Better Symbol of Seoul
Dear editor,
I have been living in Seoul for four months as a new executive hire of a large Korean firm, and read The Korea Times regularly.
I read a May 14 article under the headline, ``Haechi Chosen as Symbol of Seoul.'' I was so disappointed to see that of all the beautiful symbols of Seoul, the city has chosen Haechi. I cannot tell if it is supposed to look like a walrus or an elephant with alligator skin.
As a new foreigner from America who was born in New York City, went to a university in Boston, worked in Washington, D.C. and traveled the world. I know the icons of my own cities and those of the world ― the Empire State Building and the White House.
Neither of these is imaginary. Paris has the Eiffel Tower; India has the Taj Mahal; London has Big Ben; Italy has the Tower of Pisa; and Sydney has the Opera House, the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Ayers Rock.
No imaginary creatures there. The article states that most of the survey respondents chose Gyeongbok Palace, but the city chose Haechi. Then why was the survey conducted?
If Seoul really wants to boost its image on the global front, in my opinion, it will not be with an imaginary creature that people from around the globe cannot relate to.
Haechi is specific to Korea. What Seoul needs is a simple icon of what people will see first when they come into Seoul, and in my opinion, that is, first, the Seoul Tower, and second, Gyeongbok Palace. I wish the city good luck with its campaign.
Linda Myers
Seoul