Awhile back at the bus stop, while waiting for the bus, I encountered this signage while waiting for the bus at the bus stop. I stared at it, completely perplexed by the seriously god-awful font before me. Was it some foreign language for mail order brides (since I have seen signs advertising for them as well)? Was I just really drunk? Before I code decode it, my chariot arrived and I headed off to adventure.
The next day I returned to the bus stop with my wife (born, raised, and educated in Korea) and the pair of us examined the sign in great detail. After much research we were finally able to determine the sign was in fact writen in Korean, and we were able to finally decipher what was written. Now I pass the torch to you. Can you figure it out? Check the answer by highlighting the brackets that follow: (광고문의).
Hi,
I remembered that’s the font used for stamps(?) (In-gam). So I looked up and found the font name. it’s called 전서체(Jeon-seo che), and you can even download and install it for Windows! (http://photomate.org/mate/?doc=bbs/gnuboard.php&bo_table=freeboard&page=31&wr_id=1356&PHPSESSID=81918a74cf43ef92fcf7e9379df77656)
Comment by ballsuni — April 6, 2006 @ 23:07 pm
That is indeed a disgucting font. However, I was able to decipher it. Mainly because I am ultimate.
Comment by Ailinn — April 7, 2006 @ 2:21 am
This font is similar to what is used for many dojangs (signature “chops”).
BTW your comment form has had problems.
Comment by Anonymous Coward — April 7, 2006 @ 5:58 am
Let me get this straight…it’s either the bus ad company selling ad space, or some kind of ad agency advertising itself, right? Why on earth would an ad industry company use an illegible ad to sell itself!? (I was eventually able to decipher it, but not without some paper and a bit of creative penmanship!)
Comment by sewing — April 7, 2006 @ 9:57 am
Huh?
Comment by Cliff — April 7, 2006 @ 15:03 pm
Ballsun is right it’s the same font used in stamps. It’s actually the same font that my 도장 uses. But are you sure it’s not 광고문의? That would make more sense for a company selling advertising space and the font seems to generally keep characters apart (with the exception of the ㄱ and ㅗ combination). And as proof try googling “광고문희” (zero responses) against “광고문의” (11 million responses).
Comment by Joel — April 7, 2006 @ 15:22 pm
my guess is gwango mun hwae
time to check it kk.
yo man ima be in korea all of may we should hang out! i only know a few ppl there so it would be fun. ill talk to you about it more lata. peace!
Comment by chris — April 7, 2006 @ 16:29 pm
Joel, you’re right. It indeed is 광고문의 since it is not advertising anything in particular but the space is empty for anyone interested in putting up their ad. The phone number below is a number to contact for ad enquiry so it only makes sense if it is 광고문의. Furthermore, no such word as 문희 exist if not used as 사자성어 or chinese.
Comment by Jay Lee — April 7, 2006 @ 17:05 pm
Damn, I didn’t catch that. But I did read it was 광고 문의…. Perhaps it is a 사자성어? I dunno, “bright high writing happiness?”
Comment by sewing — April 7, 2006 @ 22:35 pm
Joel you are right, it is 문의 not 문희. I should really stop typing at midnight…or at least start proofreading my works.
Comment by Wyatt — April 7, 2006 @ 23:20 pm