[Everyone's Seoul]

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[seoulbrandproject]

‘I.SEOUL.U’ - The Discussion

The new brand for the city of Seoul, 'I.SEOUL.U' is spiking up discussion, both among experts and ordinary citizens. Here are some latest opinions from English media: 1. [Robert J. Fouser] Some thoughts on ‘I.Seoul.U’

2. Andrew Salmon: I.Seoul.U: The case for

3. Bobby McGill: ‘I.Seoul.U’ – the Confusing New Slogan for Seoul, South Korea

How about you? What do you think of the new brand? We would love to hear your opinions!

[seoulbrandproject]

Hello Everyone!

After months of preperations, submissions, retouching and finally voting the new brand of Seoul has been chosen:

I.SEㅇUL.U

Check out the brand's introduction video here (English subtitles).

For the retransmission of yesterday's live voting and project finale, click here (it's a full 3 hour recording, so save it for a rainy day weekend viewing).

We would like to thank everyone who followed us here and on other social media, shared their comments, ideas, feedback. It was a great ride with you all and we hope that you enjoyed it as much as Everyone's Seoul members.

We will continue to update you from time to time on upcoming promotion events and developments.

Seoul City, congratulations!

[seoulbrandproject]

[D-22] Vote for the new brand of Seoul

Check out the 3 final brand ideas for the city of Seoul! On October 28th one of the will be become the official brand for our city! In the meantime, all the citizens can cast their vote! What : Voting for new brand of Seoul Who : Anyone! When : Oct 6th (Tue) ~ Oct 26th(Mon) Where : Seoul Brand Website

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[seoulbrandproject]

Announcement of Seoul Brand Idea Contest finalists!

Kudos to all who participated!

Top 30 finalists (out of 16,147) Check out the results here.

[seoulbrandproject]

We got 15,856 ideas for Seoul from all around the world! Thank you so much for your participation. The exciting voting process is coming your way soon!

[seoulbrandproject]

September 1st is the LAST DAY of the competition! Join in and make a difference.

Submit your idea for the Seoul Brand Idea Competition now!

[seoulbrandproject]

Seoul is the motherland!

Seoul is our home. 

Seoul has so much to see.

Follow us on Instagram! 

[seoulbrandproject]

Interview with Mipa Kim, owner of ‘Plant’

We met with Mipa, the owner of awesome vegetarian cafe 'Plant' in Seoul to hear her thoughts on Seoul and learn more about vegetarianism. Read all about it here!

Could you introduce yourself and tell us about how you started out? My name is Mipa Lee and I run a vegan café ‘Plant’ in Itaewon, Seoul. I grew up in different parts of the US, UK, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast, but have been living in Korea for the past 9 years.

How long have you been a vegan and what prompted you to choose this path? I’ve been vegan for 7 or 8 years and vegetarian for 2 years before that. The reason why I stopped eating meat was originally for environmental reasons; reducing my carbon footprint, preventing pollution and more. The more I learned about factory farming, it became more of about animal rights and living compassionately.

Is it hard to be a vegan in Korea? I’ve been Korea for so long now that I know which restaurants or cafes have vegan options, and I also know how to order in Korean to make my needs known. For foreigners, it can be more of a challenge. It just takes a little more planning, but it gets easier with experience.  

What are some Korean foods you would recommend to expats who never tried Korean cuisine before? I would recommend Jap-chae (잡채) which is a noodle dish with various vegetables. And another one would be Bibimbap (비빔밥), but you have to ask for no eggs and no meat because some places put beef in this dish. It is fairly easy for them to make a vegetarian or vegan version for you, which is different from other types of dishes that already have the meat or dairy products cooked into the food itself.

Could you recommend restaurants that have good Korean food in Seoul? For a vegan experience, I would say go to Insa-dong (인사동) where they have authentic Korean food with various side dishes and you can get the full spread as well at a temple food establishment.

You started a business in Seoul which is a challenging experience. Do you have any words of advice for expats who want to do the same? I would suggest getting the help of native Korean speaker to assist with the legal paperwork and various forms. My Korean is not that good and I couldn’t have done it without the help of different Korean natives. The process is a huge headache so this is key. Everything else is just hard work. You should be prepared to dedicate one or two years of your life to really hard work with not much sleep or social life. It is tough at the beginning but it’s very worth it.

If you could compare Seoul to a particular dish, what would you compare it to? Maybe a mix of everything. I think it would be comparable to Bibimbap or Budae-chigae (비빔밥, 부대찌개) as there are lots of things mixed in as well as being hot and flavorful.  

Parting words. Be kind to animals and be environmentally conscious.

PLANT’s storefront.

Directions to Plant:

1F, 63-15, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. 서울시 용산구 이태원동 63-15 1층. MAP: https://www.facebook.com/STUDIOPLANT/photos/a.367469790049022.1073741830.362901350505866/621364671326198/?type=1&relevant_count=1 Directions to PLANT: Come out of Itaewon Station Line 6, Exit 4, walk straight until you see Sneak Soul (a shoe store) on your left. TURN LEFT into the small alleyway with steps, immediately next to Sneak Soul. Cross the intersecting road and go straight into the next alleyway next to Greek on the Grill. Continue a few buildings downhill and PLANT will be on your right. 

[seoulbrandproject]

Ever since Koreans got the logo bug and started adding taglines to the country's, cities’ and province's names, expatriate residents have been criticizing them. I'd like to analyze this because the city now has a competition going, with cash prizes for the best slogans, and I want to encourage expat critics to go to the site and give their best ideas, or forever hold their peace.

Check out the article by Michael Breen, the CEO of Insight Communications about the Seoul Brand Idea Competition!

Only 6 days left to submit your ideas.

For more information and registration go to the main competition website here

[seoulbrandproject]

Seoul is sweet <3.

Seoul is the beautiest city!!

Seoul has feeling!

Instagram’s best. Follow us there~

[seoulbrandproject]

Interview with Rydia and Chloe from 'Disruptive Voices'

We met with the leaders of 'Disruptive Voices', a great organization devoted to helping the victims of sexual abuse in Korea to learn more about their worthy cause and their thoughts about Seoul.   

Could you tell us more about the origin story of Disruptive Voices?  How did this organization start?  

Rydia: It started out in September 2013 to help women who are survivors of various forms of violence together with the fashion clothing line ‘Varyd’ that I run but it eventually separated into an independent women’s rights group with co-leaders helping out our efforts. The first activity of Disruptive Voices has several branches; Womyn's Talks,   Men's Talks, LGBTQIA Talks and open Workshops. All our talks are free of charge.  

In April 2015, we started a bi-weekly Womyn Survivors Group which is run in both Korean and English. We welcome any and all women who have undergone sexual violence in their lives to join us.  We give various support and make sure that the group atmosphere is constructive and respectful to provide a safe space for everyone. We also offer relevant information regarding the Korean legal system and its procedures as well as resources on where to get help for physical and/or psychological care.  

Besides our talks, Disruptive Voices have been invited to speak and hold special lectures on number of occasions. We have worked with Ehwa University for both a graduate school class as well as the Ewha Global Empowerment Program.  We also have held a special sexual harassment seminar for Samdong – a Korean NGO.  

Currently we have manged to find our very first angel donor, Mr. Jang Jun-pyo, who is the CEO of Pojang 119 (포장 119). He has opened our eyes and given us inspiration to look into registering Disruptive Voices as an official NGO.  Furthermore, we hope to expand into the teenage and young adults community who are the next generation and work with them on slowly but surely establishing a culture of consent. Lastly, we have also translated a well-known  Korean autobiography < 눈물도 빛을 만나면 반짝인다> in collaboration with Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center (KSVRC) and we are looking into publishing the English version of the book.  

  Are there any moments from Disruptive Voices that stand out in your memory?  

Rydia: For me, it was the workshop that took place last year in May. It was mainly focused on educating the third parties - people around the victim of sexual violence. Often times, the aftermath of an assault and people's responses can be worse than the assault itself. The third parties that respond with victim blaming, indifference and shaming are what leads to many people to not speak up against their perpetrator and cause prolonged trauma and suffering.

The most powerful and memorable workshop in May <Story of Rape – A Father's Story>, our guest speaker was the father of an infamous sexual assault case in Korea known as The Case of Na-Young(나영이 사건). It was an open Q&A format.   He candidly opened up about the incident and delved into details of how the family dealt with the aftermath. The place was packed as people from all walks of life attended.  

Chloe: For me, it was during the time we gave a lecture at Ehwa University. We were getting acquainted with the students who were in attendance. A lot of them were involved in various women's organizations and during the question and answer session, one of the students said that she respects us for helping the public by opening up our lives to the people. I always think about how we can make  Disruptive Voices less bureaucratic and more of a grassroots movement because I think that our biggest strength is that we are flexible, open, personal and that we have the information and the means to connect people with the right institution to provide the help they need.  

