DATE=8/18/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=KIM JONG IL FEVER
NUMBER=5-46879
BYLINE=HYUN SUNG KHANG
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: What a difference a couple of months makes.
Ever since the leaders of the two Koreas held their
historic summit in Pyongyang last June, ties between
the Cold War-era foes have rarely been better. And in
just a short time, the political breakthroughs have
been filtering down to affect ordinary people on the
street. Suddenly and surprisingly, South Koreans are
rediscovering a passion for all things North Korean.
Hyun-Sung Khang reports from the South Korean capital,
Seoul:
TEXT: ///RAISE COMMERCIAL ACT: (FALLING RAIN
SOUNDS)///
Advertising is one place you definitely notice a
change. In this new television commercial, against
the backdrop of heavy monsoon rain, a South Korean
solider looks at his Communist North Korean
counterpart across the world's most heavily fortified
border. Then, out of the corner of his eye, the North
Korean soldier spots a frog. It hops across the
single painted line dividing the two Koreas. The
South Korean soldier catches the eye of the North
Korean and his face crinkles into a smile. Welcome to
peace on the peninsula, courtesy of the advertisers.
/// RAISE WOMAN'S VOICE IN COMMERCIAL ///
The voiceover says, "There's still a lot of walls to
break down. The Internet will break down the walls in
the heart." This technology commercial is actually an
ad for a South Korean Internet portal, called Daum.
The producer of the commercial, Yoon Hoon Ki, says the
inter-Korea summit has provided an atmosphere for
advertisers not only to sell their products but to
sell ideas for a better future for the Korean
peninsula.
/// YOON ACT IN KOREAN W/ VOICE OVER ///
When we started to look for a subject to work
with, we asked ourselves what's the most
important issue on people's minds at the moment?
At the time, the inter-Korean summit was just
about to open and people were thinking about
reunification. The Internet, like the idea of
reunification, is about breaking down walls
between people, that's why we picked on the
subject of relations between North and South
Korea.
/// END ACT ///
/// SNEAK IN MUSIC HOLD UNDER GRAF ///
And it's not only advertisers who have noticed South
Koreans growing affection for things Northern.
/// BRING MUSIC UP FULL AND FADE UNDER ///
This well-known North Korean song was sung by a
Pyongyang children's group in Seoul just days before
the inter-Korea summit. It has become so popular that
some South Koreans now use this tune instead of a ring
on their mobiles to alert them to an incoming call.
But the real surprise is the sudden popularity of Kim
Jong Il, North Korea's pint-sized leader. His
effusive performance during the summit charmed many in
the South and warm images are cropping up even in
popular children's entertainment.
/// TELETUBBIES SONG FADE UNDER, HOLD ///
Question: What do the Teletubbies and Kim Jong Il,
have in common? Answer: Big, cuddly tummies. It may
not be sophisticated but it's probably enough to
tickle (please) the school children who logged onto
one of the South Korean web sites containing Kim Jong
Il jokes, which sprang up after the June summit.
/// RAISE TELETUBBIES MUSIC AND FADE OUT ///
The newly transformed Kim Jong Il charmed South
Koreans of all ages. His trademark wide-rimmed,
rectangular, metal glasses have become a fashion
accessory now in favor with the middle-aged in the
South, as have Kim Jong Il communist-style suits and
even have Kim Jong Il shoes, complete with thick-heels
favored by the Napoleon-sized leader.
And then there was the wine.
/// SNEAK IN LEGERWEY ACT AND FADE OUT UNDER TEXT ///
South Koreans watched in fascination as Kim Jong Il
demonstrated his knowledge of wine, right down to way
he held his glass by the stem. Robert Legerwey is food
and beverage director at the Ritz Carlton in Seoul.
He's looking forward to responding to the recent
flurry of interest in wine, following the summit.
/// ACT TWO OF LEGERWEY ///
The North Korean leader seemed to be very well
versed in the etiquette of wines. Given the
fact that South Korea is such a status conscious
society, they were quite surprised, but they
will certainly follow suit.
/// END ACT ///
South Korean wine importers may benefit from the
recent popularity of North Korea, but that's not the
case for the distributors of the first-ever North
Korean film to be released in the South.
/// ACT OF FILM, HOLD UNDER GRAF ///
That's the sound of the film's main character, a
Godzilla-type hero, called Pulgasari, just about to be
set aflame, against the background of the plaintive
cries of the female lead.
/// RAISE FILM ACT AND OUT///
True to the socialist spirit of the film, the heroic
dinosaur joins forces with the downtrodden proletariat
against a corrupt and wicked aristocracy. But the
young hip generation in the South just weren't buying
it. The film flopped. This young movie-goer is one
of just four people who bought a ticket to see the
film at the 500-seat theater.
/// MOVIEGOER ACT ///
The beginning seemed to have some potential.
You had the guy in the bad rubber monster suit,
running around, you had the overacting actors
wearing the worst kind of wigs you've ever seen.
Unfortunately after the first half an hour, the
story just died and the rest of it was
excruciating. Despite the fact that everyone
knows, Kim Jong Il is a film buff and likes to
go out on the set and give on the spot guidance.
But maybe that's just another reason not to see
the film. I don't know many people who would
want to see a film, which had Kim Jong Il's
fingerprints on it.
/// END ACT ///
So not everybody is a fan of all things North in South
Korea. And Kim Jong Il's charm offensive may still
have some way to go. (Signed)
NEB/HK/HSK/JO/KL
18-Aug-2000 09:49 AM EDT (18-Aug-2000 1349 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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