[Weekender] Speed, convenience are behind Incheon Airport’s service crown

Long queues of people, unpleasant hours of waiting for check-in and later sprinting to the gate to clear immigration in time for the flight ― these are common bugbears of using a busy airport.Though bustling with some 134,000 travelers a day, check-in delays are rare on a regular day at South Korea’s award-winning Incheon International Airport, which prides itself on offering users the fastest and most convenient services in the world.The arrivals hall at Incheon International Airport (Incheon I

IndustryDec. 11, 2015

[Weekender] Race on to be Asia’s top air hub

Competition among Asian air hubs is heating up as countries in the region are scurrying to build new airports, add runways and expand passenger terminals to become the continent’s top gateway to the world.With surging air travel and burgeoning budget carriers, major airports in South Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, India and Thailand are increasing capacity to meet demand.“Asian countries are showing a significant growth in air travel, higher than the global average, amid their continued economi

IndustryDec. 11, 2015

[Weekender] The police officer's daily grind

With the setting sun, darkness seeps into the harbor city of Incheon. As people unwind after a hectic day of work with bottles of soju, some beer and ample amounts of Korean barbecue in the local popular hangout, things start to get a little rough around a clearly-drunk 50-something man.　Uniformed police officers arrive on the scene and attempt to calm things down, but are welcomed with a slap and violent behavior with rants of “How dare you lecture me when you’re just my son’s age!” Cops specia

Social AffairsDec. 4, 2015

[Weekender] Closer to the people

In light of the deadly terror attack in Paris last month and the fear it sparked around the globe, many in South Korea also began reconsidering everyday safety.Granted, amid the constant threat from the reclusive North Korea, coping with looming fear has become somewhat usual for Koreans for decades. And various global indexes, including the Better Life Index 2015 by OECD, placed South Korea as one of the safest places to live, at No. 6. Behind the unorthodox sense of security enjoyed by the pub

Social AffairsDec. 4, 2015

[Weekender] Portraying police in Korean cinema

 “We may not have money, but we have our pride.”This year’s smashing box-office hit “Veteran” -- a cathartic action thriller following a detective trying to arrest a sociopathic young chaebol scion on criminal charges -- offered arguably one of the most positive portrayals of Korean cops. The detective Do-cheol (played by Hwang Jeong-min), as reflected in the above famous quote, is fierce, righteous, capable and, most of all, ethical. He does not exchange his dignity for his own safety, comfort

Social AffairsDec. 4, 2015

[Weekender] After K-pop, Korea eyes ‘K-cop wave’

With Korean pop culture, known as K-pop, enjoying steady popularity around the globe, South Korea is looking to export its homegrown policing tactics and equipment in the hope that it can spur what they call the “K-cop wave.”Putting aside controversy at home over the excessive use of police equipment such as water cannons and pepper spray at rallies, South Korean police’s security capabilities have received the spotlight given its long years of experience in keeping public order through turbulen

Social AffairsDec. 4, 2015

[Weekender] Tech plays bigger role in fighting crime

As crimes become more complex, the role of technology has been ever more crucial in nabbing and indicting suspects. From autopsies and fingerprint recognition to DNA and psychological analyses, the Korean police have improved over the years.Korea Crime Scene Investigation agents demonstrate how they secure evidence and investigate a crime scene. (Yonhap)　　Among the technologies that have been developed, the advancement of fingerprint analysis is especially noticeable since its introduction to Ko

Social AffairsDec. 4, 2015

[Weekender] Targeted digital advertising on demand

It’s not just content that matters in the advertising world. Thanks to ever-evolving information technology, media platforms have become an equally important part of advertising. Adknowledge, a U.S.-based company, found a business opportunity in IT. The company consults on and arranges the placement of advertisements based on its analysis of mostly users of social media ― Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. The company has become an online sensation by placing Samsung mobile phone commerci

IndustryNov. 27, 2015

[Weekender] Advertisers think outside the box

More advertisement creators are trying to think outside the box to promote products and services.Several foreign advertisements in recent years found new and innovative ways to communicate by breaking social expectations and making clever use of their advertising media. Screenshot of Sky TV’s 40-second live ad for Champions League matches.(Sky)Here are three advertisements that turned heads and at the same time won critical acclaim for their quality and ingenuity. Geico’s “Unskippable” series be

IndustryNov. 27, 2015

[Weekender] Adding a human touch to commercial imagination

When a government institution or ministry airs an advertisement, the point is to convey a message of public interest ― usually on a tight budget and under numerous regulatory restrictions. No wonder that these “public” ads mostly fail to appeal to the public.But this year, a video campaign on the importance of recycling overturned such prejudice. Earlier this month, Korea Advertising Awards 2015 selected the Environment Ministry’s public advertisement “I Am Your Father” as the best overall video

