South Koreans are going in big numbers to Sockcho to play Pokemon Go

Pre discussion questions

Do you like computer games?

Would you be crazy about a computer game?

South Korean Pokémon Go players have been forced to leave their home towns to play Pokemon Go.  South Koreans are going to a city close to the North Korean border called Sokcho.  They are going to Sokcho because of the Korea’s mapping restrictions.

Pokemon Go is a location-based game augmented reality game. Pokémon Go needs data from Google Maps to work. But South Korean security controls on mapping data have blocked Google from having map features across a significant part of South Korea. This includes real time information, 3D maps, personal transport directions and indoor maps.

Local map providers use government-issued maps that have sensitive areas excluded. But a law that stops export of government-supplied mapping data stops Google from using it. Google has tried to have the law changed.

However, a city close to the border with North Korea, called Sokcho, has not been named as a South Korean territory. And so can have the mapping data needed to make Pokémon Go work.

One user posted on an internet message board: “I didn’t go to some big tourist attraction; all I did was walk around for tens of kilometers to play a game. But I’m more satisfied with this than any other trip. I would still be in Sokcho had it not been for an urgent need to leave.”

Bus tickets from Seoul to Sokcho have sold out.

Sokcho is on the eastern coast adjacent to the Seoraksan National Park. Sokcho has been using this situation to get lots of tourists. It is sharing maps of free Wi-Fi areas and advertising itself on social media as the only place to play Pokemon Go in Korea.

South Korea is the world’s fourth-biggest gaming market after China, the US and Japan.  This potentially represents a big opportunity loss for Niantic and the Pokémon Company.

The very popular game will hopefully soon be available outside of Australia, New Zealand and the US. Niantic is having trouble being able to supply the demand for the game.  Many people are circumventing the region lock by sideloading the app on Android or downloading it with a US iTunes account on an iPhone.

It has been downloaded between 10m and 50m times from the Google Play Store alone.

Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary depending on how they are used.

 The answers are below the table.

A=2, B=7, C=1, D=8, E=6, F=3, G=6, H=4

Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.

1.      People are restricted from smoking in buildings.

2.      August 15 is a significant day in Korean history.

3.      When you visit another country you need to be sensitive to their culture.

4.      His name was excluded from the list because he failed the drug test.

5.      I was very thirsty, but the drink of water satisfied me.

6.      The post office is adjacent to the gas station.

7.      People are circumventing buying from shops by shopping online.

8.      She has the potential to be a famous golfer.

Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the words/phrases in your answer.

1.      Do you agree with the mapping restrictions in Korea? Why or why not?

2.      How significant is this game compared to other games in your opinion?

3.      Are computer games satisfying for you? Why or why not?

4.      Where do you think a virtual Pokemon monster will be adjacent to in your city? Why?

5.      Are you interested in circumventing restrictions to play this game? Why or why not?

6.      What do you think is the full potential for this game in Korea?

7.      What kind of job does someone need to be sensitive to the feelings of other people?

8.      How would you feel to be excluded from an event?