tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post8609356698324369680..comments2024-03-12T01:46:10.572+09:00Comments on Ask the Expat: The "Seal Men" and Beggars in SeoulThe Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-45741780793232298502023-10-29T20:30:48.138+09:002023-10-29T20:30:48.138+09:00I also saw two recently. I've lived in Busan f...I also saw two recently. I've lived in Busan for the past two months and I don't go out much, but I saw one just a week ago (at Jagalchi Market), and another a few days or weeks before at another market.<br />I always feel terrible, I assume for people to put themselves in this situation, they must have no other means of survival.<br />What I have learned from this article makes it worse, so I want to do more research.Pollihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669335569760616818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-29025831826277862462023-10-29T20:29:43.183+09:002023-10-29T20:29:43.183+09:00This comment has been removed by the author.Pollihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669335569760616818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-69325288722765883252023-01-22T01:43:02.157+09:002023-01-22T01:43:02.157+09:00I’ve seen him around before. I often feel bad. I’ve seen him around before. I often feel bad. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12720411328670145659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-38432968125832225562009-07-27T08:49:32.388+09:002009-07-27T08:49:32.388+09:00The supposed gangster connection to the beggars is...The supposed gangster connection to the beggars is "common knowledge" in Korea, but that story's origins may have been in government efforts to get people to stop giving them money just as easily as it may be true (since the late 1980s or 1990s there have been services and programs available for them, aimed at giving them food, shelter, medication if needed, and a more dignified existence, though who knows how well that system works). Certainly, though, they are organized in some fashion, as you describe. <br /><br />I would have a hard time imagining some of the "seal men" getting up and running after you if you stole, given them some of them — more clearly than in your picture — have no functioning legs or no legs at all. <br /><br />I also would imagine stealing from them is much of a problem. Even if there weren't a fear that whoever is organizing them would come after you, this is, after all, the land of the untended throw-your-coins-in-a-box-on-the-ground-on-the-subway-platform-and-take-your-newspaper.kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-53993637869767222672009-07-15T08:27:31.421+09:002009-07-15T08:27:31.421+09:00So, it looks like we need to have a little stake o...So, it looks like we need to have a little stake out or try to steal the "seal men's" money. Not it!The Expathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-37920585809192829692009-07-14T23:16:53.795+09:002009-07-14T23:16:53.795+09:00Kristin, they could be right. When I first went t...Kristin, they could be right. When I first went to the big city (Houston), I would go downtown to deposit my paycheck every Friday and do some shopping at the same time where I usually would encounter a homeless blind lady and her dog. Over the years, I must have given her over $100 before I caught her chasing after her dog in heavy traffic one afternoon. I don't know what made the dog bolt, but she was after her meal ticket dodging cars like a sighted person. I mentioned this to my bank teller and was informed that many of the so-called beggars on the street were making a very good living off the kindness of others. It seems that someone important must have seen her charade as well, as I never saw her in the area again.John from Daejeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08431973044799010218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-75767617664749163122009-07-14T22:42:59.458+09:002009-07-14T22:42:59.458+09:00Also an unreliable source, but I've heard that...Also an unreliable source, but I've heard that sometimes when people steal money from the "seal-men" they get up and run after the thief. These students are in middle school so it could be their imagination, but I'm sure they're right on that passers-by steal the money sometimes.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04528048683012109792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-57688765243307120882009-07-14T13:28:26.810+09:002009-07-14T13:28:26.810+09:00Yep. I remember being in Cambodia a couple years a...Yep. I remember being in Cambodia a couple years ago when a mother came up to me asking for some money. I gave a little, but then I saw her walk behind a building, pass her baby over to a girl no more than eight years old who promptly ran towards me for a little more cash. I saw the whole thing, but still gave in. <br /><br />While I usually give cash to people on the street, I think the mentally handicapped who are thrown out to panhandle for someone else deserve some extra attention. My concern is that I don't know where to turn.The Expathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-50291783849910097282009-07-14T13:21:31.081+09:002009-07-14T13:21:31.081+09:00I saw this sort of crap all the time growing up al...I saw this sort of crap all the time growing up along the Mexican border with small children spending their days panhandling instead of in school. At least I would see their handlers give them a small lunch of juice and taquitos every now and then.<br /><br />Instead of handing over spare change, I usually give oranges to them.John from Daejeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08431973044799010218noreply@blogger.com