Korean Job Discussion Forums

[12ax7]

Yeah, not much skateboarding going on. However, snowboarding is quite popular...But, although most of the kids on the slopes are riding expensive freestyle boards and park wear, few ever hit the park. They seem more interested in filming each other going down the beginner course.

In any case...

My son was watching his DVD of one of the Chipmunk movies when I showed him this on my cell phone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHPMlIhWmAk

Being that he can't wait for next winter because I promised he could learn to do tricks in the park, he was blown away. Now he really knows why Jason Lee is awesome.

[MIKESHU]

Someone mentioned a shop in itaewon... I'm in mokdong, pretty close, but if there is s closer shop id love to know...

Also, what's a complete run in Korea? I like enjoi decks best.. Id like to get a complete sometime soon

Recommendations are welcome...

[NilesQ]

Daewon Song, Korean American, Thrasher Magazine's 2006 Skater of the Year.

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

You'd think someone would've marketed this guy over here. He co-owns a skate company, too. However, I think that the grungy and rebellious image surrounding skating wouldn't go over big here. Like most sports or scenes, it's the image that drives the business end of it, not the sport or activity itself.

[NohopeSeriously]

Skateboarding was relatively big in Korea in the late 1990s when there was a general acceptance of hip hop image from kids from the wealthy Gangnam area of Seoul. Now back to 2012, it's all about the sketchy image of K-pop and provocative dancing and clubbing are already the mainstream activities.

[MIKESHU]

Also, my ride to work would be pretty smooth actually... I really need a board... mokdong around 2 pm isn't too bad with foot traffic n the sidewalks are actually pretty good for skating... id get wide wheelbase of course but my ride wouldn't be sketchy at all...

I don't think, lol...

[highstreet]

my friend co-owns a skateboard shop in Korea.

http://www.kadencedist.com/

they have a shop close to myeongdong IIRC. Ask for Ryan.

[minos]

I don't think I ever saw a kid skateboard EVER.

outside of that place in yongsan; I've never seen a skateboarder or any age.

Kids seem to love the skooters and roller blading though.

Perhaps in this weird, alternative universe of Korea; skateboarding died and Roller blading became somewhat mainstream.

WOAH!!

[jvalmer]

[Mix1]

[quote="minos"]I don't think I ever saw a kid skateboard EVER.

outside of that place in yongsan; I've never seen a skateboarder or any age.

Kids seem to love the skooters and roller blading though.

Perhaps in this weird, alternative universe of Korea; skateboarding died and Roller blading became somewhat mainstream.

WOAH!! [/quote]
Actually, that's pretty much what happened.
And most of the parks look like they were designed with rollerblading in mind. (I use "designed" liberally, since the layouts and obstacles are pretty bad generally.)

But rollerblading has pretty much died off, and BMX bikers are moving in.

There is skate scene here, but it's nowhere near what you would expect in a city the size of Seoul.

[sendittheemail]

Skareboarding isn't popular because there is no "trend" currently surrounding skateboarding.

1. If you see a drama star ride a skateboard (shaking, almost falling) on TV just ONCE, the streets will be packed with teenagers and 20-somethings trying to skateboard.

2. If you see a pop star ride a skateboard just ONCE in a music video, the streets will be packed with teenagers and 20-somethings trying to skateboard.

3. If a skateboard were prohibitively expensive, and thus could be considered some type of status symbol, the streets would be packed with teenagers and 20-somethings trying to skateboard. But they aren't because even if you buy a $500 skateboard, no one around you KNOWS it cost $500, so there's no point.

Unfortunately, a skateboard isn't a bicycle, and you can't brag to your friends about how much you paid for your skateboard, as you can with your new fixed-gear flaming pink bicycle with lime green wheels and white tires. Also, Louis Vuitton and Mercedes Benz don't make skateboards, but if they did, Koreans would buy them.

Skateboards meet all of the requirements of a status giving bobble that could very easily sell to the Korean masses, EXCEPT for the fact that they don't cost enough, and don't offer the kind of visibility that other Korean status symbols for adults and children do (ie: You can't see it from a mile away and instantly identify the brand and associated cost).

Bicycles do well because even though the streets and sidewalks are built to developing country standards, you can actually still ride a bicycle and be seen riding a bicycle down the street. With a skateboard on the other hand, you have to go to a skate park, or some abandoned place which eliminates the possibility of people witnessing you engaged in your hobby, which at the end of the day is what Korean hobbies are all about; being seen to be involved in something (look at my expensive hiking gear, look at my $2000 tent, look at my $3000 bicycle, look at my giant DSLR camera, look at my flaming red $450 Northface jacket, etc etc)

[highstreet]

Someone's jaded

[Mix1]

[quote="sendittheemail"]Skareboarding isn't popular because there is no "trend" currently surrounding skateboarding.

1. If you see a drama star ride a skateboard (shaking, almost falling) on TV just ONCE, the streets will be packed with teenagers and 20-somethings trying to skateboard.

2. If you see a pop star ride a skateboard just ONCE in a music video, the streets will be packed with teenagers and 20-somethings trying to skateboard.

3. If a skateboard were prohibitively expensive, and thus could be considered some type of status symbol, the streets would be packed with teenagers and 20-somethings trying to skateboard. But they aren't because even if you buy a $500 skateboard, no one around you KNOWS it cost $500, so there's no point.

Unfortunately, a skateboard isn't a bicycle, and you can't brag to your friends about how much you paid for your skateboard, as you can with your new fixed-gear flaming pink bicycle with lime green wheels and white tires. Also, Louis Vuitton and Mercedes Benz don't make skateboards, but if they did, Koreans would buy them.
[/quote]
Good points and probably very true!

The main "look at me" factor skateboarding has is in the tricks, and you have to actually practice and get hurt and dirty to learn those.

And if you actually USE the board and shoes, they look old and ragged within a week. And then you can't show them off to others, so what's the point?

About the celebrity posing on a board, I'm glad that hasn't happened yet.
I'm all for people trying the sport, but the last thing you want are hordes of fashion victims showing up at all the spots and getting in the way and standing in front of the ramps just to pose and take pictures of themselves in the perfect skate fashions holding up their brand new boards. Although if they ended up doing and liking the sport itself that would be cool.

And the funny thing is, the Korean celeb could appear holding a board, but wearing a sailors hat, tight pink shorts, a popped-collar polo shirt, and lime green Crocs, and within a week you'd see people showing up with a brand new board, and that exact same outfit, thinking that's the default skate garb.

[sendittheemail]

Skateboarding is a hobby that requires a time investment. Time to invest is something that almost no Korean child has, and by the time they do have the time, they are too busy worrying about getting married. Riding a bicycle on the other hand requires only the most basic of human skills.

[Steelrails]

I don't probably the same reason skateboarding isn't that popular with inner city black kids or Latino-Americans or Arab-Americans compared to other activities. Or the same reason those people skateboarding aren't playing pickup basketball.

Reminds me of the "Why don't people here like rock?" stuff we always here. Might as well just put on a sign that says "White Bread".

[sendittheemail]