Tim Franco
Wednesday 3 March 2021
One day in 2009, a nervous young man rushed out of his home in Incheon, South Korea, head held down. Having not showered in weeks, his skin was oily, his hair unkempt. The loungewear he had on, one of only two sets he owned, was badly stained. He knew he smelled. But heâd run out of necessities, so heâd have to go to the shop down the street. Itâd just be five minutes. All he had to do was stock up on instant ramen, Coke and cigarettes, and then heâd be back.
After picking up his supplies, the man walked home. But as he was approaching the front entrance, a panic spread over him: he didnât know the passcode to open the door. It had been so long since heâd gone outside, heâd forgotten how to get back in.