Seoul metropolitan government has unveiled a “Goodbye Plastic Seoul” campaign aimed at raising awareness about the suffering of whales caused by plastic waste. (Image courtesy of Seoul City)
SEOUL, Apr. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – With Earth Day approaching on April 22, the Seoul metropolitan government has unveiled a “Goodbye Plastic Seoul” campaign aimed at raising awareness about the suffering of whales caused by plastic waste, officials announced on April 18.
Beginning on April 19, an augmented reality (AR) exhibition at the Cheonggyecheon Stream will allow visitors to make use of their smartphones to witness a “sad whale” swimming in the waterway while spewing out plastic debris.
By accessing the AR experience and clicking on the “Blue Whale” tab, users can see a digital whale approach them while discharging fragments of plastic waste.
In addition, over 20 whale sculptures will be installed near the stream’s fountain and along walking paths in the vicinity.
On Earth Day itself, a massive 5-meter helium balloon depicting a whale trapped in a plastic cup will be displayed in front of the Cheonggyecheon fountain. The unsettling image of a whale’s stomach filled with plastic litter spilling out conveys the harmful impact of indiscriminate plastic use.
From April 19 to 28, citizens are encouraged to participate in an event by sharing photos or videos of the blue whale installations or themselves using reusable containers on social media for a chance to win prizes. Details can be found on the campaign’s Instagram account (@goodbye_plastic_seoul).
“For this year’s Earth Day, we have prepared an AR campaign that allows people to vividly see and feel the plight of whales suffering from plastic, rather than just hosting a one-time event,” said Choi In-kyu, director of the Design Policy Bureau at the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
He added, “We hope that more citizens will join the effort to reduce the use of single-use plastics in their daily lives.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