How would you describe Seoul to people who have never been to this city?  

Chloe: I think that Seoul is dynamic as things always change in this city and people here are working  all the time. But at the same time, there are nice friendly neighbours in the pockets of the city. I have experienced the kindness from warm, friendly people.  

Rydia: Seoul is a city that truly never sleeps. Most people picture New York or Tokyo as a megacity where nothing stops but things stop at certain time of the night unlike Seoul where so many things stay open all the time. It’s quite convenient and the public transportation system is great. As for the downside, Korea is a country where you are not who you think you are but what others say you are. Naturally, people are too conscious of their outer appearances and tend to make everything into a competition. This could be why Seoul makes people feel lonely. The food is awesome though.    

Last words and things you would like to promote.  

We would like to  inform the public of our bilingual survivor's group of Disruptive Voices. Also, if you would like to volunteer or collaborate with Disruptive Voices, email us at   [email protected]

[seoulbrandproject]

Editor’s picks from this week on Instagram! Follow us~

[seoulbrandproject]

Party at Seoul Plaza!

Ok, so it’s not a rave, but there’s a concert.

And we’ll be there!

So if you haven’t quite made your plans for this flash holiday, come by the lawn in front of City Hall. We’ll have members there from 4 p.m. onward til the concert at 7:00. No need to say it’s an open event. That means free~ We like free things, too.

Scheduled to be there are Lee Seung-Chul, Kim Yuna, Sistar, Ulala Session, Insooni, and the never disappointing Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. Here’s an English article by Yonhap!

Just a teaser: 

Here’s us hanging out at our last event with Seoul mayor, Mr. Park Won-soon. (He’s the one in the middle...)

Folks submitting their ideas!

This is what our stand looks like! Find us this afternoon at Seoul Plaza (City Hall Station)!

See you there!

[seoulbrandproject]

Check us out!

We got a mention in the Korea Times! We’re so excited. =D

>>Look here<<

[seoulbrandproject]

Seoul is a great place for a day trip!

Seoul is a great big city.

Seoul is a city where the past and present meet. 

Seoul is sexy. :)

This week’s editor’s picks from our Instagram!

We go out and meet people in Seoul, locals and visitors alike, to see what they think of the city. You could be our next feature! Give us your thoughts. Where should we go to meet some interesting folks?

[seoulbrandproject]

Three ‘It’ Places : Musical Hongdae

‘Hongdae is only for kids in their early 20s. It’s no place for us to hang out.’

There are quiet a few of my friends who share the above opinion. However, I beg to differ. Once you step of the beaten trail of dance clubs and cheap pubs, you will find a live music heaven, hidden away in little allies. Here the slightly (and more than slightly) older crowd can enjoy a cold beer or a cup of coffee, while listening to some of the most unique music performances. Without further ado, let me recommend 3 spots that will guarantee you an unforgettable music adventure.

Jebidabang

By day a coffee shop and a comic reading spot, by night a live music venue. Bands like Pavlov or Babarettes ring a bell? They may be now well known all over the indie scene, but they started off with gigs in the small basement at Jebidabang. Blues, punk rock, folk, acoustic… form every Thursday to Sunday one can enjoy music festivities. For a detailed concert schedule, check out the website.

Address: Mapogu Sangsudong 330-12

Channel 1969

Just like you can change the radio channels to find the broadcast that suits you, the owners make sure that their café/music venue’s concert program will allow just about anyone enjoy themselves. Country band, jazz duet, trumpet orchestra, house club DJ… Channel 1969 has seen it all. Hidden away in a basement, with an interior consisting mostly of memorabilia dating from as far back as the 70s, run by charismatic owners, this spot offers daily concerts of melomaniacs. See Channel’s facebook for upcoming gigs!

Address: Mapogu Seokyodong 394-19

Café Bitter Sweet Sound

Really, what can beat a rainy afternoon or a starry night at a coffee shop terrace, sipping on a warm latte, while listening to sweet sounds of an acoustic concert? Recently popularized by a gourmet TV program, this delightful café offers so much more than just delicious beverages and snacks. Every weekend afternoon one can enjoy their time, while listening to music recitals of fresh indie bands. If you too want to listen to some piano and guitar, check out Café’s Facebook page.

Address: Mapgu Seokyodong 400-2

Check out the map below for the venue locations!

[seoulbrandproject]

Do you have what it takes to come up with Seoul city's new symbol? Take the challenge and find out! Have an awesome idea? Great! Submit it on the official Seoul Brand Page!