As approval ratings for President Moon continue to climb and climb, a byproduct of his popularity has been a surge in consumer preference for “Moon Brand” products. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — As the approval ratings for President Moon continue to climb and climb, a byproduct of his popularity has been a surge in consumer preference for “Moon Brand” products.
From the checkered shirt he wore while speaking on the phone with President Trump to the orange striped necktie spotted with figures of sea lions he sported when greeting National Assembly party leaders at the Blue House, public fervor for his personal effects suggests the political arena is not the only place where Moon can do no wrong.
The “it” item that weighs heavy in the minds of the “Moon Brand” faithful is the sheepskin strap, President Moon’s signature emblazoned gift watch offered to invited guests to the Blue House.
According to a spokesperson attached to the Presidential abode, “Requests have been made [to the Blue House] for just 10 ‘President’s Watches’, but not only is 10 absurd, even one is out of the question.”
The “it” item that weighs heavy in the minds of the “Moon Brand” faithful is the sheepskin strap, President Moon’s signature emblazoned gift watch offered to invited guests to the Blue House. (Image: Yonhap)
He went on to say, “There are so many requests for the watches that it’s almost become something of a problem.”
The watches’ popularity and their unavailability is reportedly well-known within the confines of the Blue House, where Secretary of General Affairs Lee Jung Do has drawn up clearly defined rules that determine the boundaries of approved gift-giving.
The rules adhere to the legal parameters already established by the previous administration, which outlaws any offering of gifts that exceed a value of 50,000 won, a piece of regulation meant to tamper down problems with bribery and graft.
Lee is known to preside over the access to the watches and other relevant items with an iron fist, so much so that senior presidential secretary for public relations Yoon Young Chan, after much fruitless pleading, appealed directly to the president to release some of the watches from Lee’s hold to give as gifts to the attending journalists at the press conference commemorating the president’s 100th day in office.
The release of “Moon Brand” stamps attracted crowds that lined up from dawn at post offices, giving them a status rivaling cultural icons like Apple’s iPhone and the latest “foodie” joint like Shake Shack, where the latest release or new store means long lines are the norm, not the exception. Whether “Moon Brand” products will continue to stay in their lofty position will most likely be tied to the fickle rise and fall of the polls.
“Moon Brand” Products All the Rage Among Koreans. (Image: Yonhap)
S.B.W. (sbw266@koreabizwire.com)
