Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eac02]

I was riding line 9 the other day and they kept playing a commercial; it would show a scence and label it Korea then zoom-out or expand on the scene and add "n" changing it to Korean.
It doesn't seem to be a very positive commercial so I'm wondering what it is about. Has anyone else seen this commercial? What does it say in Korean? What is it about?

Examples from the commercial:
- busy zooming traffic= Korea... a guy in a traffic jam sticking his head out the window yelling at people= Korean

- a close up of a computer screen, video of a girl talking is on the screen= Korea (showing technology?)... zoom out and see a Korean girl using the laptop to make a video call at a cafe, she is laughing and talking loudly, a white couple is giving her a dirty look= Korean

- a scene of people moving quickly and traveling (I think, I don't remember this part too well)=Korea... a white guy riding up an escaltor and a Korean guy walks up behind him and knocks him on the shoulder as he pushes by= Korean

- fans screaming and excited at a baseball game= Korea... a guy sitting solo on a subway platform (I dont know if he is suppose to be drunk or hungover, I couldn't tell. No really sure what this scene is showing)= Korean

[reactionary]

probably something about etiquette. mind your manners because if tourists see you act like a lout they'll go back to their home countries and say bad things about korea/koreans...etc.

[seoulsucker]

Sounds like an earnest attempt to curb classic behaviors that give Koreans a bad name. Anyone have a link to this?

[oskinny1]

I saw this as well. Reminded me of a story my friend told me from her trip to China. It was in 2007 and Beijing was gearing up for the Olympics. She is white and she was with a Chinese friend and when they got on a bus the driver stood up and announced that there was a foreigner on board and everyone must behave (no spitting and the like).

I saw another one (or maybe the same) that was showing a man snapping some upskirt shots on the subway and later a man sneaking a peek down a woman's shirt. Don't be a biantae.

[Xuanzang]

[English Matt]

It's a commercial made by the Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuFJpc8xk0c&feature=player_embedded

The organisation is supposed to promote Korea's brand image as it were. It is trying to call Korean's attention towards the damage done to Korea's international reputation by being rude. My girlfriend translated it once for me....it says something like,

"Koreans, we've come a long way (economically) but now we need to focus on our manners"

That's the basic message....not exactly what it says.

[mayorgc]

Interesting Ad.

#1 never happens to me though, since I don't drive.

#2 has happened to me twice or maybe 3 times.

#3 I'm not sure what it's saying.

[sigmundsmith]

I think that it is a step in the right direction.

Like the guy said whose wife translated for him: Korea has grown rapidly economically but it needs to improve its' manners.

I think with the foreign guy on the escalator though, I don't think it needed to be one. Koreans need to learn how to respect other Koreans and treat them with respect as well.

I have talked to intelligent Koreans and they disapprove of this behavior as well but they accept it as the Korean notion and way of thinking - the BALI BALI way of living.

It is also important that there are Koreans who know that their country and culture is viewed by many in quite a negative light and believe that somethings need to be done to improve this image.

It won't happen over night and it may take a few more decades but it's headed in the right direction in my opinion.

[winterwawa]

[Xuanzang]

[aishiii]

[NightSky]

this is a great idea, they should make new commercials every month...

here's my suggestion:

*shot of kids running up and screaming hiiiiiiiiiiii*

*shot of K-guys blowing clouds of smoke in the faces of those who are passing by*

*shot of bus drivers changing four lanes of traffic without signals*

Rain doing a badly accented voiceover: "Korea. We've come a long way but we still need to get our friggin heads out of our asses...and our kids' penises out of plastic water bottles when there's a washroom just down the hall..."

[jvalmer]

[Smee]

Nightsky, the government does run commercials with guys (and girls) blowing smoke in people's faces. Not sure if there's one about dangerous bus drivers or people throwing catcalls at foreigners.

I give credit for Koreans trying to change and, as they see it, improve and fit in with the rest of the world. In my country people think they've achieved the pinnacle of civilization and don't take kindly to new ideas.

Though, I wish civil behavior weren't simply encouraged as part of increasing Korea's "brand." But it brings up a good point, that this behavior isn't necessarily considered good by Koreans, but it's simply how they think others would like them to act. I don't like the idea of foreigners dictating to Koreans how to behave, and would prefer Koreans show kindness toward strangers because it's simply a good thing to do.

[Mr. BlackCat]

Isn't the only real 'manner' anyone needs to learn the Golden Rule? That's what I find totally lacking in Korea, personally. In Confucism people learn their place in society, so sure kids will bow to their grandparents and throw a 'yo' at the end of sentence when talking to a teacher, but there doesn't seem to be alot of respect or thought for others. Instead of teaching individual behaviours I think they should just say, "Hey, don't you hate it when some jerk bumps you for no reason? Yeah, so does EVERYONE ELSE!" or "Hey, you know how it makes you angry when someone cuts you off in traffic? Well, it makes others angry when you do that to them! Crazy, I know!" and then maybe people will start realizing their actions have consequences. In the end, it boils down to the 'non-person' in Confucian society. An ajoshi doesn't care if he bumps you because you don't exist in his world. That is what should be addressed here. I don't really care about real cultural differences like slurping noodles or never giving a definite answer to a question. I'm more concerned with people acting like they're more important than everyone else. Yeah, yeah, you're busy and in a rush. So is everyone else in the world yet they manage to not run into people and bud to the front of lines.

I think that last shot was supposed to mean that while it might appear that Koreans are social, this country can be a very lonely place---perhaps alluding to what I mentioned above about not acknowledging people unless they're in your circle.