Is This Really a Trend? Eating Instant Noodles in First Class While Complaining About 'Tiresome Poverty'

[Financial News] A so-called 'Poverty Challenge' is trending online, where people indirectly flaunt their financial comfort.

According to SNS on the 26th, a series of posts have appeared where users lament 'this tiresome poverty' while actually showcasing their affluent lifestyles.
Some post photos of themselves eating instant noodles in first class on an airplane, captioned 'this tiresome poverty.' Others upload images of gimbap and ramen, accompanied by the phrase 'another day of poverty,' while also displaying the keys to a luxury Ferrari.
There are also posts about purchasing a luxury brand stroller, with captions like 'My child's stroller cost 15 million won—such tiresome poverty.' Another example shows a luxury watch in the driver's seat of a Porsche, with the comment, 'Tiresome poverty. I have no money for gas, so I’m off to work again today.'
In a spacious living room adorned with expensive artwork, a caption reads, 'All I have are a few paintings and a dog.' Other posts show people enjoying lavish swimming pools, claiming, 'I can't afford to go to a pool, so I stay at home,' or placing bundles of 50,000-won bills on top of instant noodles with the phrase, 'When will I escape cup noodles?'

By calling themselves poor, these individuals are indirectly boasting about their wealth. Some critics argue that this trend uses the real struggles of those experiencing poverty as a source of humor.
One netizen lamented, 'Do they realize how painful the word poverty is for some people, and yet use it as a joke? Honestly, it’s more admirable to just show off openly.'
Other users also criticized the trend, commenting, 'Is poverty really something to joke about?', 'No matter how trendy it is, there are lines that shouldn't be crossed,' 'There are many ways to make people feel miserable,' and 'It feels like they're mocking those who truly have nothing.'
Singer and actor Kim Dong-wan also addressed the issue on his SNS, stating, 'Calling this a self-deprecating joke seems more like using a type of deprivation as a prop. Poverty is an emotion that's hard to joke about. There are things you simply shouldn't say for the sake of humor, and certain portrayals should be avoided.'
He added, 'Having lived for a long time in a semi-basement with my single mother, the word 'poverty' always resonates with me.'


In response, Jun Soo Hur, a professor in the Department of Social Welfare at Soongsil University, explained to Yonhap News Agency, 'Because our country achieved rapid economic growth, the standards of our social system have become centered on economic factors.' He continued, 'There is a tendency for people to want to show off what they have, or to appear wealthy even if they are not.'
He further pointed out, 'There is a severe imbalance of wealth in our country, and understanding of those who are struggling is lacking.' He added, 'The social trend of mocking poverty on SNS shows that people do not understand the hardships faced by the poor.'
He concluded, 'There needs to be greater attention to vulnerable individuals in our communities and local areas.'

moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter