Episode 1:
I was having lunch a few months ago in Fort Lee, NJ when I saw a amazing happening outside the window. A young man stops his foreign-built SUV in front of Starbucks, get out of the car and into the store to get a coffee. The Starbucks store is inside a small mall with enough parking spots but the young man chose not to bother parking properly since it would just take a few minutes. Well, that was not his day of luck. A police car happened to pass by and inevitably the policeman got out and started to write a ticket in front of the car. The young man rushed out from the Starbucks and discussed with the law enforcement officer. That Starbucks store had an outside terrace full of table and people and they obviously had a lot of fun witnessing the enforcement of the law in front of their eyes.
I assumed the interaction between the police officer and the young man did not quite go well since the former made a call and 5 minutes later a towing car came by to tow the car!
So what are the lessons to be learned? First, don't break the law. Second, don't show to a police officer how not sorry you are of having broken the law....
Episode 2:
During that same summer, I went to take the road test in one of the MVA (Motor Vehicle Authority) of the state of Maryland. The appointment was made at 8:30 am and there was a notice stating that if the person taking the test is late more than 15 minutes, he or she will have to make another appointment, meaning that that person will have to come back in about two weeks...I was at the MVA at 7:30 with all the required document. After waiting in line, I presented all my documents and I realized I did not bring the car insurance. I excused myself and rushed back to my friend's car to get the insurance card only to find out that the card was expired. My friend forgot to put the new card in the car...I went back to explain the situation, that my friend could come with the new card within 20 minutes but already the 15-minutes dealy time had passed and the lady coldly suggested to make another appointment. In many other countries, I could probably have presented the documents later but not in the USA. It was nothing personal. Just following the rule.
Episode 3: I was driving in Miami. My friend was driving his car just ahead of me. We both drank a lot and I guess we both should not have taken the wheel to get home. Suddenly a police car started to follow my friend's car and naturally he pulled over. I also stopped my car a little bit behind as a gesture of solidarity, I guess (although I should not have....The police officer could have discovered I was drunk also...). I could not leave my friend behind in that situation. After the usual sobriety tests, the policeman decided my friend was drunk enough to handcuff him and take him to jail to spend the night. Is was as simple as that. You break the law, you get handcuffed, and spend the night in jail.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Why the USA is a consumer's paradise
Episode 1:
A few years back in Miami, I bought an IBM computer for my office. I installed a korean version of windows instead of the pre-installed english version. Guess what happened? The internet did not connect, the cd-rom could not be found, the printer was not found....So I went back to Comp USA and I explained that I believe the computer is defective. So they gave me a new one. So I took out again all the materials from the boxes and did exactly the same thing and the same exactly things happened again. To make a long story short, I went to the computer store one more time and they gave me again a brand new computer. No questions asked. That was their promise, wasn't it?
What I didn't know was the fact that when you install a korean version of windows instead of the pre-installed english version, all the setting for the internet connection, the cd-rom drive, the printer connection are no more valid and you have to set them again under the new korean architecture. That's why those devices were not working. So I opened the boxes of 3 different computers based on my ignorance and the kindness of the customer service people. Thank you Customer Service !
Episode 2:
The previous story continues. So here I am in my office, having realized that the IBM computer was not the problem (after a quick phone call to the Computer Department of the headoffice in Seoul, Korea), with the mission of making the computer work properly with all the connecting devices I mentioned above. Seoul could not help me since they did not know the IBM computer architecture. IBM USA could not help me since they did not know the korean windows characteristics....Now that I think about it, I don't know what pushed me to call my internet service provider. Maybe a little inspiration from our friend above? I decided to simplify the problem. I bought a new desk-top computer and it cannot connect to the internet so I called my internet service provider for help since they have an interest in continuing the connection service with me, the customer....Again, to make a long story short, after two hour on the speaker phone with that incredible customer service agent we almost finished solving the connection problem when I accidentally hang up the phone! And I did not even know that agent's name so I could not call back Customer Service and ask for him. I obviously did not want to restart the process with a new customer service agent. That would have been awful and it was already 11:00 pm....And the miracle happened! The agent I have been talking to for two hours did some search to find my office number and we were able to establish connection with not only the internet but also the cd-rom, the scanner, the printer....Thank you, Mr. Customer Service Agent. It is people like you that make USA a consumer's paradise!
A few years back in Miami, I bought an IBM computer for my office. I installed a korean version of windows instead of the pre-installed english version. Guess what happened? The internet did not connect, the cd-rom could not be found, the printer was not found....So I went back to Comp USA and I explained that I believe the computer is defective. So they gave me a new one. So I took out again all the materials from the boxes and did exactly the same thing and the same exactly things happened again. To make a long story short, I went to the computer store one more time and they gave me again a brand new computer. No questions asked. That was their promise, wasn't it?
What I didn't know was the fact that when you install a korean version of windows instead of the pre-installed english version, all the setting for the internet connection, the cd-rom drive, the printer connection are no more valid and you have to set them again under the new korean architecture. That's why those devices were not working. So I opened the boxes of 3 different computers based on my ignorance and the kindness of the customer service people. Thank you Customer Service !
Episode 2:
The previous story continues. So here I am in my office, having realized that the IBM computer was not the problem (after a quick phone call to the Computer Department of the headoffice in Seoul, Korea), with the mission of making the computer work properly with all the connecting devices I mentioned above. Seoul could not help me since they did not know the IBM computer architecture. IBM USA could not help me since they did not know the korean windows characteristics....Now that I think about it, I don't know what pushed me to call my internet service provider. Maybe a little inspiration from our friend above? I decided to simplify the problem. I bought a new desk-top computer and it cannot connect to the internet so I called my internet service provider for help since they have an interest in continuing the connection service with me, the customer....Again, to make a long story short, after two hour on the speaker phone with that incredible customer service agent we almost finished solving the connection problem when I accidentally hang up the phone! And I did not even know that agent's name so I could not call back Customer Service and ask for him. I obviously did not want to restart the process with a new customer service agent. That would have been awful and it was already 11:00 pm....And the miracle happened! The agent I have been talking to for two hours did some search to find my office number and we were able to establish connection with not only the internet but also the cd-rom, the scanner, the printer....Thank you, Mr. Customer Service Agent. It is people like you that make USA a consumer's paradise!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
KOREA BRANDING PROJECT: How to enhance the Korea brand around the world
The following is a presentation I prepared on my own initiative for the the Presidential Council on Nation Branding
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0ATduPWYvVb7GZHE4NmJmd18xMDhjbXFkYndmYg&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0ATduPWYvVb7GZHE4NmJmd18xMDhjbXFkYndmYg&hl=en
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Areas of day-to-day life where South Korea is a model for others countries
1. South Korea has the best public restroom system in the world. Every building must have a restroom open to the public on the 1st floor. People can even go to the restroom inside a restaurant or a bar even if they are not consuming.
2. The cost of a meal in a regular South Korean restaurant must be the lowest among OECD countries. You can have a normal lunch at any restaurant for about 5 or 6 dollars US. On the other hand, South Korea must have the highest coffee/meal price ratio in the world since the price of a cup of coffee at the nearby Starbucks is about half the price of a normal lunch...
3. Home delivery service is the best in the world. You can order almost anything from home by phone. Food will be delivered within 30 minutes, grocery products from a local supermarket within 2 or 3 hours, same day sports massage services, same day cleaning maid service, same day computer repair service via internet remote control system, same day phone repair service, just to name a few.
4. Seoul has the best night life environment among OECD countries. You have tons of restaurants open 24/7, bars, night clubs open late at night, and even a huge chain of supermarket open 24/7.
5. Koreans are known to be impetuous and use the word "Palli", meaning "quickly", a lot while they are asking something. If a waiter does not show to get their order within 10 seconds after getting seated in a restaurant, they will start calling at him. But this aspect, uncivilized aspect indeed, has many positive impact in the day-to-day life of the citizens. The work speed of employees at any bank or local administrative office is the speed of light compared to the take-it-easy attitude of their counterparts in the US or France.
6. Korea has the best broadband internet infrastructure in the world with the world highest percentage of households connected. It has also the best e-government system on the internet where you can download or consult a great variety of official documents without having to go to different administrative offices.
7. Korea is the only Asian country using chopsticks...in metal. Yes that is amazing. Every other Asian countries use environmentally harmful wood chopsticks but South Korea is using reusable, washable metal chopsticks. Metal chopsticks are obviously heavier than wood chopsticks and this fact may explain wht South Koreans are so good in activities involving fingers and hands line golf, violin, ping pong, just ot name a few. Metal chopsticks handling has beeen an art since childhood.
8. In every public place, you will be able to find a water fountain with paper cups and also hand sanitizer lotion.
2. The cost of a meal in a regular South Korean restaurant must be the lowest among OECD countries. You can have a normal lunch at any restaurant for about 5 or 6 dollars US. On the other hand, South Korea must have the highest coffee/meal price ratio in the world since the price of a cup of coffee at the nearby Starbucks is about half the price of a normal lunch...
3. Home delivery service is the best in the world. You can order almost anything from home by phone. Food will be delivered within 30 minutes, grocery products from a local supermarket within 2 or 3 hours, same day sports massage services, same day cleaning maid service, same day computer repair service via internet remote control system, same day phone repair service, just to name a few.
