Three siblings face housing uncertainty after forest fire destroys home

A family of seven living in cramped temporary housing must vacate their current residence next year, facing significant financial strain from remaining house loans and declining fishing catches. The forest fire that destroyed their home last spring has also caused developmental and speech struggles for two of the three siblings.

The happy home dreamed of by the three siblings. *Broadcast date: Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 11:25 AM, EBS1.

A forest fire that occurred last spring completely changed the daily lives of three siblings. The home where seven family members—grandparents, parents, and the three siblings—once laughed and talked together was instantly turned to ashes. After wandering through motels and community centers due to having nowhere to stay, the government provided temporary housing. However, the temporary housing is too cramped for seven people. Consequently, grandmother Kim Yeong-suk (62) and grandfather Lee Jong-jeong (66) are living separately in a container that lacks proper heating and cooling facilities. While the whole family used to eat and spend time together in one house, those moments have now become only cherished memories.

"In the winter, we sleep with electric heating mats underneath us. We live in this side (the storage area), while the children and mother live on that side (the prefabricated house); we are living separately. Because the space is so narrow, it cannot be helped," said grandfather Lee Jong-jeong.

"Everything burned down, oh... it really all burned up. So we were crying and wailing, wondering, 'Where will we live now?' When I think of that time... the whole family cried," said grandmother Kim Yeong-suk.

The forest fire left deep scars on the children's hearts. The second child, Jae-hyeon (10), and the youngest, Seo-yul (5), were so shocked by the sight of their house burning that they went through a painful time where they could not even speak properly for a while. In particular, Seo-yul's speech decreased significantly compared to before, and she showed fear of unfamiliar environments. Jae-hyeon, who has a mild intellectual disability, also saw his condition worsen after the fire. Test results showed that his language development is slower than his peers, and he faces difficulties in vocabulary comprehension and sentence construction, requiring continuous speech and cognitive therapy. The eldest, Kim Jun-hyeon (10), feels increasing worry while watching his younger siblings. Wanting to help his family even in a small way, he prepares breakfast and takes care of the youngest, Seo-yul, by washing and dressing her. The family finds Jun-hyeon admirable, yet they also feel deep pity for him.

"Before the forest fire, Seo-yul spoke well. After seeing the fire, Seo-yul became quiet and wanted to cry. I was worried. I was worried that if she continued to struggle with speaking... I feared she wouldn't be able to speak well even when she grows up," said Kim Jun-hyeon.

"I first went to Pohang to receive Jae-hyeon's test results, and seeing the words 'mild intellectual disability'... I cried a lot. With the forest fire and the child receiving a disability diagnosis, I could only think, 'Why is life so unlucky?' and 'Why does such misfortune only strike our house?'" said mother Lee Se-eun.

The biggest concern for the three siblings is where they will live in the future. They must vacate the temporary housing next year, but they do not have the means to prepare a new home immediately. Although they lost their original house and belongings in the forest fire, the loans taken out to build the house still remain. While the grandfather is paying back the principal and interest every month, it is difficult to generate income through the fishing industry, which has been his lifelong work, as recent catches have decreased significantly. Furthermore, the grandfather's work is not easy as he suffers from back pain and a hernia. As the family's livelihood becomes more difficult, Lee Se-eun also contributes to living expenses by working in water purifier sales and maintenance. The father also works hard, even staying away from the family during the weekdays. While every family member is striving for their livelihood, it is tight to handle a new residence, the children's medical expenses, and living costs. Watching the difficult times of his parents and siblings, Jun-hyeon has developed a dream to become a police officer in the future to protect precious people. To ensure the children no longer wander through unfamiliar places and that the seven family members can laugh again in the happy home dreamed of by the three siblings, warm interest and support are requested.

"We built the house by taking out a loan using the house as collateral, but the house is completely burned down. We are struggling to pay back the principal and interest every month... Currently, we are living in that prefabricated house, but we have to vacate it again next year. For now, I am worried about how we will get through this," said grandfather Lee Jong-jeong.

"Since my parents cannot go out to sea for fishing, my husband and I are adding the money we earn to the living expenses to live together. My husband also needs to live with us, but because he cannot, I cannot even prepare meals for him, which is very regrettable as I work," said mother Lee Se-eun.

Sharing 0700 is a representative social contribution program of EBS that supports neighbors in need by collecting donations of 3,000 won per call. The episode titled "The happy home dreamed of by the three siblings," broadcasting on EBS1TV on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 11:25 AM, tells the story of three siblings living in cramped temporary housing with their grandparents and parents after their home was destroyed by a forest fire.

Read the original (Korean)