How To Host A Hallyu Fan Meeting

The following thoughts come to mind after viewing this youtube footage of  a recent signing event arranged by Laneige Homme for Hyun Bin's fans. The session with the Secret Garden star lasted over two hours at Lotte Department store in Myeongdong on the 22nd of January.

1. Timing is Everything

Organisers of signing events don't need to be too successful in getting the word out that a Hallyu star is making an appearance at such a place on such a date. If the publicity details are released too early, you may get a far larger crowd that could easily become an over-excited mob that could be hard to control. Too late and you're wasting your A and P budget.

And the line went round and round - pics from Soompi

So while it seems as if winter is a lousy time for a signing event, it helps to sift out the less dedicated from the die-hard fans who are willing to queue in the freezing cold outside for hours.



How long did these Hyun-Bin diehards suffer near zero temperatures before they could shake their idol's hand?

2. Control The Information Leaks
Not necessary to spend a lot of won or resort to WikiLeaks publicising the event in conventional media - just pass on details of time and place to a well-chosen fan club or well-followed blogger and let nature take its course. If you've picked the right celebrity to be your brand ambassador, then half your job's done.




3. Ask for the Co-operation of the Traffic Police

You want to please your potential customers but at the same time, you don't want to incur the wrath of the drivers, passers-by or shoppers who have no interest in meeting your star and don't want to be inconvenienced by walkways or roads blocked by long lines of fans queuing to meet their idol or get his or her autograph.  Check out the youtube footage between  0:50 and 0:57 the bemused customer trying to get a makeover from a sales assistant at a makeup counter while surrounded by hordes of screaming teens.

4. Hire, Train and Equip Extra Bodyguards

Better to employ many bodyguards with endless patience to control the masses of screaming teenagers. Recruit tall staff members who can tower over the long lines of fans standing earnestly on tiptoe. They would need to have firm handclasps so their natural barricades would not be broken by a wall of teens who surge forward excitedly to touch their favourite Hallyu actor or singer. It's also a prudent move to train them to deal firmly but gently with female supporters who could sue your staff for manhanding or molesting them. Megaphones, queue markers and ear-plugs should form part of the regular arsenal to be handed out to your staff.

5.Monitor the Message Boards

After the event is over, it's worth checking out what the participants have to say about how well or how badly you organised the whole thing - are they satisfied customers who will fork out more won to buy the products endorsed by your chosen star or has your brand image taken a battering with more people disappointed by late and all-too-brief appearances or people who got their toes stepped on far too often or fans who decided the amount of money you got them to pay to purchase an autographed poster wasn't worth all the blood, sweat and tears?

See also
The Meeting with Lee Min-ho That Wasn't


sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/01/28/2011012800768.html

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/01/21/2011012101080.html
http://www.laneige.com/brand/model_story2.jsp
http://en.amorepacific.com/about/about_brand_news_list.jsp#88
http://en.amorepacific.com/about/about_brand_news_list.jsp#88
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_chart_detail.htm?No=13974
http://www.soompi.com/news/hyun-bin-holds-an-autograph-session/page/1
http://www.allkpop.com/2009/10/lee_minhos_hectic_day_in_singapore

Houses in Korea I Fell In Love With, Part 2

Devotees of Personal Taste who were hoping to make a pilgrimage to the non-existant Sanggojae may opt instead to stay at Rakkojae which is also in the Bukchon Hanok Village. Those who fell more in love with the house than with Lee Min-ho may find consolation in the fact that a lot of effort has been put into achieving a harmonious balance between tradition and modern comforts in the former home of aristocrats (yangban) which has been turned into a guesthouse since 2003.

