I’ve been called Seoul’s “begpacker buster” by local and international 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 Twitter 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: