In home 'study booths' become topic of controversy

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Article: 'Jail or discipline?'... 'study room booths' under controversy

Source: Segye Ilbo via Nate

Trending among Gangnam mothers is a 'study room booth' that measures 1.1m x 0.8m x 2.1m. It fits exactly one person and comes with a desk and a chair. The door has a glass window so that mothers can check in on the booth. Costs roughly $2,000. People against this booth criticize it for being like a jail, as parents can install CCTVs or even lock their kids in it.

1. [+591, -75] I want to buy it... You don't have to go all the way to the library to find a place you can focus in. I think only the most extreme of parents would use CCTVs and stuff to watch their kids study.

2. [+590, -163] I think it comes down to how you think about it... People go to the library to find a quiet place to focus. The downside of libraries is that there are a lot of people, you can lose your items, and be stressed over the bad habits of others (snoring, moving about, shaking their leg)... Just like there's a risk of crime like CCTV with the booth, there's also a risk of crime in the library. It's probably only a minority of weird people who would even think of using the booth for weird things. I'm sure parents would ask their kids what they thought of it before buying it... Criticizing the booth for infringing rights is going a bit too far.

3. [+496, -247] I'm sure opinions differ but I think it will help you focus... Libraries have one seat booths for the same reason. There are no rights being infringed upon... Especially if my own kid is willing to use it. ㅋ

4. [+36, -7] No, this is not a difference in opinions, this is definitely an infringement of rights. If students are willing to use such booths, then that's not a problem but if a parent forces their kid into the booth, then that's infringing on his rights. Now imagine that the parents put a lock on that door, that's a lot of red flags right there. And CCTVs? That's psychologically stressing the child out. I'm sure you're asking how many parents would actually go that far but you have to understand that there are a minor portion that definitely would go that far. And I guess more than anything, the fact that this desk even exists shows that studying has become everything for our children. Upsetting how reality tells our children "only studying!" instead of "also studying!"

5. [+33, -2] As a married man with children, I want to use that desk myself.. Just put my computer in there.

6. [+27, -5] I want that desk, it looks like it'll help me focus. As for issues with CCTV and locks... I'm sure parents who would go that far have already gone that far even without the desk.

7. [+24, -0] I feel like there will be parents who force their children into the desk to lock it.

8. [+16, -1] The fact that we live in an environment where desks like this exist makes Korea weird

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