Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ajosshi]

Hollister models mock Asians at South Korea grand opening

Photos: http://ajosshi.com/?p=1711

Surf-themed apparel brand Hollister, the self-proclaimed �coolest destination for genuine SoCal style clothes,� is riding a wave of consumer anger after its launch in South Korea was marred by reports of racial insensitivity.

English-language site KoreaBANG reported that some of the four models at the Abercrombie and Fitch Co.-owned brand�s South Korean grand opening in the Seoul neighborhood of Yeouido a little over a week ago flashed middle fingers during promotional photos and posted Facebook photos and comments mocking Asians� appearance and pronunciation of English.

"We sincerely apologize for the offense caused by these unauthorized, ill-considered actions,� the company said in a statement about the South Korea incident. �Abercrombie & Fitch (as well as Hollister Co.) has now completed the investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the inappropriate behavior. We reiterate that we do not tolerate inappropriate or offensive behavior on the part of our associates. As a result of the investigation, the company terminated the couple of associates involved."

It�s not clear, though, if the badly-behaving models were the ones who got the ax following the furor. When asked to clarify if the reference to �associates� referred to the models in question, the company replied, �We have no further comment.�

Eric Dezenhall, CEO of Dezenhall Resources and co-author of Damage Control: Why Everything You Know About Crisis Management is Wrong, says the proliferation of social media and mobile devices are a major reason why inappropriate behavior can mushroom so quickly into a PR nightmare for a company.

�it�s not that it didn�t happen years ago, it�s that you can�t hide today,� he said. �There�s bad news and good news for Hollister. In this electronic climate this sort of thing spreads extremely quickly and you can�t get it back... The good news is this stuff tends to fade rather quickly.�

Hollister needs to apologize quickly and sincerely, then keep its head down and get back to the business of selling T-shirts, Dezenhall said. �The solution to most crises is commercial success. If Hollister begins to have commercial success...everything else will recede.�

Paradoxically, the controversy possibly could help Hollister, said NYU Stern School of Business management communication professor Irving Schenkler. �I think there�s a category for certain brands known as rebellious brands,� he said, pointing out that retailers like Calvin Klein and Nike have embraced provocative images and figures.

Dezenhall made a similar point, saying, �The other thing to keep in mind is that there�s a hipness about the brand that inoculates them to some degree.�

One added wrinkle for Hollister is that since this was its introduction to the South Korean retail market, a negative first impression could stick with the brand image. �It�s not like they�d been in the market for 20 years and someone did something stupid,� Dezenhall said. �I think they have a problem but it remains to be seen if they have a crisis.�

Hollister parent Abercrombie & Fitch has courted controversy before with its flagship brand, such as a 2002 line of T-shirts depicting Asian caricatures like �Wong Brothers Laundry Service.� The company pulled the shirts after complaints mounted.

http://bottomline.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/10/13782834-hollister-models-mock-asians-at-south-korea-grand-opening?lite[url][/url]

[Dave Chance]

Yeah not mannerly, but somehow more true than b.s. 'I love u' shtick

[nautilus]

[Underwaterbob]

Sounds like a moronic publicity stunt to me. It worked. I'd never heard of them until this. I bet they sell more clothing than ever now.

[Smithington]

And we all know how cautious Koreans are to avoid mocking other ethnicities. Listen up Korea, take the 'two by four' out of your own eye before pointing the finger of 'cultural insensitivity' at others.

One other point, I also had never heard of this company before this incident. So, who knows.

[Steelrails]

[Titus]

OMG Guys!!

[kingplaya4]

Most of you haven't heard of them because you're dinosaurs as far as current hip western culture is. When you're away from home 5+ years things are going to change. It seems to be a similar kind of fad to what Tommy Hillfiger was to those of us in our early thrities probably remember. I think the most popular trayvon martin picture had him wearing one of their hoodies or shirts.

[Smithington]

[Steelrails]

[Zackback]

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/12/13831316-korean-american-man-sues-queens-hooters-over-racial-slur-on-receipt?lite

Korean-American man sues Queens Hooters over racial slur on receipt

NBC New York

A worker at a Hooters in Queens, N.Y., resigned after identifying a Korean-American man and his girlfriend with a racial slur.
By NBCNewYork.com

A Korean-American man is suing a Hooters restaurant in Queens after a worker there identified him and his girlfriend on a receipt using a slur referring to Asians, they allege.

Kisuk Cha, 25, and his girlfriend, both Korean immigrants, placed a to-go order at Hooters in Fresh Meadows, Queens on July 10, according to their lawyer Daniel D. Baek.

This story originally appeared on NBCNewYork.com.

After placing their order, the couple noticed their hostess and another worker standing at the computer giggling and "gawking at them," according to the lawsuit.

When their hostess handed them their receipt, it had the word "Chinx" printed in the space reserved for the customer's name.

"Here we are in Fresh Meadows, and we have large populations of Asian Americans � Korean Americans, Chinese Americans, Indian Americans, you name it," said Baek. "It's happening right here in Fresh Meadows. I'm shocked."

Cha told the New York Times he was so distraught that he lost his appetite and, when he got home, threw the food away.

The unemployed information technology specialist emigrated from Korea in 2000 and lives in Philadelphia, according to the Times.

[Dave Chance]

[Steelrails]

[nautilus]

[Scorpion]

I have been denied service at a restaurant here twice. Can I sue?
My friend was denied access to a sauna. Can he sue?
I have been told that I must get an AIDS test, but my gyopo mate from New Jersey doesn't need to bother. Can I sue?

The thing about this Holister story is this: They all got fired! Every last one of them. How many people at MBC got fired (or even reprimanded) over that racist report about foreigners last June?