'Samsung, LG need to promote Korean culture'
By Kim Jae-heun
Vir Sanghvi, the youngest managing editor in the history of journalism in India and a resident commentator on CNN News 18, is visiting Korea for the third time and laments that the country is still not well known in India.
"We have no visual image of Koreans; we think of Japanese sadly," said Sanghvi during an interview with The Korea Times at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, Saturday. "We know of Samsung, LG, Hyundai and Psy's Gangnam Style which was popular for a year in clubs a few years ago, but Indians have absolutely no image of Korea.
"Korean companies in India, like Samsung and LG, do a lot to promote their products but don't promote Korean culture. Toshiba and Sony promote Japanese cuisine and culture. Korean companies are successful in India but still they don't make any efforts to promote Korean culture," said Sanghvi.
The journalist first came here in 2003 at the invitation of the Korean government to write about the country during a seven-day stay in Seoul and Jeju Island. He returned home feeling uncomfortable that the people of his homeland knew nothing about Korea.
He came back in 2005 to participate in a newspaper conference. During his stay, he had the chance to watch Koreans make kimchi and gochujang, or Korean red pepper paste, which he found interesting. He wrote about them, but Sanghvi received no follow-ups afterwards.
This time, Sanghvi, once again, emphasizes the potential of Korean culture to get more attention abroad, which he sees has bigger chance than that of Japan or China.
"I think food should be the next cultural aspect of Korea to promote. Korean food is finding respect in the world. Bulgogi would succeed and I think the flavor of Korean food and the fermentation taste have power," said Sanghvi.
The journalist will participate in the Culture Communication Forum (CCF) organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) led by Choi Jung-wha to discuss the power of communication with 20 cultural representatives from different countries.
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| Vir Sanghvi |
Vir Sanghvi, the youngest managing editor in the history of journalism in India and a resident commentator on CNN News 18, is visiting Korea for the third time and laments that the country is still not well known in India.
"We have no visual image of Koreans; we think of Japanese sadly," said Sanghvi during an interview with The Korea Times at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, Saturday. "We know of Samsung, LG, Hyundai and Psy's Gangnam Style which was popular for a year in clubs a few years ago, but Indians have absolutely no image of Korea.
"Korean companies in India, like Samsung and LG, do a lot to promote their products but don't promote Korean culture. Toshiba and Sony promote Japanese cuisine and culture. Korean companies are successful in India but still they don't make any efforts to promote Korean culture," said Sanghvi.
The journalist first came here in 2003 at the invitation of the Korean government to write about the country during a seven-day stay in Seoul and Jeju Island. He returned home feeling uncomfortable that the people of his homeland knew nothing about Korea.
He came back in 2005 to participate in a newspaper conference. During his stay, he had the chance to watch Koreans make kimchi and gochujang, or Korean red pepper paste, which he found interesting. He wrote about them, but Sanghvi received no follow-ups afterwards.
This time, Sanghvi, once again, emphasizes the potential of Korean culture to get more attention abroad, which he sees has bigger chance than that of Japan or China.
"I think food should be the next cultural aspect of Korea to promote. Korean food is finding respect in the world. Bulgogi would succeed and I think the flavor of Korean food and the fermentation taste have power," said Sanghvi.
The journalist will participate in the Culture Communication Forum (CCF) organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) led by Choi Jung-wha to discuss the power of communication with 20 cultural representatives from different countries.
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