Suggestive billboard in Korea

I read this article in the Korea Times today. If you want to see the bilboard they are talking about, click on the link.

Cover It Up, Bring It Down Or Be Amused

By Oh Young-jin, Shim Hyun-chul
Staff Reporters

An oversized billboard with two young models in a suggestive pose greets people when they climb out of a subway exit in Myeongdong, central Seoul.

A man passes a big Calvin Klein billboard in Myeongdong, central Seoul, Monday. The billboard is becoming a landmark of sorts for its size and a suggestive pose in it but obviously, people are divided on its moral correctness.

/ Korea Times Photo
by Shim Hyun-chul
In the picture on the billboard, a male model fully exposes his well-toned torso while sporting a pair of jeans. A female model embraces him from behind with her left leg over the male model's flank. She appears to be topless and, obviously, the picture was taken to suggest she is scantily clothed, if at all.

This billboard is for a Calvin Klein outlet which specializes in jeans. The U.S. apparel firm has two other outlets in the area,one selling underwear and the other jeans.

The billboard is becoming something of a landmark and is conspicuous in an area where people of all ages can be found. So The Korea Times asked passersby for their opinion on the eye-catching fixture. They were asked, simply, "What do you think?" in order to prevent any interference in the formation of their response. Here are some of their reactions:

Female Chu Ja-hye, 19: "At first, I felt embarrassed but, seeing it so often, I feel nothing out of the ordinary."

Male Jang Ji-woo, 19: "I take it as an advertisement concept. They cover what they have to, so I say it's OK."

Kwon Sun-mi, aged in her 20s: "It's sensationalbut I disregard it because it's an advertisement."

Female Han So-r, 20:"Nowadays, there are no borders that can't be crossed as far as advertisements go. Not bad."

Female Lee Mi-sun, 20: "It's too sensational by Korean standards. It's too provocative."

Chang Un-yong, in her 30s: "It is one of many overly sexualized advertisements. I feel it burdensome."

Han Bok-ja, in her late 40s: "It's overly sexual. I feel too embarrassed to look at it. The line should be drawn somewhere."

Male Kim Young-min, 49: "An advertisement should be about catching people's attention with a fresh idea, not just by taking off clothes."

Female Yoon Hae-yong, 76: "I don't know how young people take it but I don't approve of it."

Adam Lipper, 23, an American living in Korea for 14 months: "I want a pair of those jeans."

Kim Young-jin, 31, a Korean-American born in the United States and living in Korea for three years: "I wonder what effect such advertising has on young people, particularly in terms of body image and self esteem."

foolsdie@koreatimes.co.kr

The Korea Times asked a PR officer at
Calvin Klein Korea for specifics related to the advertisement. He promised to
respond, but failed to do so. ― ED.

I don't like advertisements that rely on sex to sell. As the one person said, "An advertisement should be about catching people's attention with a fresh idea, not just by taking off clothes." However, I must say my favorite response was, "I want a pair of those jeans." LOL