Daum must feel threatened by Kakao Talk

Kakao Talk is a popular app (computer program) that can be used on iPhones and smart phones that use the android operating system. (You can read a description here.) It’s very popular in Korea.

Daum is a big South Korean Internet company. It’s released an app called My People. (You can read a description here and watch a semi-informative video below.)

Daum must feel threatened by Kakao Talk since it has singled them out by name for abuse in their commercials. They’ve also brought out the big guns by hiring the the most popular girl group in Korea, Girls’ Generation, to administer the beat down. Notice how the girls have departed from their usual aegyo (cutesy-wootsy way of talking) when heaping scorn on the poor cocoa bean.

This is par for the course for South Korea, where big companies crush and/or take over smaller companies. Interestingly, Kakao Talk is available to everybody, while My People is useful only to people who know the Korean language. I wonder if popularity abroad could help Kakao survive.

(Hat Tip to the Marmot’s Hole)

godam baby

(from List of the Day)

Why did we have this godam baby?

I don’t know if the following is from Korea or not, but it sure looks like something that you would see here.

Children need to be protected from loan advertisements?

In an effort to further protect children from undesirable influences, the Korean government is extending the hours during which adult material will be permitted to be broadcast.

Currently, adult-rated TV programs are banned from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on public holidays and vacations. But from October, that will be expanded from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on holidays. Advertising for alcohol, tobacco and private loan companies is also banned at those times.

Children need to protected from private loan company advertisements?

All chicken franchises have endorsements, so now it’s pizza

Almost every fried chicken franchise in South Korea has a commercial endorsement from a boy band or girl group, and some have more than one (though it could be because one group’s has expired). Of all of them, it seems that Goobne Chicken has spent their money the most wisely. Here’s the score so far:

Girls’ Generation –> Goobne Chicken

Super Junior and Shinhwa –> Kyochon Chicken

SHINee –> Mexicana

2AM and Big Bang –> BHC (Big Hit Chicken)

U-Kiss –> Vons Chicken

BEAST, Wonder Girls, and DBSK (TVXQ) –> BBQ Chicken (They’re really hedging their bets!)

T-ara –> Nene Fried Chicken

KARA –> COB Chicken

As the Grand Narrative once put it:

Yes, those are indeed shapely buttocks firmly thrust into our faces 3 seconds into the commercial.

4Minute –> Dasarang (“All Love”)

Secret –> 9ers Chicken

SS501 –> Hotsun

ZE:A –> Mom’s Touch

With every chicken outlet spoken for (up to three times over), it’s time to move on to greener pastures: Pizza!

Wine prices slashed says Joongang Daily and Kim Yu-na

According to the Joongang Daily, wine prices have been slashed. I have been informed of this same fact by Kim Yu-na, via a flyer in my mailbox from Homeplus.

Yes, we need more commercials featuring Kim Yu-na

When Kim Yu-na competed in Turin three years ago, she left for Korea soon afterward. However, this time, after winning silver at the recent world championships there, she had a night on the town with two other South Korean skaters, Kwak Min-jung and Kim Min-seok. She’s returning to Korea this afternoon.

Kim is slated to shoot eight television commercials for products ranging from electronics to automobiles to dairy items, all of which had been put off to let her concentrate on the Olympics.

If you thought you couldn’t escape seeing Kim Yu-na advertisements before (air conditioners, smoothies, cars, milk, eyeliner, yogurt, cell phones, and donuts), you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

2PM vs. 2NE1: Battle for the Gayest Hat

As Brian in Jeollanam-do has informed us before, around Christmastime, Paris Baguette and Baskin Robbins hold an annual “Battle for the Gayest Hat” contest.
Last year, Paris Baguette had Kim Tae-hee modeling Smurf hats, and Baskin Robbins’ contestants were boy band Big Bang. As kumarakitty said, of the video:

I love how they chase down the terrified snowmen and basically shove their heads up the snowmens’ asses.

Actually, Korean children love to play a game called “dong-chim,” which translates as “poop-needle.” They make a “needle” by clasping their hands together, forefingers extended, and then try to sneak up behind someone and poke them right in the anus. So shoving part of your body into other people’s private parts is common to Koreans.

This year, Paris Baguette’s contenders are 2PM …

… while Baskin Robbins are being represented by 2NE1.