North Korean Beer Advertisement

By Ali S. in Advertising, Food & Drink, Video Clips on Jul 8, 2009 at 10:23 pm


[YouTube - Link]

North Korea is world-renowned for its crippling poverty, saber rattling and wanton firing of missiles left, right and center. It is also known for its strict TV practices where all televisions are made to tune only to state run stations and programs. As a staunchly communist nation commercialism is very rare or non-existent. So you could imagine that it was a bit of surprise for both North Korean viewers and for many groups who keep an eye on what is happening in that country to see a rare site sight…an advert for beer!

I would love to have a translation of what the advert claims as the advert itself is just trippy and I suppose that the claims regarding the beers “stress reducing” abilities are too.


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  1. dadrox
    Jul 8th, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    A couple of things I find hilarious:
    - the horrible pours. Two-thirds of the mug? c’mon
    - ISO 9001 compliance claims. Ha!

  2. Gauldar
    Jul 8th, 2009 at 10:55 pm

    Reminds me of that Mr. Sparkle commercial on The Simpsons. Yeah, I was thinking “Hey buddy, can’t I get some more head on that mug?”. Then again, I don’t think a great deal of people have even experienced beer in that country until now. At least some that wasn’t sold in a plastic bag.

  3. Lloyd
    Jul 8th, 2009 at 11:27 pm

    It’s what Kim Jong Il drinks whenever he eats ballpark nachos.

  4. VonSkippy
    Jul 9th, 2009 at 1:11 am

    The translation is off.

    It’s not made “by” North Koreans.

    It’s made “of” North Koreans.

  5. Alex
    Jul 9th, 2009 at 1:33 am

    It’s soylent beer!

  6. Greg Bowen
    Jul 9th, 2009 at 1:38 am

    Hmmm. I wonder if they have a registered copy of After Effects.

    Looking pretty damn capitalistic if you ask me. Wonder if the animator got paid.

  7. Therin
    Jul 9th, 2009 at 2:43 am

    It takes 2:26 seconds to advertise beer in North Korea?

  8. aware
    Jul 9th, 2009 at 8:13 am

    the music was well suited for a video game. lots of quirky squeaky noises and repetition.

  9. SydneyLeach
    Jul 9th, 2009 at 10:43 am

    Can anyone in North Korea even afford beer?

  10. Emmers
    Jul 9th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    A rare “site”?

  11. Ali S.
    Jul 9th, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    @ Emmers

    Whoops! Thanks for catching that little goof. ;)

  12. evanca
    Jul 9th, 2009 at 3:56 pm

    it sounds like brainwashing…

  13. dani
    Jul 9th, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    they’re so stuck in the 80s.

  14. Bianca
    Jul 11th, 2009 at 3:06 am

    North Korea is resistant to time. They have no idea what fads are going on in different countries because they’re cut off from communication.

    That being said, they aren’t stuck in the eighties.

  15. bekobeko
    Jul 12th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    this is late, but I asked my dad to translate it, so this is a rough translation of part of the commercial:

    “The pride of Pyung Yang (the capital of N. Korea)

    Beer brewed from white rice only (white rice is rare in the north – this might be the only place where they brew it from white rice since the best beer is made from rye?)

    A clean and fresh taste

    Unique aroma

    Quality approved by international organizations

    etc.”

  16. Ali S.
    Jul 12th, 2009 at 4:00 pm

    @ bekobeko

    That’s awesome! Thanks! :D


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