A domestic online service called 'Beggar Map,' which shares information about affordable dining options, has garnered attention from foreign media.
On July 20, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that South Korean youth are turning the challenge of high prices and job insecurity into a communal activity, highlighting the Beggar Map. SCMP described the platform as an interactive service that has made the search for restaurants costing less than 8,000 won (about $6) a viral trend.
The Beggar Map is an online mapping service where users can register information about inexpensive restaurants. Users input details such as the restaurant name, menu, prices, and categories, which then appear on the map. Other users can view the registered restaurant information and reviews.
The primary registration criterion is that the price for a meal should be around 8,000 won. However, if a restaurant exceeds this price but offers substantial portions or includes relatively expensive ingredients like meat, it may still qualify for registration based on value.
The platform's operators review the information submitted by users. If a restaurant priced over 8,000 won is deemed to lack sufficient value or appears to be promotional content, it is removed from the map.
The Beggar Map launched on March 20 and quickly gained traction, attracting 570,000 users within two weeks. By April 23, the cumulative number of visitors surpassed 1.3 million, spreading rapidly through social media, university communities, and local online forums.
The service was created by 30-year-old developer Choi Seong-su. After being laid off from his job in the IT industry, he began to cut down on food expenses. Limiting his daily food budget to 10,000 to 12,000 won, he started packing lunches and dividing delivery meals into multiple servings, which inspired the development of the Beggar Map.
Choi envisioned a map that would allow users to easily find affordable restaurants. Instead of having operators input restaurant information, he designed the service to allow users to report and edit details themselves.
The name 'Beggar Map' is derived from a savings group called 'Beggar Room,' which spread through KakaoTalk open chat rooms. In the Beggar Room, users share their daily expenditures and evaluate each other's saving efforts.
Choi explained that the name reflects a humorous approach to the difficult economic situation, emphasizing solidarity among those preparing for the future.
SCMP noted that the popularity of the Beggar Map highlights the economic burdens faced by South Korean youth.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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