"Giving Chuseok Rice Cake Money to Swimming Instructor"…Group Chat Fundraising Notice 'Bewildering'

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A netizen expressed disbelief after being asked by swimming pool members to pay a Chuseok gift money to the swimming instructor.

On the 10th, an online community shared the story of Mr. A, who recently was asked by members at a swimming pool to pay Chuseok gift money.

Mr. A said that the monthly lesson fee is over 200,000 won and stated, "I’m already struggling to afford the lesson fee, and now they want me to pay gift money. I don’t understand." He added, "I refused when asked privately, but I was then invited to a group chat."

In the group chat, a message was posted saying, "Every year during Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, we gather our gratitude for the instructor by showing a small token of appreciation with gift money." It continued, "Whether it’s 10,000 won or 20,000 won, please send what you can sincerely. We will tally the amounts and announce it in the group chat. We plan to give 200,000 won."

Mr. A said, "Messages saying 'I’ve sent the money' are coming in, but 20,000 won feels like too much to me," and added, "If the instructor finds out I didn’t pay, I’m worried they might treat me even worse since they already don’t give me much attention."

Netizens sympathized with Mr. A’s story, commenting things like, "Is the thousands-year-old history of tribute payments engraved in our DNA?", "You should file a complaint with the swimming pool manager," "Even if students want to give, the instructor should refuse," "Holiday gifts should be personal," "To prevent entrenched members, anyone who’s been a member for over a year should be forcibly removed," "I also once canceled my lessons because the instructor asked for money for Teacher’s Day after appointing a treasurer," "There are quite a few members desperate to be in the instructor’s good graces," and "No matter where you go, entrenched members are a problem."

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