By Apparently at least one entity in North Korea is using social media effectively:
North Korea, the secretive regime that regularly delivers bombastic threats and insults to its enemies, is tinkering with a different approach to promote its flagship airline: cordial customer service via the Internet.
In fact, the Facebook page for Air Koryo is downright user-friendly and even engages in witty repartee with visitors. This from the country that threatens to turn Seoul into a “sea of flames” and dubs politicians here “swollen headed traitors.”
The page is grabbing attention around the world among intrepid travelers, airplane enthusiasts and even South Koreans, the latter of who get a rare peek _ at least for now _ at a North Korea-operated page through the popular social networking site (SNS). Over 2,000 people have “liked” it.
“Thank you for paying attention to our page and for your contributions,” it declared recently in the upbeat language typical of the site, which asks visitors to use English. “The Air Koryo Facebook fan page wishes you all the best for the remainder of the day.”
For the vast majority of foreign businesspeople, diplomats and tourists, Air Koryo is the only means to fly in and out of the isolated state.
Based at Sunan International Airport outside Pyongyang, its most popular flight operates to Beijing. It also flies to other destinations in China, Russia, Kuwait City and most recently, Kuala Lumpur. Routine travel between the two Koreas is currently prohibited.
The Facebook page regularly posts photos and news on the site. On Aug. 11, it announced it had finalized plans to increase weekly flights to China’s Shenyang from two to four, a move analysts say accommodates growing tourism and business ties between the allies. [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link.
For those wondering here is the Air Koryo Facebook page. I don’t know where the Korea Times got 2,000 “Likes” from because only 216 people have “Liked” the page so far.
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Update: There is another Air Koryo Facebook page. This one does have over 2,000 “Likes”.
She hasn’t seen...
4:24 pm on August 30th, 2011 1
you’re doing it wrong.
search this: Air Koryo Korean Airways (조선민항 | Корё Ханггонг)
4:31 pm on August 30th, 2011 2
I can’t imagine this being an ‘official’ page… not with them mentioning that they have a two-star Skytrax rating (out of a possible five stars).
5:15 pm on August 30th, 2011 3
#2,
Don’t forget, it’s ruled by a monomaniacal family. In their minds, two stars are is probably one more than everybody else, regardless of evidence to the contrary.
5:38 pm on August 30th, 2011 4
monomaniacal?
Damned spell check. It’s supposed to be megalomaniac.
6:46 pm on August 30th, 2011 5
I wonder how the elder brother is doing in China these days.
8:40 pm on August 30th, 2011 6
Here is the proper page. Please update GI Korea!
7:16 am on September 2nd, 2011 7
I left a comment on their page asking where the author was located and whether or not the government encouraged use of Facebook to promote their buisness. And my question was deleted and I was thrown out of the group. I really tried to ask respectfully, because I was just interested! Typical.