In the wake of escalating economic pressures and inflationary trends, many young South Korean are turning to a unique digital outlet for financial support: geojibang, or “beggars’ room,” a public chat room on KakaoTalk, the country's ubiquitous mobile messaging app.

Geojibang, birthed this year, has become an online forum for young South Koreans to scrutinize their spending habits. Participants of this chat room ironically refer to themselves as “beggars,” an intentional acknowledgment of their financial status or lack thereof. They frequently share stories of their daily expenses and endorse thriftiness, often through harsh encouragement, to promote saving.