Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
SKT, LG Uplus stage patriotism marketing at MWC
A model watches a video “100 Years of Progress of the Republic of Korea” produced by SK Telecom at the firm's Mobile World Congress booth in Barcelona, Thursday. / Courtesy of SK Telecom
By Baek Byung-yeul
By Baek Byung-yeul
SK Telecom and LG Uplus are utilizing patriotism as a marketing tool as the Korean telecom firms showcased promotional programs on the occasion of the March 1 Independence Movement during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
The March 1 Independence Movement, which was a non-violent protest against Japanese colonial rule, started March 1, 1919. More than 2 million people, about 10 percent of the then population, joined the movement and it became a spiritual foundation for the Korean people's struggle for independence while increasing the world's awareness of their strong aspiration for liberty.
To celebrate the centennial of the independence movement, SK Telecom said Thursday it showed the video, “100 Years of Progress of the Republic of Korea,” at the trade fair.
“The MWC event, which is the world's largest exhibition in the mobile industry, attracts all eyes. As a representative mobile carrier in Korea, SK Telecom has participated in the MWC for the last 10 years, so we decided to showcase the progress of Korea over the last 100 years,” SK Telecom said.
The video shows not only the economic progress of the country but also historical events ranging from the establishment of the country's provisional government in Shanghai to the modern history of Korea.
SK Telecom said visitors to its promotional booth enjoyed the video using its virtual reality (VR) service, Oksusu Social VR. The service is a platform combined with VR technology and the firm's mobile video streaming service Oksusu TV. SK Telecom has provided the service since October 2018.
Teaming up with Deutsche Telekom, SK Telecom also showed the video to visitors to the German telecommunications firm's stand.
The telecom firm also displayed various Taegeukgis, the Korean national flag, ranging from early versions to the latest the country is currently using on large-sized displays in the company's promotional booth.
LG Uplus employees shout “daehan dongnip manse” (long live the independence of Korea) at the firm's promotional booth at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Thursday. / Courtesy of LG Uplus
LG Uplus employees taking part in the MWC trade fair also chanted “daehan dongnip manse” to commemorate the centennial of the independence movement. “Daehan dongnip manse” means “Long live the independence of Korea.”
The telecom firm said this was to remember the independence movement and the past 100 years of Korea's history and prepare for the next 100 years.