4. Seoul has the best night life environment among OECD countries. You have tons of restaurants open 24/7, bars, night clubs open late at night, and even a huge chain of supermarket open 24/7.
5. Koreans are known to be impetuous and use the word "Palli", meaning "quickly", a lot while they are asking something. If a waiter does not show to get their order within 10 seconds after getting seated in a restaurant, they will start calling at him. But this aspect, uncivilized aspect indeed, has many positive impact in the day-to-day life of the citizens. The work speed of employees at any bank or local administrative office is the speed of light compared to the take-it-easy attitude of their counterparts in the US or France.
6. Korea has the best broadband internet infrastructure in the world with the world highest percentage of households connected. It has also the best e-government system on the internet where you can download or consult a great variety of official documents without having to go to different administrative offices.
7. Korea is the only Asian country using chopsticks...in metal. Yes that is amazing. Every other Asian countries use environmentally harmful wood chopsticks but South Korea is using reusable, washable metal chopsticks. Metal chopsticks are obviously heavier than wood chopsticks and this fact may explain wht South Koreans are so good in activities involving fingers and hands line golf, violin, ping pong, just ot name a few. Metal chopsticks handling has beeen an art since childhood.
8. In every public place, you will be able to find a water fountain with paper cups and also hand sanitizer lotion.
Monday, September 6, 2010
The Best Countries in the World according to Newsweek Magazine
South Korea ranked 15th on that list. Ahead of France and behind United Kingdom...
As a South Korean myself, I am impressed by that result. Not the fact of being the 15th but being just behind United Kingdom and just before France. Thank you.
But I a South Korean myself, I think South Korea could move up that list big time if only the following few aspects of our society could be improved or upgraded. Listen, citizens of South Korea....
1. When a car wants to move into your lane, please push the brakes not the accelerator !
2. When somebody is waiting in line in a restaurant or in a bank, please do not go through, ignoring that person !
3. Crosswalks are for pedestrians and dogs but not for motorcycles !
4. Kids should be allowed in expensive restaurants, in classical music concerts, as long as they can behave themselves. If not, please leave them home with a babysitter !
5. Show anchors at public television should not make fun of somebody's physical aspects, of how she or he is ugly or fat, unless it is a comedy show.
6. South Korea has the best public restroom system in the world. Believe me, I have been to Paris...In Seoul, you have the right to enter any building or any restaurant to go to the rest room. But some of them are not as appealing as others.
7. When somebody is waiting to cross the road, please stop the car and let the person go first. Same rule applies when you are about to go into an evelator together with another person.
8. When you accidentally bump into a person in the street, please excuse yourself even if it is that person's fault.
9. A dog, man's best friend, should be on a leash not on its owner's arms
10. TV news anchors should stop reading the script in front of them and start speaking about the news in a more professional way and start having an a real intelligent questions and answers when talking with overseas correspondants instead of repeating the ridiculous programmed questions and answers.
11. Singers should always perform live in a TV show and not be allowed to lip sync their songs in a live TV show.
12. A message to sauna lovers: please have the decency to take a shower after coming out of the sauna and before going in the cold water pool.
13. .............to be continued............
As a South Korean myself, I am impressed by that result. Not the fact of being the 15th but being just behind United Kingdom and just before France. Thank you.
But I a South Korean myself, I think South Korea could move up that list big time if only the following few aspects of our society could be improved or upgraded. Listen, citizens of South Korea....
1. When a car wants to move into your lane, please push the brakes not the accelerator !
2. When somebody is waiting in line in a restaurant or in a bank, please do not go through, ignoring that person !
3. Crosswalks are for pedestrians and dogs but not for motorcycles !
4. Kids should be allowed in expensive restaurants, in classical music concerts, as long as they can behave themselves. If not, please leave them home with a babysitter !
5. Show anchors at public television should not make fun of somebody's physical aspects, of how she or he is ugly or fat, unless it is a comedy show.
6. South Korea has the best public restroom system in the world. Believe me, I have been to Paris...In Seoul, you have the right to enter any building or any restaurant to go to the rest room. But some of them are not as appealing as others.
7. When somebody is waiting to cross the road, please stop the car and let the person go first. Same rule applies when you are about to go into an evelator together with another person.
8. When you accidentally bump into a person in the street, please excuse yourself even if it is that person's fault.
9. A dog, man's best friend, should be on a leash not on its owner's arms
10. TV news anchors should stop reading the script in front of them and start speaking about the news in a more professional way and start having an a real intelligent questions and answers when talking with overseas correspondants instead of repeating the ridiculous programmed questions and answers.
11. Singers should always perform live in a TV show and not be allowed to lip sync their songs in a live TV show.
12. A message to sauna lovers: please have the decency to take a shower after coming out of the sauna and before going in the cold water pool.
13. .............to be continued............
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)