English in Korea #5: “Marry Christmas”

This holiday season, the Lotte Hotel near City Hall Station in Seoul would like to wish you the very best in your new life together with Christmas. Confused? That’s reasonable, considering that the hotel is suggesting that its patrons and visitors “marry” Christmas as opposed to enjoying a “merry” Christmas. An easy and nearly invisible mistake to your average person, but still proof once again that Korean companies, in their efforts to use English to better promote their business, need to get a little better in the editing department.

 

English in Korea #4: “Doosan We’ve”

The Doosan Group is one of the largest and best known conglomerates in Korea, but apparently the people who work on their slogans need to take more English lessons. Usually, you see “두산We’ve” billboards around Seoul-town, but here near Yangjae Station we’ve got the real Romanized-deal. I’m not sure if we have Doosan or Doosan is telling us that they have a mystery, but I do know this is another bizarre usage of English in Korea.

 

Seoul Writers Event – “Every Second Sunday”

     Seoul Writers is celebrating the launch of their anthology “Every Second Sunday”, and you are invited to attend.  Seoul Writers is a creative writing group consisting of writers in the city area, and the anthology is a collection of short fiction and poetry written, edited and published by members of the group.  The event is being hosted by Dear Chocolate Restaurant in Apgujeong on December 6th, at 7:00-10:00 PM.

     The cost for entry is 35,000 won at the door (including a copy of the book), but 30,000 if you prepay by December 5th.  The first 150 guests will be treated to free champagne, courtesy of Veuve Clicquot.  All profits from “Every Second Sunday”will go to the Moonbears.org and the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center charities.

     For more event and RSVP details, you may contact the event coordinators by calling 010-8877-6742, or by e-mailing seoulwriters@gmail.com.  To reach Dear Chocolate, take Line 3 to Apgujeong Station and walk to the Galleria Department Store from Exit 2.  Pass the Galleria and make a right at the intersection.  It is in the first alley to the right, across from the Park Yoon Su Design Shop.

Host:                         Seoul Writers

Place / Date:            Saturday, December 6, 2008

Time:                        7:00pm – 10:00pm

Location:                   Dear Chocolate Restaurant; Apgujeong (near Galleria Department Store)

Address:                   78-5 Cheongdam-dong Gangnam-gu Seoul 135-954

Directions:                Go past the Galleria and make a right at the intersection. It is in the first alley to the right. It is across the street from the Park Yoon Su Design Shop.

Ticket Price:             35000w (including a copy of the book!), 30000w if you prepay by December 5th.

Description:              Come along to celebrate the launch of Every Second Sunday, a collection of short fiction and poetry written, edited and published by members of Seoul Writers!  Champagne, chocolate tasting, and great company! All profits from the book go to charity (Moonbears.org and Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center).

Contact Info:             (phone)    010-8877-6742

(e-mail)    seoulwriters@gmail.com

                                   (website)  http://seoulwriters.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

English in Korea #3: “Very & Good”

While it’s commendable that the Lex Hotel near Sinsa Station wanted to express its superior accomodations to potential customers in the English language, they seem to have forgotten a word (or added one too many?).  On and above the doors of the Lex Hotel are the words “Very & Good”, exactly as is written.  Since “very” is an adverb and “and” is a conjunction, there is some obvious confusion in the statement.  One must assume they mean to either say “very good” or something else described by “very” that complements “good”.  Regardless, the absense of that secret word and addition of the ampersand create yet another perplexing usage of English in Korea.