① Controversy over Western Begpackers
There is an increasing trend of Western backpackers covering their travel expenses by begging in Southeast Asia. These individuals have previously stirred controversy for engaging in such activities, particularly in Southeast Asia. We commonly witness this in countries such as Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. While their presence seemed to have diminished due to COVID-19, there has been a resurgence of these begging travelers on the streets.
Recently, Vietnamese media reported on three Russian men who visited the southern Vietnamese tourist destination of Phu Quoc. Near the Duong Dong market, they begged and held up a sign written in Vietnamese, asking passersby for help.
The sign read, “Hello. We came from Russia, and we have been traveling without money for five years. We would appreciate it if you could support our journey.”
The local police in Vietnam have started to identify these travelers. Phu Quoc is known for its exceptionally high number of Western begpackers. Phu Quoc allows a 30-day stay without a visa.
In the past, a Russian woman drew attention to begging in a meditative pose at the Duong Dong market. She placed a pot in front of her and held a piece of paper written in Vietnamese that read, “This is meditation for luck. I need money.” She slept in a tent on the beach at night.
The woman revealed that she had continued this lifestyle, begging during the day and sleeping in parks in Thailand, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.
② Particularly Severe in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian countries are grappling with the issue of begpackers. In the past, there have been various Western travelers begging in Southeast Asia. In Bangkok, Thailand, two Russian men were arrested on charges of illegal stay. They held a sign that read, “We ran away from the Russian war, but we ran out of money. We don’t want to go back to the war. Please help us. Free food is also good.”
In the popular tourist spot, Chatuchak Park in Bangkok, a Western woman was begging with a young child. She was presumed to be Russian and sold pictures of her daughter on the street. She explained that her husband abandoned her and was trying to raise funds to return home with her daughter. However, a few days later, she was spotted begging with her husband in Chiang Mai. She was just a ‘begpacker’ begging for money to cover travel expenses.
Some of them sing or sell items, but most of them beg on the streets. Southeast Asian countries have taken decisive measures against the begging activities of Western backpack travelers. In October last year, the Malaysian Immigration Department announced that it would deport and permanently blacklist foreign tourists caught begging. Similarly, an official from the Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport Immigration Office in Indonesia stated they would send beggars to their embassies if seen.
In Thailand, immigration officials require tourists suspected of being begpackers to show more than $700 in cash during the screening process. Singapore and Malaysia also check whether there is enough cash for the period of stay.
Western backpack travelers continue their journey in Southeast Asian countries, where the cost of living is cheap with the money they beg. Because the cost of living is affordable, it is possible to live without much money. In Southeast Asia, beg packers have become a social issue.
③ Begpackers Appearing in Korea
Western travelers begging can also be seen in Korea. In the past, the streets of Jongno 3-ga were often frequented by begpackers. They played the guitar with a sign written in Korean in front of them, begging for money.
One Russian man said, “Traveling in Korea is expensive compared to Russia. I want to go to Japan. I’m going to make money for ten days before that,” explaining that he was begging for travel expenses. Some offered free hugs in front of subway stations to make travel expenses. This man, a backpacker from Russia, said, “I started a world tour with $400, and I’m giving free hugs for three hours a day to raise travel expenses.” They arrived in Korea after passing through Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, and Macao.
Begpackers are mostly Westerners from Europe or North America. Many travelers take advantage of the fact that Koreans are friendly to white people. Some specifically approach older people to sell items.
By. Kim Min Jae
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