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lemak
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
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 Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 1:39 am Post subject: |
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| Old fat expat wrote: |
| I'm hoping it catches on. NYC meter maids dressed as Lady Gaga. London could do Spice Girls. Absurd? Absolutely. Psy pppffff. |
Billy Ray Cyrus-mullet-adorned bouncers at Geckos!
They can sing Achy Breaky Heart every hour on the hour Johnny Rockets style.
Equally retarted!!
*edit* Anyway some dum dum cops down in Indonesia already did this Gangnam Style schtick.
http://guardianlv.com/2013/05/gangnam-style-performance-by-indonesian-police-woman-controls-protesters/
Typical The Koreans copying again, LOLZ! |
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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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| hogwonguy1979 wrote: |
| 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 |
It shows you how trivial they view crimes against tourists. |
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seoulshock
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Scorpion wrote: |
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. |
You mad, bro? |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| his song as caused more people to travel to Korea |
Really? There are actually people around who plan their vacation destination on the nationality of the latest youtube novelty singing act? I guess Norway must be preparing itself for a huge influx of tourists this Xmas - to be supervised by policemen dressed in fox outfits. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:27 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
(CNN) -- Just when you thought South Korea had milked the global success of "Gangnam Style" rapper Psy for every drop, along comes the unveiling of Seoul's new tourist police force.
The connection? The officers' uniforms were created by Korean fashion designer Kim Seo-ryong, who has made costumes for Psy.
Naturally, "Gangnam Style" was played as a group of Seoul police officers performed Psy's famous horse-riding dance during the tourist police inauguration ceremony at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square on Wednesday
South Korea's Tourism Board (KTO) says the government decided to launch the force, made up of 101 men and women, in response to the rising number of visitors to the capital.
"These tourist police officers will be patrolling major tourist areas in Seoul such as Myeong-dong, Insa-dong, Itaewon Tourist Special Zone and Hongdae," said the official announcement. |
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/17/travel/seoul-tourist-police-gangnam/index.html?hpt=hp_c4
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The tourism police are only on duty in Seoul at the moment, but will be expanded to other regions in the coming years.
"At the moment we don't have enough personnel to expand the service to other regions but we are planning on hiring more officers," says Ryou Hyun-cheol, director of foreign affairs planning division at the National Police Agency, in a Korea Times report.
"By early next year, we are planning on launching tourism police in Jeju Island. We will also expand the service to cities such as Busan and Incheon."
This isn't the first time South Korea tourism officials have used Psy's global fame to promote tourism. And who can blame them, really. |
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Jodami
Joined: 08 Feb 2013
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:21 am Post subject: |
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The cops will probably outnumber the tourists.
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Popocatepetl
Joined: 14 Oct 2013
Location: Winter in Korea: One Perfect day after another
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 6:17 am Post subject: |
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| Jodami wrote: |
The cops will probably outnumber the tourists.
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I wonder what the official figures consist of exactly.
| DailyMail wrote: |
| South Korea has become an increasingly popular holiday destination and last year topped 10million visitors for the first time - |
I'm guessing that 10 million equals the number of tourist visas stamped. many of which are eslers or family members of military personnel. |
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fustiancorduroy
Joined: 12 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 8:23 am Post subject: |
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| Jodami wrote: |
The cops will probably outnumber the tourists.
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In Myeong-dong? No way. At least half the people there are tourists from China and Japan. The Lottle Mart at Seoul Station has about as many tourists as it does locals, too. You seem to be implying that no one would want to visit Seoul from the nearby Asian nations, which just ain't true. |
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fustiancorduroy
Joined: 12 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 8:32 am Post subject: |
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| Popocatepetl wrote: |
| DailyMail wrote: |
| South Korea has become an increasingly popular holiday destination and last year topped 10million visitors for the first time - |
I'm guessing that 10 million equals the number of tourist visas stamped. many of which are eslers or family members of military personnel. |
Oh, come on. There are only about 20,000 ESL teachers and 25,000 military personnel in Korea, so, at most, the people visiting these folks would make up only a tiny number of the tourists who came to Korea last year. Assuming that there was an average of 12 tourists visas issued annually for each ESL teacher and military personnel (which I think would be a very high estimate), that would still only equal about 500,000 out of the 10 million tourist visas from last year.
No, I would guess that a significant portion of these tourist visas are issued to honest-to-goodness tourists. Just go to Myeong-dong, Lotte Department Store, Namsan Tower, etc. You'll literally see busloads of tourists from China, Japan, and Thailand. Is it that mind-bending to think that people would actually want to visit Korea?  It's not a bad place to come and shop, see a few sights, and have some nice meals, especially from the perspective of other Asians. |
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Jodami
Joined: 08 Feb 2013
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 9:45 am Post subject: |
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| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
Is it that mind-bending to think that people would actually want to visit Korea?  |
I think it is that mind-bending.
I lived in Korea for 6 years, but whenever I mentioned to friends or family about visiting, it was a very quick nay.