The name “Rakkojae” means “the place where one can enjoy the traditions of times past and rest one's soul” and judging from the photos of this 130 year-old house, it certainly looks like an inviting oasis of peace amid the concrete sprawl of Seoul. Its founder, Ahn Young-hwan, a former computer programmer, shared his philosophy on the website of his guesthouse: “Korea cannot be seen. It must be felt…. Korea’s recent past shows a struggle against poverty and devastation, and the dawn of growth-oriented development. But, in the process, a great deal of cultural properties were destroyed within the four gates. The time has come to restore our heritage, to enjoy life. I hope cultural spaces will be developed by other like-minded individuals in the future, because Rakkojae is only the beginning.”

Ahn enlisted the help of hanok architext, Jeong-Yeong-jin to convert the nobleman’s house into a luxurious guesthouse which could play host to not more than twelve guests at a time. It employs the traditional ondol system but at same time, you have modern plumbing in private bsthrooms, even a Japanese-style bath to soak fully in, and Net access.

Here then is my fantasy program of my stay in Rakkojae ( an ajumma can indulge in some day-dreaming, can’t she?)


 
I’d pack a light bag and take the subway line No 3 to Anguk Station. Walking instead of taking the cab helps to build up the anticipation. After coming out from Exit No 2, I’d walk for about 300 m until I reach Gahae-dong Office. Then as I turn into the sideline opposite the office, I’d mentally prepare myself to enter a more genteel and slow-paced world. Sounds as if I’m preparing for templestay except I don’t have to get up at 4 am and worry if I can handle 108 prostrations!

As I head up the alley towards Rakkojae, I’d pause to admire the frontage of its neighbours though the high walls may convey an air of inaccessibility. When I reach the pinewood entrance of Rakkojae, I’d take a picture of the wooden tablet bearing its name in Chinese characters to check out the pronunciation in Mandarin later.

The beauty of the Daecheong, the open-floor courtyard warrants a mini-photo taking session before I head towards my sleeping quarters and remove my shoes on the didimdol ( stepping stone). Looking into the immaculate and empty floor, I wonder if I’m expected to lay out the bed mattress myself as there is no Western-style bed here.

But then other questions follow rapidly – What should I do first? Shall I take advantage of Rakkojae’s proximity to two important palaces and do some sightseeing at Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung? Indulge in the complimentary wood-fire sauna made from natural mud? Or sign up for a tea ceremony session, a cooking lesson on how to make kimchi or try my hand at calligraphy? Or do I simply explore the grounds and buildings after unpacking?

Whatever my choice is, I find myself sitting down in the evening to a feast. For starters, abalone porridge is served and this is followed by sashimi ( to cater to the many Japanese guests curious about the Korean version of their ryokan), Korean-style roast beef, japchae, bulgogi amongst other dishes. While we finish our meal with a light dessert and sip cups of soju or rice wine, we’re treated to a musical performance by a pansori singer.

That night, I exchange travel notes with other guests as we admire the stars and moon from our vantage point in the open courtyard. My sleep is deep and relaxing on the comforting warmth of bed linen nicely toasted by the ondol-heated floor and I dream of Lee Min-ho or better still, the owner of Rakkojae offering me free board and lodging for the rest of my life. ….

Seriously though, Rakkojae is not simply a place to play out your Personal Taste fantasies but a microcosm of the elegance and refinement of old Korea where you might find yourself falling in love with an aesthetic and a way of life instead of just a Hallyu star.

sources:
www.rkj.co.kr.
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=255895

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=406025
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=262465
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AC/AC_EN_4_8.jsp?cid=351668
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=561382
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/CU_EN_8_5_1_67.jsp

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/sanggojae

Four Steps To Get Kim Beom's Autograph

How badly do you want Kim Beom's autograph?

Warning : The pic above is merely an illustration -

 I've no clue which poster, photo or pic KBS plans to use as prizes for this event.

Well, not just his signature but also
EITHER a "Luxury Edition' of the ‘Boys Over Flowers’ OST
OR a poster of the hugely popular drama series.

If you do covet these prizes, you can take part in the second installment of the "Twitter Follower Giveaway", a competition organised by KBS World Twitter to increase its following which currently stands at around 30,000 people.

