The fabled Haechi, a lion-like horned creature, has been chosen as the symbol representing Seoul, while the “Hi Seoul” slogan promoting the city from many years will be replaced by either “Soul Seoul” or “Soul of Seoul.” An official who participated in choosing new symbols for the capital said Thursday the final choice was made based on the opinions of Seoulites — Koreans and foreigners alike — gathered for the last six months. Seoul will be advertised as “the City of Haechi” and its images will be spread around the world, he said.
(HT to Hamel)
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So… Does Haechi mean ‘taking it up the ass’ or ‘I have horrible indigestion’?
Looks like a deformed toad of some kind. And the foreigners who expressed approval were obviously high from smoking weed.
Good album cover. Bad city slogan.
downs syndrome turtle.
I thought it was more like a walrus with leprosy…
Sparkling
(and, yes, a good album cover)
a syphlitic cross eyed walrus on a 3 wheeled bicyle. i like it. May I suggest “Seoul aint got no soul” as the catch phrase?
Haechi, the smiling amoeba?
FAIL!
It is really too bad since “Seoul” has so many good possibilities. Mind boggling how they cannot come up with something.
Although, I will withhold final judgment as the slogan means a great deal less than the campaign that goes with it. The constipated walrus is not a good start though…
No wonder he’s constipated. When it was time to draw the ass they just stopped.
Seoul will be advertised as “the City of Haechi” and its images will be spread around the world, he said.
Please change the spelling just a little bit to Hoochi. “The city of Hoochi” sounds better.
That romanization thing isn’t an exact science. Changing the spelling a little bit won’t hurt anything.
Although it looks kind of goofy and smacks of buggery, it is miles ahead of the kind of big-eyed, anthropomorphic gaiety we have come to expect from Korea’s graphic design wizzes over the years.
The name probably came from Haede which means ‘blind,’ but they must’ve thought the name may give Koreans a bad feeling so they changed it.
Now, how many ugly cartoon characters get a break like this? Only in Korea!
“The Land of Not Quite Right!” (Lol, thanks for that one, Maekchu)
I always thought this thing was called a Haetae (해태)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haetae
It’s a mistake to expect people to latch onto and remember an obscure foreign word.
Haechi…Is it read like the Korean interjection?
Those circles got old in the 90’s. Designs like that are now used at gas pumps to promote calling cards.
(Shaking my head in disbelief)… we Koreans sure like to shoot ourselves in the foot.
Seoul isn’t a hard sell… it’s not rocket science fellas.
Yeah. Soul Seoul. Barf barf.
Bring back Hodori!
who the fucked picked that out?
Way to go ROK, Seoul will now be viewed overseas as “that Asian city with the butt pirate dildo thing”.
If any of your foreign Seoulites saw this hideous image six months ago and showed your approval step forth now and make yourself known. I’d like to shoot you.
Where the hell is its back legs? What are those dots and why are there testicles on his back?
@25, imo this is when racism in Korea kicks us in the nuts.
Honestly, I cannot stress how much Korea has shot itself in the foot intentionally with this. I simply cannot believe it.
Well… maybe it’s just a rough draft? It certainly looks like a rough draft, sorta like the first sketches of Darth Vader when he looked like a deep sea diver on George Lucas’ sketch pad… I’m I right? Someone tell me that I’m right (reaching for straws here).
I second bringing back Hodori. Who can’t love that cute tiger?
What surprises me is that, unlike Iran where they just kill the local gays, in Korea they simply deny they exist.
This logo just confirms what one sees when watching KBS, SBS, or MBC… The guys are dressing more and more like Liberace and the girls are looking more and more like a cross between Peter Pan and Ellen DeGeneres…
Ya don’t need “gaydar” to spot that toad in the road…
Why doesn’t the Seoul city gov’t. look into hiring Jar Jar Binks as their mascot? I’m sure he could use the work.
#16, thanks for the informative link, “fire-eating dog…guardian against disaster…against all forms of disruptive or violent change…adopted from Chinese mythos…” Several themes or commentaries can emerge from this historical description. But in short I agree with most others, it’s a grotesque, hideous symbol for the city and should be discarded soonest -it is no guardian against a public relations disaster!
WE Koreans? And for some reason, I mistook you for a real live nephew of our Uncle Sam.
<blockquoteIf any of your foreign Seoulites saw this hideous image six months ago and showed your approval step forth now and make yourself known. I’d like to shoot you.
I bet it’s those rascal 중국 유학생 paying back Seoulites for last weekend’s torch relay fiasco.
# 33,
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/.....ent-134734
With the recent venture into space, perhaps they could have used…
Seoul – Interstellar Hub
“Discover your Seoul” would have been my choice (unless something similar is in use somewhere…would have to check that).
The sad thing is that it seems Haechi is a registered trademark.
These people seem to be delusional. Why register a Haechi trademark?
Oh yes, because it’s such a brilliant logo/character that millions will be flocking to copy it.
