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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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 Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 3:15 am Post subject: South Korea unveils Gangnam Style tourist police |
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You've heard the song, you've seen the dance - now Gangnam Style, by South Korean pop star Psy, has become the inspiration for the country's tourist police.
Psy's costume designer has created snappy uniforms for the new force, comprising bright blue jackets, dark trousers, grey shirts, sunglasses and black berets.
And to add a twist to today's launch in Seoul, the hit song was played as the new recruits were unveiled - with a police drill unit performing Psy's signature horse-riding dance. |
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2462626/South-Korea-unveils-Gangnam-Style-tourist-police-dressed-uniforms-designed-rapper-Psys-stylist.html
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Mr Lee Charm, president of the Korea Tourism Organisation wanted to make it clear to the recruits that they weren't formed because the country was unsafe.
'You are ambassadors who promote how safe this country is,' he said. 'From now on, you guys will be very busy having pictures taken with tourists.'
While they will be chatty with tourists and will automatically smile whenever a camera is pointed at them, the tourist police have been told that because they will not be carrying weapons they must call in regular officers if they are confronted with a crime or a dangerous situation.
South Korea has become an increasingly popular holiday destination and last year topped 10million visitors for the first time - partly thanks to interest sparked by the international Gangnam Style craze. |
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Squire
Joined: 26 Sep 2010
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 3:46 am Post subject: |
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That is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard, for god's sake the song is well over a year old and no longer played! Korea still trying to use Gangnam Style for self promotion seems pathetic now. Tourists are going to think it's weird that the country is still harping on about that damn song, and it will make Korea seem like it's stuck in a bizarre time bubble and isn't ready to move on from it's golden age of summer 2012.
It would be like a small eastern European country using a former Eurovision winner as a claim to fame. It's an indication that literally nothing better has happened between then and now |
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katsu
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Location: here and there
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 3:55 am Post subject: |
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| I've seen them today in Myeongdong lol...a bunch of Koreans "checking them out" and a few tourists taking pics of them. |
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Nolos
Joined: 23 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:07 am Post subject: |
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| i'm embarrassed to live in south korea now. well....have been since my 3 month honeymoon was over. |
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IPayInCash
Joined: 27 Jul 2013
Location: Away from all my board stalkers :)
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:30 am Post subject: |
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| Nolos wrote: |
| i'm embarrassed to live in south korea now. well....have been since my 3 month honeymoon was over. |
Tell me about it Dan. Id be embarrassed too if I was exposed as a fraud and message board troll.
As for the OP its just one more reason why this is such a pathetic country. Milking a song for all its worth even after the rest of the world has moved on. I dont see the police doing the Macarena as theyre patrolling the steets of Barcelona. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:44 am Post subject: |
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| Isn't there a drunk ajosshi to take care of this? |
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Popocatepetl
Joined: 14 Oct 2013
Location: Winter in Korea: One Perfect day after another
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:53 am Post subject: Re: South Korea unveils Gangnam Style tourist police |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| the tourist police have been told that because they will not be carrying weapons they must call in regular officers if they are confronted with a crime. |
So the regular officers will arrive and pull out their nasty light sabres? Scary. |
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yodanole
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: La Florida
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:43 am Post subject: |
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| Move over Buckingham Palace! |
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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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| What exactly is their purpose? Arresting tourists? Dancing? |
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BackRow
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Why do they even need a tourism police force? I know the Chinese tourists who scream at food stall vendors as their way of "bargaining" to save 100 won, take flash pictures in museums and run out in the middle of historical reenactments to take pictures are annoying but really now. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Station them at Incheon airport and stop those taxi drivers from ripping people off as soon as they arrive. I think it is a good thing, what can it hurt to have this police force helping tourist with being ripped off. |
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Scorpion
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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It's simply pathetic. That clown's fifteen minutes were up long ago. It just shows that Korea still has no clue about how to market itself, or what foreigners are actually interested in seeing. These 'Gangnam kops' will be just another Korean fail for foreigners living in Korea to laugh at.
In fact, maybe I'll get my photo taken with them and have it posted on my facebook page.
Honestly, how can they be so detached from reality. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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| I really can't see where the animosity is coming from. I don't think anybody actually read the article. PSY only designed the uniforms and they were talking about how his song as caused more people to travel to Korea. So, they have developed this special citizens police to help tourist. How is that such a bad thing? |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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| nicwr2002 wrote: |
| I really can't see where the animosity is coming from. I don't think anybody actually read the article. PSY only designed the uniforms and they were talking about how his song as caused more people to travel to Korea. So, they have developed this special citizens police to help tourist. How is that such a bad thing? |
If they can speak decent English and actually do something like deal with the taxi touts at ICN and Myeong-dong etc, then I have no problem with them. They would sure beat the hell out of the regular Keystone Kops we see.
Its the whole PSY and Gangnam Style stuff that makes us roll our eyes at how absurd the Korean gov't is |
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Old fat expat
Joined: 19 Sep 2005
Location: a caravan of dust, making for a windy prairie
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| Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 12:00 am Post subject: |
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| I'm hoping it catches on. NYC meter maids dressed as Lady Gaga. London could do Spice Girls. Absurd? Absolutely. Psy pppffff. |
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