"Recruitment of Live-in Housekeepers" Behind The Shocking Proposal

A shocking story has emerged about a single mother in her 40s who, after responding to a job listing for a 'live-in housekeeper' at a luxury home in Pyeongchang-dong, Seoul, received an unimaginable inappropriate proposal from the landlord.

On the 24th, JTBC's "Incident Report" featured a report on A's testimony, a single mother who raises her sick mother while also raising her child alone.

A came across an online job listing while working as a housekeeper to make ends meet. The ad promised "luxurious housing," "meals provided," and "top-tier salary," and prominently featured the phrase "young women welcome," requesting applicants to send their age and educational background via message.

The poster of the ad was an 80-year-old man, B, who introduced himself as a "businessman with a background as a professor who studied in the U.S." Living in the countryside, A hurriedly traveled to Seoul for an interview at B's request.

The "luxurious housing" turned out to be a moldy basement… B demanded three forms of identification

When A arrived, the place was the complete opposite of her expectations. B took A to a basement filled with the smell of mold and foul odor to conduct the interview.

During the interview, he asked A about her educational background and abruptly demanded she submit three forms of identification: her passport, resident registration card, and driver's license. Feeling anxious about the outrageous request, A nonetheless decided to trust the promise of a "top-tier salary" and went along with it due to her dire situation.

However, B's words and actions became increasingly inappropriate. Initially, he claimed, "I have been married," and "I have a wife," but soon changed his story, boasting, "I’ve never been married," "I have a building in Seoul," and "I have dated women in their 20s."

"I'll give you 10 million won if you have a physical relationship with me"… The victim fled with her belongings

The decisive moment occurred when A returned from grocery shopping. B made a blatant proposition, saying, "You’re in your 40s and have given birth, so you must know. I’m having financial difficulties and can help you pay off your debts. Instead of being a housekeeper, I’ll give you 10 million won if you have a sexual relationship with me. I’ll take responsibility." This was effectively a demand for a 'transactional relationship.'

A firmly rejected the proposal, stating, "If you want to get married, find someone appropriate for your age. If you need children, I can assist as a child." However, B replied, "I don’t need children; I need a woman." Shocked and terrified, A quickly packed her belongings and left B's residence, subsequently receiving a text saying, "If you agree to the proposal, come back."

A expressed, "I know that such proposals alone may not lead to criminal punishment, but I was worried that other victims in desperate situations like mine might emerge, which is why I found the courage to come forward."

Meanwhile, it was reported that the production team attempted to contact B to verify the facts, but he denied any wrongdoing, stating, "That didn’t happen" and added, "There are many strange people among housekeepers."

Image source: jtbc "Incident Report," reference photos for better understanding of the article / gettyimagesbank