National Subway Graphic: The Limited Edition NOT to be Missed!!

I love how Seoul Metropolitan Management found its creative side of portraying the social phenomenon at subways. First, let me get this straight, well..at times I did see couples hugging and kissing (although some would be blietzkrieg-like kiss). Not that I am naive or being hypocritical, but..yest...there are kids too in subways.:)  

and that's what prompted the Subway management to create this public awareness campaign ad.

what a great way to 'nudge' those couples:-) 

Then...the second edition that I like is also about how some people would just behave like the king of the subway..hehehe.:)

Well, some may not be aware of it..but the fact that some do exist....has prompted (once again) the Seoul Subway Management to come up with this brilliant idea of 'portraying' misbehaved passengers as gorilla or Kingkong. 

Then..what about those who sneaked out of the system...get on and off the subways without paying. I was alarmed to find this, too.

Some are just using the children card instead of adult-fare card. (so they say).

but...this is what makes it even more interesting...

these limited editions of National Subway Graphics are what keep me glued to wait and expect more 'insanely' creative ways of 'nudging' those kinds of people out there.

hmmm I hope I am not one of those...:) 

'Tis Upside Down!

I thought I had something wrong with my eyes when I saw the TV. It's upside down. I couldn't make out what it was. Was it because I was a bit 'disoriented' after having some 'house chores' in the morning? 

Had it been my eyes that did the trick? 

The right-side TV indeed showed something strange. 

I couldn't read what it was saying..until I realized that indeed...it was downward. 

Hmm...it was a trivial thing to see...but, being a very very amateurish photographer who's always ready to take pictures as stuffs do happen, I felt like having this urge to take the moment to zap the ad with upside down footage.

This has been an exercise for my eyes...

If you buy something at the traditional market........then...

THEN...you do not only buy things but you also get 'love' 'affection'  or 정 (Jeong) like what Korean people address it.

I also bumped into another interesting public announcement. I love it.

The picture depicts an ajumma or a woman who sells (vegetables?) at the traditional market.

The ad says" 전통시장은 정을 팝니다" Traditional Market Sells 'Love+Affectin" *

* 정 is one of the difficult word to translate into other language. 

But...the point is that...more and more people in Korea tend to shop at hypermarket or any convenient stores or malls or department stores that penetrates almost every corner of Korea's public space. 

E-Mart, Lotte Mart, Shinsagae, Home Plus and many other medium-sized markets have  somewhat replaced the existence of traditional markets. 

And..that fact alone has triggered a massive concern as to whether traditional markets would be able to stand against the time and the pressure of something called 'modernity'

So, despite the fact that Korean Government has imposed the rule stating that major big  department stores to 'CLOSE' their stores twice a month on (for instance) the 2nd and 4th Sunday....

Still...a lot of people are flocking the modern market....instead of the traditional ones.

Well, preferences are hard to condone.

THAT is the reason why...This Kind OF Public advertisement is deemed necessary in subways and any other public venues.

The problem is:

DO PEOPLE really READ this?

I do hope they Do.

They read and then they think..and hopefully it will lead to action.

Mommy, isn't that too soon for me???

I bumped into a very interesting public advertisement on my home. It was posted on many subway platforms for a lot of people to see.

It says "엄마! 이건 너무 빨라요' Mom, isn't it too soon and early for me?"

Well, it satirizes the preoccupation of Korean society's (can I call it excessive?) preoccupation with 'private' education. hmm..can I use the word 'private'here?  

Anyway..what I mean is that...

English for instance..has now been one of the seemingly ULTRA important subject that even small children or toddlers need to brush it up.

then...a lot of kids must undergo a lot of extra classes in music and any other extra training that (may look) good and important..

but...

all of these ....overlook the fact that some kids or children are just kids who just want to play until they reach a certain age...

(Not to mention...the relatively expensive cost that the parents have to burden....)

so...this advertisement or public 'advertisement' attempts to instill or give a 'wake-up' call for Seoulites and Koreans who might see or read this!!!!!!!!

IF they ever want to stop and read this kind of advertisement.

I do hope they do.

Seoul Metro: Environment+Health Campaign

I wonder if many people would notice this signs patched over the exit-entry door of some subways in Seoul. Of course, it looks too simple and not-that-eye catching. But, since they are mostly put on the doors of subways, those standing in front of, next to, adjacent to the door, or those waiting in line to exit from subway must've or might've seen or read at least once about this one. These are posters or public advertisement made by the Seoul Subway or Seoul Metro Management. 

So, what's so eye-catching and good about these? Let me start to scroll this down!

First:  지하철 계단을 오르면 생활이 곧 운동이 됩니다.

10계단을 오르면 1.2 Kcal, 1분이면 12 Kcal

...freely translated into

'Use the stairs in subway (stations) and you'll have your exercise'

'10 stairs equals to 1.2 Kcal, 1 minute equals to 12 Kcal.

The next one is also interesting......

It deals about environment-awareness. 

전철을 타면 매일 매일이 식물일입니다.

인천역에서 서울역까지 전철로 출되근하는 고객님은 

오늘도 2그루의 소나무를 심으셨습니다.

freely translated into...

'Riding a subway everyday is the Day of the Plant' (?)

Those passengers who take subway from Incheon to Seoul Station everyday to their offices

are like planting 2 pine trees each day.

The last one that I found is:

 고객님께서는 <1회용 교통카드>를 사용함으로써

환경보호와 물자절약에 앞서고 계십니다.

freely translated into...

'Any passengers using one-time reusable transportation card 

are the front liners in environmental protection and resource conservation.'

I think this kind of public ads is one of the coo ways to promote such awareness. 

As for me, it also tricks me to learn more about Korean language.^^