Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SHANE02]

Shit, this made me laugh. What a balls-up! http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2891208

Grand Sale turning out to be big planning mess

June 17, 2008
A Seoul sales event aimed at attracting summer vacationers to Korea on their way to the 2008 Beijing Olympics is suffering from a dramatic lack of organization.

The city government says its �Seoul Grand Sale 2008� will include shopping deals, bargains on accommodation and cheap meals at restaurants from July 19 to Aug. 31. The city government said it distributed thousands of promotional brochures in a total of 15 countries, including Japan, China, Hong Kong and Singapore, at the end of May. About 9,000 local hotels, shopping malls and restaurants will be featuring up to 70 percent discounts, according to the city.

However, a considerable part of the announcement has turned out to be either completely false or severely lacking in organization. What�s more, with only one month left before the international event is set to begin, Seoul has not yet even confirmed which companies are actually participating in the event.

The brochures say that the Lotte and Shinsegae department stores are taking part, but officials at the two stores don�t know why they were listed. They said their summer sales will end on July 13, so it is impossible for them to take part in the event because they can�t have another sale within 20 days of the last one under Korean fair trade law.

�A few months ago, a Seoul official called me, but we did not respond,� said Lee Seon-dae, Lotte�s head of public relations.

Most merchants in shopping areas such as Itaewon and Myeongdong are indifferent to the city�s plan.

They said it will be difficult to give special rates because new products will be released during the period of the grand sale.

�We think there was miscommunication,� said Lee Kwan-hyung, an official with the city government. �We will do our best to persuade merchants and companies to join in the event this week.�

With nothing set yet, coupon books have also not been made.

�Every year, Singapore finishes distributing brochures a few months before the beginning of the sale,� said Yang Ji-sun, an official at the Korean branch of the Singapore Tourism Board.


By Sung Si-yoon JoongAng Ilbo [[email protected]]



So the city Govt. doesn't know it's own laws? Nothing new there. It's mis-communication? actually no communication. Visit Korea shopping meca, and we have a pirate ship ride!

[ruffie]

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=mLrjlXf8-2A

[ryouga013]

You mean lack of organization, forethought and honesty from the capital? who'd a thunk it???

(before plus99 attacks "thunk it" it was intentional from a dialect)

[Frankly Mr Shankly]