CNET News has picked up on Korean MP3 manufacturer ReignCom’s “patriotic” declaration of war on Apple’s iPod. For those looking for the actual advert, it could be found here, via the Ilgan Sports. The Lost Nomad talked about this on his blog, and Joel Burslem contributed his thoughts as well.
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14 Comments
A company in Asia makes a product with Western technology, then runs jingoistic ads about not buying from the companies that innovated it in the first place–that’s rich.
Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t catch what the Koreans were ranting about - I had my iPod on…
If patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel…draw your own conclusions about Koreans.
As a Korean, I don’t agree with the way they advertise, but what’s up with “western technology”? I think it was some Korean and Japanese companies that commercialized the first mp3 players.
I think they really need to work on designs, by the way.
Hey Brad, normally I’m just as happy to get high and mighty about Koreans stealing western shit and calling it their own *COUGH* COUGH* everypieceofpopmusicreleasedinthepast5years *COUGH* but this is one place we can’t. Korea released the first mp3 player. Read it and weep.
The mp3 format was developed in Germany, first commercialized in the U.S. (http://www.goldpinepartners.co.....ent_ns.htm)
da formats, da players, Oi Vai!
I think the ad is in-your-face about its message, but is it really so different in spirit from the “Buy American”/”Made in America” campaigns that periodically sweep the U.S., (especially in the automobile, garment, and food industries).
Just bought an iPod mini at Yongsan on 3.1 - HAPPY HOLIDAY! Needless to say, nationalistic considerations did not play a part in my decision. (Then again, maybe I was making my own statement, albeit subconsciously!) Really, the I River 1 gb player was 270 000. The iPod mini 4 gb was 255 000 - it used to be 341 000. Not a tough call if you’re buying with music - and now value - in mind. Not as flashy and gimmick-laden as local players perhaps, but iPod is easy to use and sounds great. Substance over style, thank you.
how the heck did they come up with the name I RIVER? cuz it sings like a “river”? haha, I’m really curious…
It’s actually kind of funny. I guess a lot of you weren’t around when Apple Computers launched the Big Brother IBM ads. It’s a sorta reverse Apple ad launched by the Korean MP3 players. Well, at least they didn’t burn American flags in their ads–besides, this ad will come back to haunt them should they ever make it big enough to sell MP3 players in the US market.
Is “8/15 Cola” still on the market?
The other question is: is their MP3 player any good?
I agree with Dan… the ad is over-the-top, but Korea is hardly the only country where this sort of rhetoric is used to sell domestic products. By the way, the CNET story said that March 1 was “when the country celebrates its liberation from Japanese occupation.” I guess that’s sort of true, but that would better describe August 15.