[View the story "Korean Airlines: Failure to launch" on Storify ]Korean Airlines: Failure to launch Many Kenyans are outraged by a Korean Airlines advertisement. Storified by The Stream · Mon, Jun 18 2012 23:57:50
Hilarious @KoreanAir_KE commercial promoting flights to Nairobi, Kenya. "indigenous people full of primitive energy" http://pic.twitter.com/hFIX799RWouter van Cleef
Van Cleef's tweet has spread quickly through the twittersphere. Kenyan netizens are now airing their views on the issue using the hashtags primitiveenergyis, primitive and kot (Kenyans on twitter). Many have also tweeted at the Korean Airlines account, @
Koreanair_KE .
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Korean Air calling us "Indigenous people with primitive energy" #shindwe @schrumshy @Mngatu @carolinzie @manju_kamah @dandeetox10June Gitarrius
@KoreanAir_KE ; Wonder what you intended by referring to Kenyans as having primitive energy....clearly explain to us Kenyan the reasoningThis is Abade
Indigenous people full of primitive energy... seriously???? Korean Airline should apologize!!!Situma Ole Situma
Some real primitive energy #KOT #PrimitiveEnergy @Koreanair_ke http://pic.twitter.com/zJ1Lvy92Fredrick Juma
I'm full of primitive energy!!! Woop!! Woop!! *runs around helter skelter*Carol Gatura
#primitiveenergy http://twitpic.com/9xv9egWakoli
My primitive Monday energy is overwhelming...I'm thinking of hanging out with the Lions chilling on Kenyatta Avenue #PrimitiveEnergyWamahiga Muhia
Afternoon well spent...and didn't use any primitive energy either :DCindy Ogana
kenyans huh! how some kenyans get or tame their primitive energy... #primitiveenergy http://twitpic.com/9xtisw via @TwitPicSusan Moenga
Korean Airlines issued an apology via Twitter and the ad has since been taken down from the website. Others have speculated that the public relations gaffe may have been a result of language barriers.
Regarding our recent promotional notice of Nairobi, we are checking on this issue accordingly.We sincerely apologize for this situation.Korean Air
@KimunyaMugo @KoreanAir_KE primitive energy>case of direct translation from Korea? raw energy?? dont want to believe this was intentionalMichelle Wanja
MT @Lattif: Korean Air ad lost in translation. Kenyans labeled "indigenous people full of primitive energy" http://bit.ly/LqHtbrAlex Rose
@olivahochichi @RobertAlai Korean talking about primitive energy is disrespect of the highest order, Kenya we need an apology :)Mary Wanyeri
@KanyaNdaki @allafrica "indigenous people full of primitive energy" <-- They probably did a direct translation #KoreanAir cc @ukonnieEdgar Mwakaba
However, the apology did not satisfy many Kenyans, who remain unhappy with the airline.
No. I want to know what it is first before the apology. What is #primitiveenergy? @KoreanAir_Ke or anyone. http://www.kenyan-post.com/2012/06/we-are-sorry-for-calling-kenyans.htmlwambui waithaka
#KoreanAir, your apology over calling Kenyans pple with 'primitive energy' is lacking and vacuous. Not getting off that easy #bigotry Caroline Mose
I've tried to believe that #PrimitiveEnergy ad was bcoz of poor english, but failed. Korean Air's attempted apology http://bit.ly/LqAf7bgaetano kagwa
@KoreanAir_KE: calling Kenyans people of #primitive energy is very offensive. Kenyans demand public apology from your embassy in NBO.Evans
