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S.Korea's Bikini Beach a Failure

Tourist officials in South Korea wanted their beach to rival Bali's and Waikiki's. They not only renamed it--adding the word 'bikini' to its title, but also got local businesses in on the deal. Area businesses surrounding Byeonsan Bikini Beach offer a 10 percent discount to women sporting a two-piece (and men in Speedos). But is it working? Nope. A mere 10 percent of beachgoers are joining in. Locals have differing opinions as to why:

"A lot of women won't wear bikinis because they don't want to get sunburned," said Choi Eun Jeong, 28, who wore a bikini but had not received the discount yet.

"I think it would have been better as a nude beach," her boyfriend, Lee Woo Ho, 32, added, drawing an angry glance.

Typical, eh? Now, if this was going on in Ipanema, that percentage would have to increase sufficiently...

Related Stories:
·   A Tourism Plan's Itsy-Bitsy, Teeny-Weeny Miscalculation [NY Times]
·   Bikini Beach Brouhaha [Japundit]