Here are the four steps to get you closer to Kim Beom's signature:

Step One
Record your own short video clip with a personal message to KBS World. Keep it warm and glowing or make your criticism constructive. The video should not be less than 30 seconds and not exceed one minute.

Include a brief description of yourself ( name, country, job, etc)  in the message. You may include any relevant drama poster or placard related to KBS World in your recording. Choose wisely - check that your drama poster doesn't feature some production by SBS or MBC!

Step Two
Upload the video file on a video-sharing website such as YouTube.


Step Three
Send an email with information about your video's URL to cater2u@kbs.co.kr

IMPORTANT! The deadline is Friday October 15th 2010 (24hr, UTC+9)

Make sure the video clip is still in your account after the closing date to give time for the selection panel to view the entries and select the winners.Winning videos can be used for KBS World promotions in the future.

Step Four
Pray, keep your fingers crossed,lose sleep, haunt the message board for KBS World etc. etc.

BTW, don't ask me why KBS isn't offering Lee Min-ho's autograph instead.


sources:
http://kbsworld.kbs.co.kr/notice_event/notice_event_view.html?no=106

http://batangkpoplover.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/isplus-kim-beom%E2%80%99s-interview/

The Meeting With Lee Min-ho That Wasn't

Scores of Lee Min-ho fans who waited for hours at Plaza Singapura on last Saturday evening for a glimpse of ETUDE's new poster boy must have been crushed, literally and metaphorically, when organisers of the meet the star event decided to cancel for security reasons. Has ETUDE bitten off more than it can chew by hiring the hugely popular actor of Boys Over Flowers fame?  Those involved in arranging the event did not anticipate such a large turn-out in Orchard Road. Signs of the backlash may be read in various forums dedicated to Lee - a number of disappointed fans who bought a lot of ETUDE merchandise in the hope of getting him to autograph his poster must be feeling very sore, to say the least. What kind of impact would it have on the long-term sales and image of ETUDE?

Fans on the other side of the Causeway who had heard about the cancellation in Singapore could breathe a sigh of relief that a similar event in a much smaller venue in Sungai Wang Plaza wasn't axed as well.

For all those who want to see much ado about Min-ho in Singapore, click here.

Source:
http://www.allkpop.com/index.php/full_story/lee_minhos_hectic_day_in_singapore/

Lee Min-ho is ETUDE's Poster Boy - Is That Brilliant Marketing or What?

Relevance kow-tows to raging hormones or die-hard romantics.  That seems to be the strategy adopted by Amore Company which sells ETUDE cosmetics.It's not enough that ETUDE outlets are designed to look like doll-houses, and the packaging of their products to be all pretty in pink. Now ETUDE is playing fairy godmother to all the would-be Cinderellas out there by providing a Prince Charming ( otherwise known as Lee Min-ho of Boys Over Flowers fame) to promote its products  intended for the female market.

So this weekend, ETUDE  will whisk  Prince Charming  from Taiwan to Singapore to Malaysia in a whirlwind visit to generate more excitement over ETUDE's BB Creams etc.  Of course, this enterprising godmother expects all the Cinderellas to prove they're worthy of their Prince's attention ( or signature, at least) by purchasing a certain amount of cosmetics or skin-care products to qualify for a poster of prince with house kitty so that they can queue for goodness-knows how long to be close up and personal ( ?) for one magical moment with HRH.

Unsmitten shoppers who are thinking of heading to ETUDE shops in S'pore & Malaysia, be forewarned. It's going to get really hot and crowded on the 24th ( Spore) and 25th ( at Sungai Wang Plaza, at 5 pm in  Malaysia, according to what I've seen on the Net, can't confirm this, sorry!)

Good luck to you all ( Lee Min-ho, included). Wait a minute... why am I wishing him? He's paid $$$ to play poster boy for ETUDE.  Let's just hope he'll have the stamina and patience to be professional enough to reward each of his ardent fans with a princely nod, wave and smile.

source:
http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/03/etude-houses-new-face-lee-min-ho/