A new term, “perfect attendance beggar,” has emerged in South Korea to derogatorily refer to elementary school students as ‘poor’ for consistently attending school without going on overseas trips during the semester. The term’s use among South Korean elementary students has sparked controversy, with foreign media highlighting the country’s “pressure culture.”
The Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) on July 6 published an article titled, “Who are ‘perfect attendance beggars’? South Korean youth who work and study, have no fun,” pointing out the changing attitudes toward perfect attendance.
SCMP stated, “Perfect attendance is traditionally seen as virtuous, and individuals who practice it are credited with good self-discipline and dedication to their obligations. However, recent times have seen a change in attitudes towards achieving a balance between work, rest, and play.”
The article continued, “In South Korea, a trending perspective on social media platforms is that people who have more leisure time understand what life is really about. For the younger generation, perfect attendance can suggest a single-minded pursuit of learning and earning, with no time or money left for travel or relaxation.”
SCMP introduced a recent case that became a hot topic in a South Korean online community involving a father of a fourth-grade student.
The father wrote, “Yesterday, my son cried, saying he was mocked by friends for being a ‘perfect attendance beggar.’ I didn’t realize it was so rare for families not to take advantage of the semester’s experiential learning opportunities.”
He continued, “I earn between 3 to 3.5 million won per month as the sole breadwinner. After paying for living expenses and the mortgage, there’s no extra money left. Still, I decided to spend on an overseas trip for my son.” He proposed a domestic trip, but his son responded, “I don’t want to go to places in Korea. It’s embarrassing to say I’ve only been to places here.” The father noted, “Other children go to places like Guam, Singapore, or Hawaii for their experiential learning.” After discussing it with his wife, they decided that she and their son would travel abroad, and they are now looking for cheap flights.
SCMP reported, “Experts see the term ‘perfect attendance beggar’ as related to societal pressures driven by materialism and fierce competition to succeed. They emphasize its negative psychological impact.” The media quoted a South Korean childhood studies expert, saying, “Children who hear words like ‘perfect attendance beggar’ during their formative years are likely to carry that stigma as a lifelong scar.”
