Mocking and Taunting an Elderly Man Before Running Away...
Youth Nearby Step In to Stop the Children
Police Arrive to Calm the Situation
Students mocking an elderly person being disciplined by nearby young adults. Screenshot from an online community.
A report has surfaced about a group of elementary school students wearing expensive padded jackets mocking an elderly man.
On the 30th, a post was shared on an online community describing an incident experienced by comedian Kim Youngmin near the Hongdae Ipgu Station underground shopping mall in Seoul. In the post, Kim referred to it as “a cultural shock I experienced today in Hongdae” and recounted the situation.
Kim explained, “Several elementary school students wearing high-end padded jackets from a well-known outdoor brand were teasing an elderly man with a light green backpack and running away, creating a chase.” He added, “When one child mocked the elderly man and ran off, the others laughed and egged him on, saying, ‘Grandpa, go catch him.’ The elderly man was clearly angry, but he couldn’t keep up with the children’s speed.”
Kim continued, “Judging by the children’s behavior, it didn’t seem like this was their first time playing this kind of game.” He added, “Just as I was about to intervene, some young adults nearby called the children over and scolded them, and only then did the children become as meek as lambs.” Afterwards, the police arrived at the scene, checked the situation, and calmed the elderly man, bringing the incident to a close.
The accompanying photo shows two elementary school students in expensive padded jackets standing with their heads bowed in front of young adults who appear to be high school students.
Kim commented, “The parents of these children are probably around my age. It reminded me of people around me who casually use derogatory expressions about the elderly.” He criticized, “South Korea is a society built upon the sacrifices of a generation. The culture of mocking the elderly within it is a serious problem in itself.”
He further pointed out, “Even if they are wearing padded jackets costing hundreds of thousands to over a million won, in the end, such appearances mean nothing.”
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