Open Thread #82

I received a comment on a post at my blog from a Miz Jeong, an International Relations Officer for Gangwon Province. She wants foreigner input for English slogans for Gangwon Province.

Unfortunately, I was at camp and didn’t check my email and comments as often as I normally do and her deadline is tomorrow. If anyone can help, please leave comments here, at my blog (gangwon.blogspot.com) or email her – her address is at the bottom of this post. Below is her message:
_____________________
I’m International Relations Officer at Gangwon Provincial Office and was asked to get inputs from foreigners living in Gangwon on the English slogan candidates the office came up with. I will really appreciate if you could help.

These are the candidates:

1. Green Future Gangwon
2. Gangwon UP! (yes, both capitalized)
3. Green up Gangwon (this time just small u)
4. O2 Gangwon

You can probably tell what Gangwon wants its slogan to express: it wants a slogan that reflects Korea’s “Low Carbon,Green Growth” initiative and enhances Gangwon’s brand-image as the greenest province (fyi, it has the most natural resources in Korea and is well known for its beautiful mountains, sceneries, winter sport resorts and green tourism).

A slogan needs to deliver Gangwon as a green province since Gangwon is heavily investing
in new and renewable energy such as wind power, etc. It already has the nation’s biggest wind power plant in Dae-gual-lyung (대관령), which produces and supplies a considerate amount of electricity throughout Korea.

You can help me by doing the following:

1. Let me know what you think of the candidates, and when you do this, please, don’t be polite.
The whole point of this is that Gangwon needs honest feedback.
(you can even suggest one if you would like to)

2. Please provide me with info of:
a. name
b. where you work
c. position

Please note that I need such info in order to add credibility to the opinions I will submit to Gangwon Provincial Office. In other words, I need proofs showing that I did not make them up.

3. If it’s not too much to ask, can you please ask your friends to do the same?
The more inputs I can get, the better it is for Gangwon.

Phew, I don’t think I ever wrote an email this long. Again, I really appreciate your help and
I will be collecting inputs/suggestions until this coming Sunday.

Thanks a bunch!

Sinae Jeong
___________________________

I am never sure about privacy issues, especially for government officials. It is a gmail account and she did ask for input, so you have two choices; leave comments here or email her at: drcine (at) gmail (dot) com I guess you could put “gangwon slogans” in the subject line. I will check here Sunday night and forward comments.

Thanks, I guess.

I share your pessimism about the value of the input. Personally, I liked the ‘evergreen’ suggestions and loved the “it’s made from people!” response.

I have family in the Korean Coast Guard so I am asked to give opinions on their slogans and such – at one time, they were trying to compare themselves to volunteer firefighters and asked me to look for motivational quotes. It makes a little sense; both groups have the admirable goal of helping people in distress. On the other hand, the Coast Guard here is full of conscripts, so motivation-wise, they are as far apart as possible.

Words are easier than actions. I, too, would prefer to see more action. A few more garbage cans at scenic sites would be simple start.

Thanks for the serious (and semi-serious) responses and for the funny ones (the rest of you can thank me for providing this week’s discussion topic).