Nov. 27, 2015

[Weekender] Relatable, consoling campaigns tug at hearts of modern Koreans

For the last 25 years, a billboard inscribed with messages of hope, courage and love has been hanging on the Kyobo Life Insurance headquarters in southern Seoul.“Though simple, the words have consoled me during times of hardships and reminded me of life’s priorities during busy periods,” said 35-year-old Kim Yong-bae, who passes by the billboard on his way to work every day. The Kyobo Life Insurance billboard featuring a quote from an essay by American poet Mary Oliver is hung at the firm’s head

IndustryNov. 27, 2015

[Weekender] Ad industry microcosm of economic change

In South Korea, one of the top 10 advertising markets globally by expenditure, the ad industry has evolved in line with the country’s rapid economic growth and downturns throughout its nearly 130-year history. As a mirror of society, ads offer a glimpse of the times. One example is a television commercial for energy drink Bacchus, which recently won the top honor in the Korea Advertising Awards, selected based on consumers votes.Under the theme of “Living life as a father/undutiful child/boyfrie

IndustryNov. 27, 2015

[Weekender] Advertisers walk thin line between ethics and freedom of expression

TV personality and lawyer Kang Yong-suk appears on the controversial “I sue you” advertisement poster that was voluntarily taken down in October. (Kang Yong-suk’s blog)The “right to advertise,” despite the powerful support of the right to free speech, is now facing a new challenge. 　Kang Yong-suk, a TV personality and lawyer at Next Law, recently triggered the controversy with a poster of himself roaring “I sue you!” 　What was meant to be a witty ad was taken down shortly after concerns emerged

Social AffairsNov. 27, 2015

[Weekender] Selling products, buying dreams

 The 1998 film “The Truman Show” depicts how a person can live without noticing that his whole life has been one gargantuan billboard. Whether it is a carton of milk he drinks or something that he or his wife picks up from the floor, the everyday items in his life are exposed to tens of millions of viewers, attracting people’s attention and zeal to buy them. But the protagonist Truman Burbank does not realizethat he is a model in this 24-hour reality advertising show because his life as an adver

IndustryNov. 27, 2015

[Weekender] Packaged kimchi becoming smaller, diverse and healthier

Throughout history, kimchi has held a defining presence in South Korea’s culinary scene. The beloved spicy, fermented vegetable dish is eaten with almost every meal and the culture of communal kimchi-making has stood as an emblem of traditional culture.　Amid demographic shifts, a growing number of Koreans are choosing to purchase ready-to-eat kimchi, as they shy away from what can be a cumbersome task of making it from scratch and storing it.　As the domestic packaged kimchi segment has evolved t

IndustryNov. 20, 2015

[Weekender] Internship: Tool and requirement

Koreans often imply that our society is more competition-focused than comparable societies. That statement, at least in terms of finding employment and the lengths the young people go to find “respectable” jobs, may be true. For some time now, internships have been a “standard” part of a job seeker’s resume, along with a good alma mater, high GPA, unnecessarily high English language scores, and a whole list of other qualifications.  (Bloomberg)And interns are everywhere. From newspapers and tele

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2015

[Weekender] Youngsters toil in vain in bleak job market

Hardships from working overtime to sexual assaults are common, but future remains bleak for most jobseekers　It is very common to see youngsters rushing to the subway station at dusk to catch the first train, when it is still dark and chilly, with a cup of coffee and toast in hand. They are eager to be the first ones in office, and for a reason.It used to be no different for young intern Jeon -- she wished to be identified only by her family name -- until all her hard work came to naught. She use

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2015

[Weekender] Shortcut to determining career path

Although the issue of youth unemployment is undoubtedly concerning, many Korean college students still remain undecided about their career paths. Most have difficulty in determining their career paths as they are uncertain about their true interest or have inadequate information and experience regarding the range of occupations. A sophomore from Ewha Womens University’s law school is taking part in a law school internship held at Seoul Western District Court. (Yonhap)In this sense, internship ma

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2015

[Weekender] Knowledge and hand-on experience key to efficiency

Many students opt to undertake internships in order to improve their chances of finding employment, and as an opportunity to gain practical experience in specific fields before beginning their careers. However, those who can confidently say that they had an efficient internship experience are small in number. This, in part, many take internships without adequate information about a position, while some say that many internships do not offer much by way of experience needs for specific fields. He

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2015

[Weekender] A must-read for foreigners looking for internship in Korea

As in many economies where eager college students fall prey to corporate exploitation, internships in Korea have gained a notoriety that rivals the advantages they potentially offer. 　For non-Koreans hoping for an internship experience, however, the trouble begins before they even start. 　 Foreign students attend a class at a Korean graduate school. (Korea University Graduate School of International Studies)Searching for openings can be a laborious quest without sufficient Korean language skills

Expat LivingNov. 13, 2015