Being Different is beautiful...

Yes..it's a public service advertisement endorsing Korean society's (seemingly existent) pressure on women/girls to have an 'artificial' look by way of plastic surgery. 

This ad would not have been existent in the first place, HAD the social problem as it postulated NOT BEEN there in the first place, right?

Okay..let me jot down what it says. For those who may not understand Korean language, I'll try to translate the sentences. Hope I translate them correctly.^^ gee....

V -- 똑 떨어지는 V라인 'the exact V-line figure'

342434 Bust.Waist. Hip. 

S --- 완벽한 S라인 'perfect S-line'

대한민국 표준 여성코도?

Korea's standard codes for women?

세상은 나에게 똑같은 몸매, 똑같은 얼굴를 가지라고 하지만 난 그렇게 되고 싶지 않아

Although the world told me to have similar facial and physical figure, I don't want to do that

그건 내가 아니라 남들이 만들어놓든 기준이니까

because that is not me. Instead, it is a standard that others put upon me. 

지금 이대로가 세상에서 단 하나뿐인 진짜 내모습이나까

The way I look as of now is my real looks...the only one in the world.

나도, 당신도 지금 이대로 괜찮아

It's alright to be what we are now. Me and You.  

And I was glad to find out that this public service ad was created by an organization calle Korean women link.

Oh...I also love the copywriter of this ad made it in such a witty way that would give it a plus. At least for me.

다르니까 아름답다

The sentence literally means 'since it's different, then it's beautiful'. 

But the ad wittily emphasizes the syllable 다 in the word 다르(다). 

You see, 다르다  actually means 'different'

but, if you just take the 다, then it means 'ALL'

thus..here it is....ONE simple sentence WITTILY means two things:

(1) 다르니까 아름답다 'different, so it is beautiful'

(2) 다 아름답다 'ALL is beautiful'

I couldn't agree more.^^ 

The bar code that characterizes this simple ad on subways is what caught my attention in the first place. Now I see it on a daily basis on my way to and from school. 

I guess...although this ad is in Korea, I think it is applicable to all women in other society as well. I think. 

AND....I APPLIES to men as well.

I think society also sort of 'forces' men to act or look like what they want them to be...

If only we put our time to ponder again the very idea of why we are created different.

..that ALL is beautiful.

..that being different is beautiful as well.

That's my rant...

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.

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.^^

한.미 FTA (Korea-US Free Trade Agreement)

I will not--of course--talk about something this heavy -a-subject on my blog^^. Instead, I will just want to share what I found on subway advertisement. Well, it is about FTA--okey. But, the way it is projected in such a way is something that attracts me.

First, I know that some Koreans did oppose the implementation of Korea-US FTA for some or so many reasons. I still remembered last year's long rallie being held in Gwanghwamun and Chongno area around downtown to oppose its implementation. With no avail. 

Well, as the fact suggest, the official implementation of this FTA did initiate itself on March 15, 2012. So, there are no other choices but to get along with this. So, this is when the role of government to make sure that its people understand and support its agreement. This ads suggests that at some point, Korean government tries its best to make sure that its people will understand this hard decision. Look at the ads: it is in cartoon, not real people....that would appeal more for passers by or subway passengers in this case..to at least to give it a thought. 

This ads suggest that this FTA would make one's family's daughter changed. How and what changes that would possibly be fell upon her, then? 

The ads says that  thanks to FTA, the prices of oranges, jelly, lemon are getting cheaper and cheaper...which later on eventually would help her solve her diet problem and of course...her skin would be better, too. 

FTA would also boost foreign investment in Korea that would eventually create more jobs and make her get her job that she wants.  etc...

I love learning Korean and Korean society through ads or any other medium I find on the streets or at any other places where I would bump them into. It kinds of helps me to understand more of what's going on or what Korean people are talking or buzzing about...

Oh, this ad has different theme, too: this one talks about how FTA affects a daughter's life. Other ads deal with their Mom, Daddy, Son.....

I think this is a cool way to disseminate the awareness of what FTA would hopefully bring about to Korean society.^^