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( 02-6412-0125~8)
About the Publication
Magazine B is an ad-free monthly publication that dedicates each issue to one well-balanced brand unearthed from around the globe. The magazine introduces the brands hidden stories, as well as its sensibility and culture, and is an easy but also serious read for anyone with an interest in brands.
About the Issue
Welcome to the 96th issue of B.
Back in 2018, when B revisited Seoul, the capital city of Korea, to put out a second edition, we talked about what city would be the best for the city issue besides Seoul. Many of our editors—including me—thought of Busan, the second largest city in Korea, and Jejudo Island for its breathtaking natural landscapes. Five years later, we wound up doing an issue that features Busan. Of course, we were drawn to Jejudo Island because it embodies the idea of rest and relaxation, but truthfully, we were more curious about Busans many faces beyond the beaches and tourism. I myself visit the coastal city every year and always feel like moving there whenever I go, so it is obvious that the port city 400 km south of Seoul has some kind of magnetic allure.
Each time I arrive at Busan Station and taxi to Haeundae to get settled in—Ive done this so many times I dont dare to even try to count—I find myself mesmerized by the landscape of the piers as I look out the car window. Not until rows of shipping containersand towering cranes catch my eyes do I feel like, Ah! Finally, Im in Busan. It feels like passing through immigration. Maybe because of the unique layout of port cities, I have always assumed that Busan was bigger than Seoul. Maybe it is the impression that you can only get from the second- or the third-largest cities. Apparently, it is the norm that the nations largest city—the capital city in an administrative and economic sense—naturally chases ideas like global standards and cosmopolitanism. Despite the never-ending changes inarchitecture, culture, and commercial districts that seem to pop up overnight, capital cities always feel rather mediocre when all things are said and done. That might explain why I have recently heard globe-trotters grumbling that there is nothing special out there. Everything is already in Seoul.
But Busan has staved off this rather imminent phenomenon of standardization. Of course, the city boasts a good number of flagship stores by globalbrands, inventive and fancy restaurants, and uniform- like styles that hipsters wear, but these elements
do not shape the visitors impression of the city. Rather, Busans cultural elements—embedded in the clothing, food, and architecture—forge a distinctive locality in its raw state, emerging through the cracks between the well-developed infrastructure that is essential for a big city to survive. The essence of Busan that B captured for this issue also centers on the people, the products, and the companies that add contemporary twists to local tradition. From Momos Coffees Jooyeon Jeon, who triumphantly sprang up from the local specialty coffee scene and on to the global stage; and Balansa, a fashion brand whose contemporary chicness is no less superb than Seoul- born rivals; to Gentz Bakery, which strives to retaina sense of Koreanness. All these players generated cultlike followings locally and received offers to expand to Seoul. (Usually, it happens the other way around.) In a city where not even one of Koreas top 100 companies has its headquarters, it is a feat thatlocally grown creativity translates to business acumen, resulting in phenomenal success.
The potential of Busan, I opine, lies with innovative small business owners, though they are wildly outnumbered by their counterparts in Seoul. Indeed, the Busanites B met say that the citys potential isin the hands of the people who grew up in Busan,far from Seoul and close to the door to the outside world. Busan has constantly grappled with internal and external forces due to its geographical position and historical events, like outsiders coming and going, refugees from the Korean War rushing in. Even still, it seems that Busan has the most fertile soil to cultivate new contemporary ideas. This may be why I as a land dweller, born and raised in Seoul, always envy people who live near water—and where they come together, in Busan.
Eunsung Park
Editor in Chief
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Table of contents
02 INTRO
08 EDITOR'S LETTER
12 CHALLENGES
The challenge culture leads trends du jour through video creating and sharing
26 OPINION: VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN
One cultural critic praises TikToks optimistic worldview
32 USER MANUALS
Get to know the user-friendly interface on which filming, sharing, and playing videos happens in a just a few taps
40 KEY ELEMENTS
Key digital terms that offer insight into the rising mobile generation
44 OPINION: SEAN KIM
TikToks head of product backs the platform as a super app
48 TIKTOK GENERATION
Creators unleash their creativity via shortform videos
70 DICTIONARY
Thirty-two words and expressions often used in the TikTok ecosystem
76 HALL OF FAME
TikTok teaches some old dogs new tricks
88 OPINION: SEUNGYEON KIM
The general manager of global business solutions in TikTok Korea talks about TikToks adaptability in the digital market
92 TRANSITION
Legacy media giants search for new ways to stay afloat the mobile era with TikTok
102 ENTERTAINMENT
A glance at TikToks revolutionary marketing solutions in the entertainment industry
110 BRAND STORY
The success story of an app that promotes self-discovery over social networking
118 PARTNERS
TikTok forges new partnerships as a move to evolve into a business platform
120 INTERVIEW: NICK TRAN, KUDZI CHIKUMBU
Global Head of Marketing Nick Tran and Director of Creator Community Kudzi Chikumbu talk about the vision and future direction of TikTok
126 CREATIVE WORKSPACE
TikToks organizational culture and LA office interior design that reflect the brands mission to inspire creativity and bring joy.
132 ALL-ROUNDERS
TikTok employee creators talk about their work environment
136 DIGEST
Incredible numbers and attributes that set TikTok apart from other social media platforms
140 REFERENCES
Books, videos, and more that break down the digital media ecosystem
151 OUTRO
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