| A screenshot shows the Korea Tourism Organization's promotional video series "Feel the Rhythm of Korea," shot in Seoul. Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization |
By Jun Ji-hye
Oh Chung-seop, the head of the brand marketing team at the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), received a presidential award for a promotional video series, called "Feel the Rhythm of Korea."
The state-run tourism organization said Thursday that Oh received the award for planning the eccentric yet addictive tourism promotional videos, which have become a sensation both at home and abroad for their unique style since their debut in July last year. The award recognizes civil servants who have shown a proactive approach to work.
| Oh Chung-seop, the head of the brand marketing team at the Korea Tourism Organization, who planned the promotional video series, "Feel the Rhythm of Korea" / Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization |
Oh was recognized for his contribution to promoting Korea's tourism attractions to people around the world despite the difficulties posed by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
The series, featuring Leenalchi, a Korean band that produces songs inspired by traditional music, and the Ambiguous Dance Company, a contemporary dance group showcasing rather comical but eye-catching performances, introduces both traditional tourism spots and venues that have appeared in popular Korean dramas and music videos in major cities such as Seoul, Busan Jeonju, Andong, Gangneung and Mokpo.
The videos have been popular especially among the so-called MZ generation ― those born between the 1980s and the early 2000s as a combination of millennials and Generation Z ― racking up more than 600 million views on YouTube and Facebook.
Following the popularity of the series, Leenalchi, a seven-member band that calls itself an "alternative pop band," has also become one of the latest sensations in the Korean music scene for its reinterpretations of the country's traditional "pansori" genre.