They all said they'd much prefer to meet me in Japan or Thailand. (which was what always ended up happening) |
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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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| The Japanese and Chinese tourists are visiting mostly for the shopping, and some are here for plastic surgery. Prices are lower here, sometimes much lower depending on the exchange rates. |
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fustiancorduroy
Joined: 12 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Jodami wrote: |
| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
| Is it that mind-bending to think that people would actually want to visit Korea? |
I think it is that mind-bending.
I lived in Korea for 6 years, but whenever I mentioned to friends or family about visiting, it was a very quick nay.
They all said they'd much prefer to meet me in Japan or Thailand. (which was what always ended up happening) |
Is your family from China, Japan, or Thailand? I'm guessing not. Most Westerners would rather visit the more well-known (to Westerners) countries, such as Japan and Thailand. Consequently, the number of Western tourists in Korea is fairly low. But that doesn't mean that there aren't millions of Asians coming to visit the nation.
My family visited me here in Seoul a few years ago. They didn't have any particular desire to come to Korea but ended up having a great time anyway. Seoul is a good place to visit if you know where to go. |
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IPayInCash
Joined: 27 Jul 2013
Location: Away from all my board stalkers :)
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
Is your family from China, Japan, or Thailand? I'm guessing not. Most Westerners would rather visit the more well-known (to Westerners) countries, such as Japan and Thailand. Consequently, the number of Western tourists in Korea is fairly low. But that doesn't mean that there aren't millions of Asians coming to visit the nation.
My family visited me here in Seoul a few years ago. They didn't have any particular desire to come to Korea but ended up having a great time anyway. Seoul is a good place to visit if you know where to go. |
And this is a load of BS.
Seouls "things to do" are largely second rate, dumps compared to what the rest of Asia has to offer. IPIC's II Law: If you think Korea is a good place to visit, you're either a Koreaboo or you haven't traveled Asia extensively.
Namsan Tower? Garbage compared to the Tokyo Skytree
63 Building? Garbage compared to Taipei 101
Seoul's overpriced department stores? Garbage compared to Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong
Seoul's ugly concrete jungle skyline? See the city above.
Itaewon? **holds back from laughter** Garbage compared to Khao San Road, where you can actually meet interesting people (not bald ESL losers that have been in Korea a decade and don't speak a word of the language) and you can eat Pad Thai for a dollar which tastes better than any garbage street food Korea has to offer.
Yeouido Park? Garbage compared to Yoyogi Park in Tokyo.
Gyeongbokgung? Garbage compared to the Forbidden City.
I could go on and on but I think I've proved my point.
Those "millions" of Asians you're point out by the way.... well I'll put it this way: Upper middle class and wealthy Americans go on trips to Mexico because it's cheap for them and they have tons of money to blow. That's basically what the Chinese and Japanese are doing for Korea. None of them "like" this dump they just have more money than they know what to do with. Just go to Myeongdong and watch them overpay for everything in sight or blow their money at the casinos in Jeju if you don't believe me. |
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El Bandito
Joined: 07 Oct 2013
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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| IPayInCash wrote: |
| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
Is your family from China, Japan, or Thailand? I'm guessing not. Most Westerners would rather visit the more well-known (to Westerners) countries, such as Japan and Thailand. Consequently, the number of Western tourists in Korea is fairly low. But that doesn't mean that there aren't millions of Asians coming to visit the nation.
My family visited me here in Seoul a few years ago. They didn't have any particular desire to come to Korea but ended up having a great time anyway. Seoul is a good place to visit if you know where to go. |
And this is a load of BS.
Seouls "things to do" are largely second rate, dumps compared to what the rest of Asia has to offer. IPIC's II Law: If you think Korea is a good place to visit, you're either a Koreaboo or you haven't traveled Asia extensively.
Namsan Tower? Garbage compared to the Tokyo Skytree
63 Building? Garbage compared to Taipei 101
Seoul's overpriced department stores? Garbage compared to Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong
Seoul's ugly concrete jungle skyline? See the city above.
Itaewon? **holds back from laughter** Garbage compared to Khao San Road, where you can actually meet interesting people (not bald ESL losers that have been in Korea a decade and don't speak a word of the language) and you can eat Pad Thai for a dollar which tastes better than any garbage street food Korea has to offer.
Yeouido Park? Garbage compared to Yoyogi Park in Tokyo.
Gyeongbokgung? Garbage compared to the Forbidden City.
I could go on and on but I think I've proved my point.
Those "millions" of Asians you're point out by the way.... well I'll put it this way: Upper middle class and wealthy Americans go on trips to Mexico because it's cheap for them and they have tons of money to blow. That's basically what the Chinese and Japanese are doing for Korea. None of them "like" this dump they just have more money than they know what to do with. Just go to Myeongdong and watch them overpay for everything in sight or blow their money at the casinos in Jeju if you don't believe me. |
I have to agree with some of these statements. Koreans talking about "foreign tourists" coming here for the shopping are clueless when it comes to Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong. Not only is there a larger selection of brands and styles, but no overinflated import tax. Also, Yeouido Park? Try going to Victoria Park in Hong Kong. Now, THAT is a good place to spend a lazy afternoon. |
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fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm so glad my taxes are going somewhere useful. |
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