Korean Job Discussion Forums

kimchikowboy · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

I've never been to Malaysia, so, knowing what you know about Koreans, what places there would you recommend to prospective Koreans tourists? If you were asked about how Malaysia could draw more Korean tourists, where and how specifically would you advertise? What would your message be?
I know it is an odd question, but thanks for your input.
Also, if you were going to advertise Malaysia to expats living in Korea, how would you do it? What would you emphasize?

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

Kota Kinabalu seems to be a popular place for Koreans to go.

It's not on the pennensula, but instead on Borneo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_Kinabalu

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

We're not talking about Korean sex tourists?

kimchikowboy · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

I think sex tourists mostly they go to the Philippines and maybe Cambodia, now.

How widespread is English in Malaysia? Could it be advertised as a place to study, like the Philippines? Again, I've never been there.
And yes, Kota Kinabalu is the most popular place with Koreans.
So where would you advertise? TV? Which magazines? Is Naver rigged to turn up certain results when you do a search? I think I read that somewhere.
Thanks for your imput.

jacob7207 · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: Seoul

I was only there for 24 hours. A lot of people I met had a somewhat adequate to fluent understanding of English. I flew there from Korea as well. There weren't a lot of Koreans on the plane, but I must say Malaysia Airlines is awesome. I had to choose between 17 meal options and they treated me with the utmost of respect. I haven't found a more quality airline to fly coach class in.

There was though, one incident just before boarding the flight, in the terminal, where a group of Korean men around 35-45 years of age, about 12 of them, giggling and acting all crazy and loud. It was annoying. Then out of nowhere comes a man about to board the flight in a full beard and head wrap that a lot of muslim men wear. You should have seen the looks on the Koreans faces. They looked at him like he was a terrorist with a mission to down the plane. They all stopped laughing and all said "wooowwwwww," pointing to him and such.

It was pretty surreal.

Just because someone practices Islam doesn't make them a terrorist, and I think a lot of westerners (mostly Americans, and I'm American myself) and a lot of Koreans think of places like Malaysia and Indonesia and relate terrorism to Islam, which is fd up. Change that train of thought and you might be able to convice more people to go there.

I met quite a few of people from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Sweden there. A lot of them were living there periodically. They told me it is a nice place but really expensive.

Malaysia is a beautiful country, the people were pretty friendly. I want to go black.

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

articulate_ink · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:43 pm Post subject:

I love Malaysia and have been there several times. Having been to Siem Reap in Cambodia and seen the horrifying behavior of busloads of Korean tourists for myself, here's my humble contribution:

1. Welcome to Malaysia. Death penalty for soju consumption. Caning for public consumption of kimchi.

2. Welcome to Malaysia, home of millions of native English speakers ineligible for teaching visas in your country.

3. Welcome to Malaysia. Non-Muslims who enter mosques and take pictures or smoke will be shot on sight.

On my last trip to KL, a drunk ajosshi sitting next to me was evidently the coach of a soccer (or something) team. While the young men in matching suits were nice to look at, Captain Soju got hammered and got louder and louder as the flight progressed. He took it upon himself to sit next to a small girl for part of the flight and give her an Englishy lesson:

I would like some water.

I would like a glass of water.

Would you like some water?

He was parroting what the flight attendants were asking passengers, basically. Korea sparkling!

Malaysia Airlines is my favorite carrier, as well. Last time I was there, I made a stupid mistake and showed up at KL Sentral too late to check in for my flight. My fare was non-refundable and non-transferable. Despite that, the MAS ticket agent (fortunately MAS has an office at the station) booked me on a flight back to Korea the next night.

Korean tourists (at least the ones on package tours; the solo travellers can be quite cool) are the new Ugly Americans, IMnsHO.