Korea Sparkling Widget
Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 10:07 AM [Update:] It seems I as part of a mass commenting effort with luminaries Roboseyo and James Turnbull (Grand Narrative) also receiving details about the widget. See their comments at the cross-post at Hub of Sparkle.
Late last year there was a lot of debate about how Korea markets itself to tourists and the effectiveness or otherwise of various advertising campaigns.
I read with interest, but realised that I, and a large number of those posting about Hi Seoul Dynamic Korea Korea Sparkling aren't really the target market. I'm not a tourist. I live here. (I would like to say resident, but that's a topic for another post.)
This morning I got spammed by one Cho Ji Yong, supposedly a student at Pyeongtaek University Student who sent me an email (in addition to a comment totally unrelated to the post below this one) telling me about the promotional Korea Sparkling Widget, reproduced below:
It's not a habit of mine to even acknowledge unsolicited email / comments related to the blog but curiosity got the better of me. While the widget above displays Seoul's Weather you can choose to display a Korea News RSS feed or "Word of the Day" style Korean Language pointers.
I would quite like the widget as a static display of Seoul's weather, it fits in quite nicely with the colour scheme of my blog.
However the animations are a bit silly showing "David" and his numerous cultural faux pas while visiting Korea: "The baby speaks English!?"
Gimme a Break.
As a marketing tool it's lame, and I doubt it would convince any of my readers who don't have an interest in Korea already, to come here. As a piece of blog fluff it fails too, like I say, I like the weather representation but wish I didn't have to subject viewers to the rediculous animations.
Oh well. It looks like it's back to the drawing board for Korea Sparkling.
Get the widget from The KTO here.
Reader Comments (8)
I received the same email actually. I wrote a berating email back about how poor their English was.
Damn, when I got one, I thought I was special...
First, I will apologize to you
My English is not perfect. Because I'm still learning English.
I do not spammers. I`m not a computer.
I am a bloger too.
Me and my team is promoting widgets. Do not promote Korean sparkling.
I found your blog from the Koreanbloglist.com To list all the bloggers I think that was interested in Korea. Me and my team to the people on that list sent mail.
I must apologize. You will feel worse because of my e-mail
Caused by excessive enthusiasm of students I want you to forgive.
I am sorry.
I had one of those invites about the widget too. Well, I got it twice because the first time they forgot the attachment. They also included everyone elses email address on the 'To:' line which was amusing. ( Koreabeat was the only name I recognized)
I've just watched all the animations.. ( it's a quiet day )
Oh dear oh dear.
It started with a one liner about a butterfly festival and I thought it might be informational and useful, but then those stupid animations began.. My jaw dropped.. is this for real or some piss take by a wey gook?
I'd be more than happy to have the weather only, but the rest.. no way.
Looks like I got a slightly different one, this was my version:
Dear bloger.
First of all I feel sorry about out imperfect proposal.
So we changed words, sentences and added images how you add Korean Sparkling Widget in your blog.
And I thought I need to explain what is this work exactly.
1) Korean Sparkling Widget is not a banner but a widget. Korean government made this widget for introducing Korean culture.
2) We are volunteers. We do not revieve payment from Korean governmet or any other company.
3) We hope this Widget would be make foreigner know Korea more and can be a bridge between you and Korea.
And sorry again that I didn't send a mail personally.
I know this kind of e-mail looks like SPAM.
But I also know that you will understand and know my sincerity and the whole heart.
Thank you for your consideration.
And if you have any question and want to know Korea or me :), please e-mail again.
Thank ! you again.
Kamsahapnida. 감사합니다. ^^
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Awww, Cho ji yong's post is so sad. You guys are mean. ^.^;; ㅠㅠ
Nice article as for me. It would be great to read more about that theme.
it's good to see this information in your post, i was looking the same but there was not any proper resource, thanx now i have the link which i was looking for my research.
Research Proposal Dissertation
That's look great that people would love to share their educational matters and experience on internet, this would be good for readers who must face again this issues in their projects.