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ed4444

Joined: 12 Oct 2004
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:28 am Post subject: The Naples of Korea |
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This is amusing. I love when the Korean media uses completely inappropriate comparisons.
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/travel/1380574_11691.html
Seriously though I think this habit represents Korean insecurity. It is as if recognition by association will give legitimacy.
Might be worth saying that this habit is not exclusively Korean of course.
It would be interesting to see how many countries have claimed to have a Venice of the East or a Paris of the Orient within their borders. |
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VanIslander

Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:43 am Post subject: |
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Have you been to and around Naples? Tongyeong?
The parallel is inspired.
Koreans know a lot about Europe, and THAT city is in many ways like it (crowded narrow streets, dirty within, beautiful around, etc). I'll actually take the time to enumerate the many similarities (when it isn't 3:30 am!).
BTW, On Saturday I just went on an ancient-looking turtle ship docked in the harbour at Tongyeong and it was quite neat. Not sure how long it'll be there and open to public meanderings. Couldn't be from the Yee Su Shin era, with its mini-cannons and all, but fun to go on nonetheless.
(yawn, g'night) |
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J.B. Clamence

Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:56 am Post subject: |
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| That article calls it the Naples of Asia, which is interesting because Kagoshima, Japan has already claimed that title, and they have an active volcano, so I think Korea loses. |
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J.B. Clamence

Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| Koreans know a lot about Europe |
No offence, but that hasn't been my experience at all. |
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Bulsajo

Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:52 am Post subject: |
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I've been to Naples (and more importantly, Capri) and can say without hestitation that the Naples of Korea is Incheon.
I.E.- A grubby port city with surly inhabitants yet redeemed by the beauty of nearby islands.
Tongyeong might be the Sorrento of Korea (but I doubt it).
| ed4444 wrote: |
| Paris of the Orient |
Beirut was the undisputed holder of that title, pre-1975... |
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SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| One doesn't even need to have been to Naples to know it's a rough, poverty-ridden, crime-ridden cesspool full of football hooligans and its sea has been infamous in times past for being awash with Cholera. |
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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: Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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Ha ha, funny.
While serving in the US navy we called Naples the arsehole of Europe. So that makes Tongyeong the arsehole of Asia? Don't know if I would advertise it.
Been a few years, maybe Naples has cleaned itself up. He he. |
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Poor Lazarus

Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Location: Andong
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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If it is the Naples of Korea, they must make a mean "Pajeon", since that food is often called "Korean pizza".
I've heard Daegu try to pass itself off as the Milan of Korea. And of course Jeju is Korea's Hawaii, Youido is Korea's Manhattan......
Lets start a campaign to have Pittsburgh recognized as "America's Pohang" |
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harryh

Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: south of Seoul
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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| I wonder where the Korean Milton Keynes is? Or are there too many places to choose from? |
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SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I've heard Daegu try to pass itself off as the Milan of Korea. |
Milan's the most anti-climatic city I've seen, totally uninspiring. Considering Daegu is nothing special - even totally sucking would be a stand-out feature and Daegu doesn't even have that - it is comparable to Milan. I'm not the biggest fan of Italy. Even Rome's full of grafiti and hoodlums. Florence is great but otherwise you can pretty much stick Italy - and all the pompous Europhile arseholes who think it's the best place on earth - up your arse. |
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seoulkitchen

Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Location: Hub of Asia, my ass!
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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Dang! I thought it said "Nipples of Korea".......
Well it should have! |
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weatherman

Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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