Reporting seniors’ stories from the back of a country bus
Published: 07 Apr. 2017, 19:40
Kim Jeong-yeon, left, a reporter and singer, holds a chicken with one hand while on a country bus. [CHOI JEONG-DONG]
For eight years, Kim has traveled by bus a total of 400,000 kilometers (250,000 miles). She is registered in the “Korean Guinness Book of Records” as the person who has taken the most country buses.
When she gets on a bus, she gets enthusiastic cheers from older passengers. Now people cannot imagine “Country Bus” without her. Like talking with a daughter, they open their minds and tell their stories to Kim.
“I’ve seen a lot of things that cannot be seen in the city, such as a puppy in an onion net, rat poison and a conventional toilet bowl,” Kim said. “‘Country Bus’ is a true reality show.”
An older couple who are helping leukemia patients after losing their daughter to the disease, a grandson who gave his first salary to his grandmother, a daughter who donated her liver to her father and a son-in-law who took care of his mother-in-law who had dementia are just a few of the stories Kim has reported on from the rural areas.
Recently, she collected the stories and published a book. “I want to share the stories of older people who gave me courage and hope when my life was miserable,” she said. “When I heard their children’s stories, I realized I wanted to be a mother, so my son is a gift from them.”
Last month, Kim hosted a free concert for senior adults at the Art Hall in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul. “As a reporter and a singer,” she said, “I would like to hold a concert tour for senior adults who feel cultural alienation.”
BY JUNG HYUN-MOK [enational@joonang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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