Why I Bust Begpackers in Seoul

I’ve been called Seoul’s “begpacker buster” by <a href="http://news.jtbc.joins.com/article/article.aspx?news_id=NB11850763" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">local</a> and <a href="https://9gag.com/gag/aD1y0yw?ref=tp" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">international</a> media, for calling out foreigners who beg on the street and reporting them to the police. I’ve been highly critical of them — especially on <a href="https://twitter.com/koryodynasty/status/1143882031752871946" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> to draw attention to what I believe to be a growing problem in South Korea. For those unfamiliar with the term, a “begpacker” — a portmanteau of the words “beg” and “backpacker” — refers to a traveller who funds their travels around the world by asking for financial help on the streets. Some play instruments, others sell postcards or photos from their travels. Others put out a hat. They often have a scrap of cardboard with a message along the lines of: <a href="https://medium.com/@koryodynasty/why-i-bust-begpackers-in-seoul-c7e2d8282a2b">Visit Now</a>