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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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 Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:55 pm Post subject: What symbolic items best represent Korea |
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From the K-herald:
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/01/29/200901290014.asp
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52 things that best represent Korea
What does a Chinese food delivery metal briefcase, a bottle of soju, the 1988 Seoul Olympic mascot Hodori, Shin Ramen, eating samgyeopsal (AKA grilled pork) during workplace gatherings, and the "Be the Reds" T-shirts all have in common?
They have been selected as products, symbols and habits that have had the most influence on the everyday lives of Korean citizens over the past half-century.
During a conference titled "Korean Design Catalogue," the Ministry of Korea Culture, Sports, and Tourism announced on Tuesday with the cooperation of the Korea Design Foundation, 52 iconic essentials that best represent Korea's identity. The selected lot will be used to promote the country abroad as symbols of Korean society and its people.
The selection process and criteria were not based on superior design rudiments, but on how visible and influential they have been in forming the Korean identity.
The initial selections were chosen by vaunted designers Kim Young-cheol, Kim Jin-kyung, Park Hae-cheon and Choi Kyeong-won who had each initially chosen 50, which were then narrowed down to 52 by professors Kang Hyeon-joo (In-ha University), Kim Myeong-hwan (Kaywon School of Art and Design), and Oh Chang-sub (Konkuk University).
Among the other chosen symbols and icons were classic cartoon characters such as Baby Dinosaur Dooly, the Cuckoo Rice Cooker, i-River, Banana Milk, Chilsung Cider, the "Italy Towel," and the Admiral Yi Sun-shin statue at the Gwanghwa gate in central Seoul.
The panel suggested that the reasoning behind their selections was that they all had significant cultural visibility that symbolized Korea.
With the cartoon character Dooly, the panel noted that "the characters presented in the classic cartoon serials are such accurate depictions of the types of personalities around us in our everyday life that it was a natural choice, albeit, an odd one."
In addition to the products, icons and structures, the panel further added a host of selections by mentioning bulk wholesalers like E-Mart, cars from the early days of the fledgling Korean auto industry such as the Pony, the always phonetically amusing "Sibal taxis," which were basically military jeeps converted into city cabs, and the Monami 153 ball-point pen.
According to the panel, "analysis and research of simple, ordinary, and highly visible objects, structures, and symbols will provide future Korean designers to create distinctly Korean design cues and elements which will help promote the country abroad."
Rounding out some of the notable selections were the Cheonggye Stream, the candlestick girl, stone beds, kimchi refrigerators, Gold Star black and white television sets, and OB lager.
Song Woong-ki
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Any items they're overlooking?
Last edited by flakfizer on Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Straphanger
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Chilgok, Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: What sybolic items best represent Korea |
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| flakfizer wrote: |
| Any items they're overlooking? |
Have the E-Mart laundry soap cheerleader girl standing by and I think they're sorted.
Though I think they should bring back the Sibal Taxis.
Yesterday in the office: "성생님, what is a 씨발 taxi??" The two younger teachers looked horrified, and she started laughing her ass off.. Came and read the article. The Chinese character for Si is like "Time" or something, and "bal" is like "faster" but they don't translate well, would be something like "GO TIME!" she said. And yes, it was pretty funny at the time, she confirms. |
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Dodgy Al
Joined: 15 May 2004
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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triangle kimbap
poo |
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Troll_Bait
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: [T]eaching experience doesn't matter much. -Lee Young-chan (pictured)
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Any items they're overlooking? |
- ramen "flowers" on the sidewalk
- white envelopes |
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jay-shi
Joined: 09 May 2004
Location: On tour
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: What sybolic items best represent Korea |
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| flakfizer wrote: |
| Any items they're overlooking? |
Those long metal things they use to shove food into their mouths on a daily basis. |
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whatever
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Location: Korea: More fun than jail.
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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uh...sideways vaginas?  |
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Pojogae
Joined: 30 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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| To me Ajumma sun visors are the definitive cultural product of Korea. I find all 5000 years of Korean history succintly represented by the sight of a squat middle-aged hag with a stiff perm striding confidently down the street in one. |
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Zantetsuken
Joined: 21 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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| squatting on the sidewalk smoking an ultra thin cigarette in a shiny silver suit....nothing could be more manly or Korean. |
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Alyssa
Joined: 15 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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I hate to say it but....those open trash cans in the subway bathrooms filled to the brim with used tp 
one reason I left. You walk in and your eyes automatically go there, you don't want to, in fact you try to walk in and avoid it, but your eyes get an image that will forever stay in your memory. and make you lose your appetite, and your sanity. |
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santafly
Joined: 20 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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I'm sure the metal food delivery box will entice people looking for that exotic asian experience.
- you know, in Latin America you have to put toilet paper in a trash can - but the trash can has a swinging lid so you never see the paper, people also fold over the paper. |
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exit86
Joined: 17 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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It is funny that of the six things mentioned, only two--greasy-ass fatback
and soju--are of true Korean origin; all others are somehow foreign.
Hmmmm..... I would say domino-style, matchbox-esque apartments
and Moonie Mass Weddings. |
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Yesterday
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Land of the Morning DongChim (Kancho)
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| Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:20 am Post subject: |
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| my avatar |
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JJJ
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:37 am Post subject: |
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 sun visors, used tp...well done.
I will add...the famous soju pizzas that I happen to see almost every morning on my way to work. |
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JJJ
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:38 am Post subject: |
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sun visors, used tp...well done.
I will add...the famous soju pizzas that I happen to see almost every morning on my way to work. |
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HapKi
Joined: 10 Dec 2004
Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL
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| Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:12 am Post subject: |
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| the bathroom slippers |
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