Curse these people, there go my plans for:
Haechi popsiciles
Haechi gum
Haechi toys
Haechi candy and chocolate
Haechi electrical appliances
Oh weel at least I’ve got my mashi moro royalties to fall back on.
That reminds me, Brendon I need you to register my TURD trademark, can’t have millions of people copying that one either.
Uh… it’s also the logo for a confection and food company called Haitai, the company that makes the after dinner gum where the flavor drains out in just three chews. Yes, different romanization, but same hanja I imagine.
//eng.ht.co.kr/
@#35:
If you’re Korean, what do you call ethnic Koreans born and raised in Korea? 正名: The first order of business is the rectification of names.
My haja sucks… what are you trying to say?
Hanja I mean.
Sheesh, Wangkon, any Korean middle school student and a fair number of elementary school students could tell you that 正名 is pronounced in Korean as 정명 :b
from the Naver 한자사전:
『논어(論語)』의 자로편(子路篇)에 나오는 공자(孔子)의 말로, 명칭(名稱), 말의 개념(槪念)을 바르게 한다는 뜻에서 ①명칭(名稱)에 즉응(卽應)하는 실질(實質)의 존재(存在) ②명분(名分)에 상응(相應)하여 실질(實質)을 바르게 함. 예를 들면. 군신(君臣)ㆍ부자(父子)에는 그에 상부(上部)한 윤리(倫理)ㆍ질서(秩序)가 존재(存在)한다고 하는 사상(思想)
And a brief English explanation: 正名 is the term for Confucius’ belief that proper naming of things was essential for government to function. People could not communicate with each other or make, interpret, and enforce laws without an agreed understanding of what words meant.
OGC!!
Removing the front legs creates quite the interesting mascot….
They definitely weren’t thinking on this one.
What’s April 1 on the lunar calendar?
#43
“Sheesh, Wangkon, any Korean middle school student and a fair number of elementary school students could tell you that 正名 is pronounced in Korean as 정명 :b
from the Naver 한자사전:
『논어(論語)』의 자로편(子路篇)에 나오는 공자(孔子)의 말로, 명칭(名稱), 말의 개념(槪念)을 바르게 한다는 뜻에서 ①명칭(名稱)에 즉응(卽應)하는 실질(實質)의 존재(存在) ②명분(名分)에 상응(相應)하여 실질(實質)을 바르게 함. 예를 들면. 군신(君臣)ㆍ부자(父子)에는 그에 상부(上部)한 윤리(倫理)ㆍ질서(秩序)가 존재(存在)한다고 하는 사상(思想)
And a brief English explanation: 正名 is the term for Confucius’ belief that proper naming of things was essential for government to function. People could not communicate with each other or make, interpret, and enforce laws without an agreed understanding of what words meant.
seoulchild ”
In the United States all we see n rectangles and squares when it comes to foreigne languages. Man now do I ahve to download another foreign tongue?
It works both ways. Ever wonder why Korea is the last modern country afraid of American meat and death by fan? Japan is laughing. And I must admit that they have done a good job at convincing the rest of the modern world to laugh at Korea. Because now sadly it is fact.
Maybe Korea should be a vassel province of China again.
I hate to say it, but Korea has shown that divided it falls like all countries. Unfortunately to us Americans, Korea does not want us anymore in the South (based on polls and studies from the last 10 years). Maybe we should withdraw fromt the south. Why dont they ask/force us to!!?
What good is a blood alliance when the stronger half does not need tactically the weaker, yet will always be there to support it, when the younger continues to spit on it’s face?
If that is so, why does Japan have much stricter rules in regards to U.S. beef than does Korea? From next month Korea will allow boned beef from U.S. cattles that are over 30 months, whereas Japan only allows boneless beef from cattles that are under 20 months.
It’s not just that Koreans don’t want U.S. beef because they hate the U.S. They are demanding the same safety standards that other countries such as Japan, Britain and Singapore (all US allies) have implemented to protect their citizens.
I have been corrected by my wife. She says that’s really the traditional haitai/haechi look…
Eeewww…
“I have been corrected by my wife. She says that’s really the traditional haitai/haechi look…”
That’s a stylized haetae done with all circles and arcs. A traditional haetae wouldn’t look so bad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Haetaea.jpg
http://blog.chosun.com/web_fil.....haitai.jpg
I hope the picture above is just one of the many renditions they are using.
What are you rambling about #46? Is it a Hanja complaint?
Also, fan death is believed by the Japanese as well, oddly enough
Just a correction, Korea sent tribute to the Manchu’s.
More botched Korean PR ntended to boost Korea’s image that ironically invites derisive laughter. Who hasn’t howled with laughter at the story of King Sejong spelled out in brass on marble in the lobby of the Kyobo building in Seoul?
Since I’m no longer in Korea I charitably offer my nom de plume for Seoul’s slogan.
Never let it be said that I didn’t do anything for ya.
Today’s Joongang (online now, but won’t try posting the link):
So…what about that statement in the original post, where the final choice was made based on public opinion?
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