Busan's Miae-won, the 'Hometown of War Orphans,' Faces Closure After 73 Years

[Financial News] Miae-won, a child-care institution in Dong-gu, Busan, became a loving family and the warmest refuge in the world for war orphans who lost their parents amid the devastation of the Korean War. Now, 73 years after its founding, it faces closure.
In 1953, as Korean War armistice talks neared their conclusion, Miae-won began by sheltering 30 children in a tent barracks. Over the years, it cared for nearly 800 children and helped them grow into productive members of society.
For those who passed through its doors, Miae-won was more than a residential facility. It was their 'true hometown,' where they prepared and shared meals during holidays, ran around its spacious yard, and made lasting memories.
The teachers were called 'Mom,' 'Dad,' and 'Uncle' by the children, and shared the warmth of a true family with them.
But Miae-won, which served as a protective haven for children for decades, now faces closure after encountering an unexpected administrative barrier.
The site on which Miae-won's buildings stand is owned by Korea National Railway, a state entity, and has long been used under a lease arrangement. Last year, Busan Dong-gu Office, the local authority, said some of the buildings were illegal, requested their demolition, and promised to register them in the building register. In response, Miae-won proceeded with facility improvements and remodeling.
Miae-won initially planned to meet the office's request and respond to changing welfare needs by expanding and improving its facilities. It intended to accommodate mainly people with developmental disabilities who needed care and establish a day-care center for older adults in response to the aging population.
However, Korea National Railway, the landowner, refused to grant "permission to use the land," putting the project to launch this new chapter in jeopardy almost overnight. Amid conflicting measures by administrative agencies and inflexible regulations, the children left one by one. No children remain at the facility, which has been engulfed in a lonely silence.
News that Miae-won was at risk of closing has shocked and saddened the local community, its longtime supporters, and former residents who grew up there before entering society.
Lee Hyun-nam, who left Miae-won in 2021, said, "To me, Miae-won is the steadfast hometown where I shared joys and sorrows for 20 years." Lee added, "If the residential space where children without parents can find support disappears as well, it would be deeply unsettling and heartbreaking."
Local residents, including Park Kyung-hwan, who has supported Miae-won for 37 years, and Yoon Jin-gu, president of the volunteer group Seodurihoe, who has continued volunteering for 43 years, agree that Miae-won is more than a building. They say it is a place filled with the memories and sense of purpose of countless people.
They are calling for Miae-won not to be allowed to disappear, but instead to be renewed as a welfare facility for people with developmental disabilities and older adults through thorough repairs and reasonable administrative support.
Miae-won rose from the scars of war and protected the lives of countless children, but now faces the possibility of disappearing into history. A civic movement to save Miae-won and preserve this valuable local welfare asset is gaining momentum, led by former residents and joined by civic organizations.

Cultural and information channel ONNTV has produced a documentary special titled 'Miae-won on the Verge of Closure,' capturing the institution's painful reality and the warm memories people hold of it. The program is scheduled to air at 10 p.m. on the 24th, during the Chuseok holiday. It can be watched on KT channel 252, SKB channel 270, LG HelloVision channel 245, Ulsan Central Broadcasting channel 155, and Seogyeong Broadcasting channel 260.
[email protected] Byun Ok-hwan Reporter