Links for Aug-Sept 2016

Here are a few interesting lnks from this past month. In this post:
  • SK releases Korean version of Amazon Dash button
  • Nice map of US state drivers licenses recognized in Korea
  • Naver's sign-in box is now available in English
  • Adorable shark-fin soup protest
  • Ambassador Lippert ready to get his drank on





SK releases Korean version of Amazon Dash button


This will look very familiar to anyone who's used Amazon's Dash button. Run by SK, it currently places orders through online shopping site 11st.

By the way, perhaps as a sign of how dumb I've become, I always thought they just miswrote "11th" (eleventh), following the "1st" rule. I've definitely seen my fair share of 5st or 6nd or 2rd over the years. Finally I saw 11번가 and it all made sense: it's 11 Street. Like I said, I'm not too bright these days.

Image: ITdaily.kr

SK Telecom has released a new device named Smart Button Kkuk, which facilitates online orders of daily necessities under cooperation with its e-commerce affiliate SK Planet, Monday.
"Smart Button Kkuk is expected to draw much attention from homemakers raising children, double-income couples and unmarried working people who live alone," said Cho Young-hoon, senior vice president of SK Telecom's smart home business division.
SK releases smart shopping device for daily necessities

Homemakers, double-income couples, and single people. So in other words, everybody with money to spend.




Nice map of US state drivers licenses recognized in Korea


You may know that whether or not you can easily utilize your American drivers licence in Korea depends specifically on which US state issued your license. Each state works out a reciprocity agreement with Korea. That doesn't mean someone from a different state can't drive here, of course; you just have some additional hurdles to jump through. Folks from these states can just swap out their license for a Korean one; folks from other states can do the swap but need a written test and some evidential documentation first. Of course if you're just visiting, a simple International License from AAA should do.

Anyway I just liked the convenient infographic map the article included.

South Korea and Hawaii have signed a pact to recognize the validity of noncommercial driver's licenses issued by each other, the foreign ministry said Thursday.
Under the agreement, which went into force Wednesday in the US state after being signed, holders of driver's licenses issued by their own authorities are eligible for a driving permit in the counterpart region without additional training or tests, ministry officials said.
 - Korea, Hawaii sign pact to mutually recognize driver's licenses

Image: Korea Herald






Naver's sign-in box is now available in English


I don't know when exaxtly this started happening, but when I'm logged-out of Naver, it now asks me to sign-in in English. You can very easily sign-up for a Naver account if you don't have one, as the whole process is in English now. In fact all the security options are in English. I did a post awhile back about enabling two-factor authentication (password + a phone code) for your Naver account, which can all be done in English.
10원 Tips: Enable Two-step verification for your Naver account


Naver Sign-in box in English

Good to see Naver reaching a greater audience by (painfully slowly) incorporating English. They may still be the dominate player in Korea, but let's be honest, there's no potential for growth. They've saturated Korea, they are not magically going to get more Korean speakers, and if anything, Google will keep chipping away at them. They need growth and offering at least core account service in English and/or Chinese is the way. I really think they dropped the ball on this, letting the highest parts of the Hallyu pass by already. With papago and Line it's working, but they need to, for example, get Naver Pay working with credit cards from abroad. Imagine the Hallyu fan purchase frenzy! Anyway, I'm no trade expert.



Adorable shark-fin soup protest


This one is just for me. I just love this guy's way of maintaining his anonymity.

Image: Hankyoreh
Read about it here:
One-person demonstration against shark fin soup : National : News : The Hankyoreh



Ambassador Lippert ready to get his drank on


This guy always seems to love his job. Wish I looked like I was having as much fun as he seems to always be having on these events out.

Image: Yonhap

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert (2nd from L) toasts with Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin (2nd from R) and Frederico Freire (far R), chief of South Korea's top beer firm Oriental Brewery, during a "chimac" festival in the southeastern city of Daegu on July 27, 2016, in this photo released by the brewery. Chimac, also spelled "chimaek," is a compound word combining chicken and "maekju," the Korean word for beer. (Yonhap)
'Chimac' fete in S. Korean city







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