In Korean: “Hug Me.”

진짜 재밌네요. 이 유명한 “Free Hugs”이란 YouTube 비디오를 알죠?

It was really funny to see this in Hongdae. You’ve seen the “Free Hugs” video campaign, right?

이 것 나오고 한국의 버전도 생겼어요. 원래 잘 안 안아주는 한국인들도 하니까 나름대로 다른 식으로 감동적이죠?

After that video, Korea got one of its own. And watching a people not really used to hugging or public displays of affection giving it out freely in the street was moving in its own way, I must say.

한국에서는 너무 따라하는 걸 누구나 아는 거잖아요. 그래서 이 순수한 캠페인이 한국에 오고 상업화가 됐을 때는 좀 실망스러웠어요. 길거리에서 무슨 도우미들이 “Free Hugs”를 주는 것. 너무 성적인 느낌이 있는 거니까. 아니면 CGV에서 무슨 홍보 캠페인을 하면서 “Free Hugs”이라고 기계적으로 인쇠된 간판을 들고 다니면서 하는 것도 봤어요. 사무실 직원의 유니폼을 입으면서. 그 사람들한테 가는 사람들이 한명도 못 봤더라고요. 너무 어색해서.

Everyone knows that people copy each other quite a bit here in Korea. So I was pretty disappointed to see this come to Korea and become commercialized. When you have scantily-clad “narrator-models” giving out “Free Hugs” to mostly old men who really, really enjoyed them, the sexual vibe just didn’t seem cool. Or the CGV employees I saw holding up neatly-printed “Free Hugs” signs in the lobby of theaters for their own advertising. I never saw anyone actually go up to get one, thank goodness. It was just too awkward and fake. Corporate suits sure know how to ruin a pure-hearted idea.

근데 어색해도 중학생들이 열정적으로 하는 걸 보고 기분에 좋았네요.

But despite the inherent awkwardness, seeing these middle school kids giving it a shot sure warmed the heart.

귀엽죠? 완전한 “Free Hugs 부대”잖아요. ㅋㅋㅋ 근데 위험성을 하나도 안 느꼈죠. 따뜻한 의도만 느껴진 거죠. 그런 군대가 있었으면 좋겠죠? 그런 군대를 어디로나 보파견하고 싶네요.

They’re cute, right? They’re like a “Free Hugs” brigade, no? But without being scary or threatening, of course. A love “brigade.” Too bad we don’t have any of those, like an “army of good intentions.” Now, that’s an army I wouldn’t mind sending anywhere in the world.