Saturday, May 8, 2010

Day 26: Dude, Blast from the Past Much?

This had to be one of the most surprising finds in the three years that I've lived here, especially given where I found this: Hongdae, the center of alternative fashion and living in Korea. I hate to admit this, but I used to collect these things when I was younger; it was a family thing. I feel as if there are still boxes of them someplace in some attic or garage. I seriously wonder if there is a market large enough to have an entire store dedicated to these things, in Korea of all places. Back in the day, you could buy these things at Hallmark or authorized retail outlets, but if you had an entire store dedicated to them they were most likely jacked up prices. However, I find it hard imagining a bunch of artsy Koreans, dressed with some wild street fashion, walking around this area with bags of Beanie Babies. To be honest, this is the first time I'd ever seen these things sold in Korea, and in the traditional Korean fashion they run full force with 20 pairs of scissors. I shouldn't be all that surprised, considering some of the other interesting things that have seemed to pop up in Korea (usb charged hot water makers), but this has to be the single most impressive displays of Globalization. But is it really Globalization? I mean, it's not that widespread, but of all the things to find its way to Korea, 7 years after their prime, this has to take the prize. It reminds me of this episode of '3rd Rock from the Sun' when Dick goes crazy for Beanie Babies, or their equivalent. I wonder what the next out-of-date collectable will show up in Korea... I am personally wishing for Pogs.

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