Korean Air's New Ad Campaign Is... Really Strange?

All I can say is that none of that happened to me when I flew KE F in February from Singapore to Washington. It was an excellent journey (I'd give an A+ to each of the flights I was on), so I'd definitely fly them again, regardless of this rather strange ad.

Not any less brilliant than AF or SQ Campaigns.
It rides nicely the positive vibe Kpop and Seoul fashion have (mostly in Asia).

I think it fits well the new Terminal they launched.

I’m sorry - but what don’t you get?

They are explaining the USPs of traveling on Korean.

I was waiting for someone with a picket sign to swing into frame in the AF ad.

The video is a hybrid of a korean pop song and a commercial.

I actually didn't like the "excellence in flight" ads, because nothing shown in the ad really speaks to the tagline (are they advertising service to many cities or the onboard product?). I can fly dozens of airlines to Shanghai -- why would I fly KE?

The new campaign makes nods to the modern trend of farm-to-table eating, and with the somewhat cheesy kpop moves, speaks to the korean cultural references foreigners are most likely to recognize. Especially thinking about their primary competitor (OZ) the message is blunt: you have many ways to fly, but you should fly us because we're Korean.

applying Asian logic to this it means "fly the dream, not the reality "

I don't understand any of these k-pop references. Isn't this commercial geared more towards European pop music?

Korean Air is way too tacky, from the flight attendants' uniforms to the sickly blue they paint their planes in. Their ad campaigns reflect as such.

its major shade thrown to asiana.u can have meal on ur flight

What you don't understand doesn't mean it's strange.

Do not worry Lucky. Most Koreans are confused as well.

I'm a Korean native - lived in Korea all my life - and I don't get it at all. I don't recognize the music - it definitely isn't one of those hit K-Pops.

The second daughter of Korean Air’s chairman got in trouble when she threw water in the face of an executive from one of the airline’s advertising agencies. Lucky, you might be able to sympathise with her situation if this was the ad they were presenting to her.

Agree with @Andy that this new advert plays like an awareness building campaign for both KE & Korea.

In ~60 secs, the vid connects key KE/Korea USPs: modern/stylish, delicious food, high tech, K-pop, animation, airlines.

Target demo for branding campaign probably is first timers who’d benefit from seeing all these disparate references threaded together—hopefully resulting in a “Oh, that’s Korea? It seems really cool! I should go there (on KE)” moment.

IMO, brilliant if it can achieve this. You probably don’t *get it* because you’re not the intended audience @Lucky

South Korea as a country hypes themselves to the max. They want to be viewed as hyper modern which this commercial pushes. But the country is kinda a mess. I know so many people who where so excited to visit South Korea but where then disappointed. Should have gone to Japan which is wonderful.

There are mountains and there are molehills...
Let's not make mountains out of molehills.

The idea is super simple. Korean pop culture is world famous. If you want to experience cool culture, go Korean airlines
BTS is so so so hot! Much better than Shawn Mendes

Besides the karate bit I actually like it and get it, I think it is meant to show way Korean air infuses the culture within the airline product e.g. food , music in the entertainment system etc I actually really like it

As almost everyone has already said, it's a good ad for the intended audience.

I think because it's so different, it's meant to grab your attention. It certainly kept my attention.

And, it is well done. Very professional with good graphics,

Very KPop.

Surely, the angry nut executive must have authored this! lol

Probably a poor translation of the original Korean voiceover script, plus the delivery of said voiceover is not great. Turn down the sound and it's visually an interesting spot, no better or worse than AF's effort.

However, I'm sorry, that old Korean spot from 2010 is terrible, I mean like cringe worthy. It's essentially a retail spot proclaiming loudly about it's global reach with heavy handed, tired visual metaphors. I actually couldn't believe that one was from 2010, looks and feels more like 1995. TV advertising is my business, I can spot a turd a mile away.

I love the Korean Air new ad. The colors and sounds are definitely refreshing and a welcome to the more traditional advertisements of hospitality like Singapore Airlines.