veteran team leader, I finally received my resident ID." He continued, "Now I can finally live like a human being." He added, "I will never forget this kindness," and requested, "Please convey my gratitude to Mayor Lee Jae-joon of Suwon City."