Choi Kang-hee Joins Elderly in Collecting Recyclables: A Heartwarming Encounter

Actress Choi Kang-hee recently shared her experience of collecting recyclables alongside an elderly man.

On the 29th, the YouTube channel 'I am Choi Kang-hee' released a video titled '[Income of an Elderly Collecting Recyclables] There Are Specific Items That Bring in Money.' In the video, Choi Kang-hee meets with an elderly man who collects recyclables and joins him in his daily routine.

The elderly man explained, "I start at 3:30 AM. It's the time when businesses put out their recyclables, and there aren't many cars on the road, so it's safer." He added, "By 6:30 AM, the recycling center opens, and I earn between 3,000 to 5,000 won."

As Choi Kang-hee folded boxes scattered around the neighborhood, she joked, "Wow, it seems like they put out more because I came," while the elderly man praised her meticulous work, saying, "You're doing well." However, Choi Kang-hee expressed concern, noting, "Bending and straightening repeatedly seems bad for the back, and tying the boxes is quite laborious."

When the elderly man mentioned, "Sometimes I come out for another round if I'm bored, or I have a drink with friends," Choi Kang-hee humorously reacted, "Didn't you just earn 3,000 to 5,000 won?" bringing laughter to the scene.

After finishing their collection, the two headed to the recycling center with old clothes and recyclables. Choi Kang-hee earned 2,000 won from the recyclables collected around the neighborhood, smiling as she said, "I made some money," but also expressed disappointment, "6kg of clothes for 1,200 won."

Later, she met the elderly man's wife and learned about their struggles, including unpaid medical bills from an expensive heart surgery due to lack of insurance. Touched by their story, Choi Kang-hee shared, "I recently watched a movie called 'People and Meat,' which depicted the lives of elderly people collecting recyclables. There was a scene where they ate meat, and I wanted to buy them some," as she handed over a small amount of money, creating a heartwarming moment.

Meanwhile, Choi Kang-hee previously appeared on the YouTube channel 'Sebasi Lecture' in 2024, where she revealed her reasons for taking a three-year hiatus from acting. She shared that after quitting acting, she started working part-time jobs, including dishwashing and housekeeping, as she had nothing else to do.

Reporter Lee Soo-min, Ten Asia danbilee19@tenasia.co.kr