Seoul will become the first Asian city to host the men’s soccer Homeless World Cup this week, drawing attention to the challenges South Korea’s homeless population often faces.

While homelessness is spotlighted through such events and films, many South Koreans remain unaware of the deep-seated issues confronting the homeless, who frequently experience social stigma and exclusion.

Government data indicates a steady decline in homelessness, but activists and researchers argue that these figures obscure more critical problems, such as the difficulty of accessing housing and essential services.

Surveys identify unemployment, business failures and family breakdowns as the leading causes of