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By Lee Han-soo
The government has decided to scrap the national brand "Creative Korea," which was introduced under the previous Park Geun-hye administration.
It was created last year with a budget of 3.5 billion won ($3 million), but was soon caught up in plagiarism and other scandals, stirring calls for the brand's axing.
Critics argued there were "unmistakable similarities" between the slogan and France's "Creative France."
"‘Creative Korea' has been shrouded in controversies, such as plagiarism, and has never been properly used since it was released," the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) said. "With the newly appointed minister, we have officially scrapped any plans to use the slogan." The MCST is in charge of South Korea's overseas promotion but will not create the slogan's replacement.
Another reason for the removal is said to be the slogan's links to Cha Eun-taek. Cha is a famous music video director and close aide of Choi Soon-sil, a central figure in the massive corruption scandal last year that led to the ouster of President Park Geun-hye in March. Cha is suspected of exploiting his close ties with Choi.
