Here's more about Podori, the New Police for the New Millenium!
Podori is the mascot for the Korean National Police Agency. He has been presented on Korea & Animation before. Here is what has been learned about him since then. 
This sticker was placed by the Seoul Police Department inside of a subway station. Look very closely at the lower right-hand corner and you'll see the signature of Lee Hyeon Se. Lee, often upheld as the most famous comic book artist in Korea, apparently designed Podori. Here are some close-ups, insights, and translations from that sticker: 
It appears Podori can patrol Seoul apartments by flying around with a Doraemon-like helicopter cap. Here he is observing how careless Seoul citizens are. Podori: Wow, they don't even bother identifying their guests before opening the door! Podori: Milk and newspapers are stacked up outside. They must have been gone for a long time.
Podori: They don't turn off the light while out at night!
Podori is a very respondent police officer.
Podori: Freeze!
Crook: Oh! That was so fast!
Woman: Oh my! It's only 3 minutes after I reported this!
Podori isn't afraid to put troublemakers in their place. Angry Wife: Beat him! Spank him harder! Because he's an alcoholic! Upset Daughter: I hate my dad!
Sound Effects: Spank! Spank!
Watch out criminals, because Podori is watching you even more closely! Podori: Big ears to better hear citizens. Podori: Big eyes to better catch thieves with.
Crook: Argh! It's Podori!
And here's a treat. The other police mascot! Although, she isn't seen around as much as Podori. I wonder what her story is?
I thought you might appreciate seeing some North Korean design in practice.
I'm particularly fond of the color choice in this one above.
The central theme of these buttons is the reunification of North Korea and South Korea.
Although these buttons were purchased in Kaesong, their packaging indicates that they were originally from Pyongyang. Pyongyang and Kaesong are amongst the few North Korean cities open to foreign tourists, including South Koreans.If you'd like to learn more about this recently started Kaesong tour, Dr. Edward Reed of the Asia Foundation has written an insightful write-up about it.What are your thoughts?
These images of Hodori, the 1988 Olympic Mascot for Seoul (I'll write more about him later), are taken from the Dongdaemun Stadium station. 
This next series of images is from the Yeouido subway station:
These horses and sheep create a mural that beautifully decorate a wall. 
The mural is so wide that I had to break it down into slices. The very next image is the farthest slice to the left. As you scroll down, imagine you are looking from left to right at this mural. 
I can't seem to remember which subway station the next series of images are from. These ones show historical Korean scenes.
This is a close up of the lantern in the above picture with the women. 
And this is a close up of the candle. There is tons more stuff like this in Seoul subways. I've even seen abstract patterns using rectangular tiles. Of course, these are much better looking in person. So, if you ever get the chance, you should check these out.
In case you didn't know, combining such cute characters with not so cute organizations, like the police department, softens that organizations image. Who would you rather have boss you around, a gruff looking police officer or little Podori? But don't be mistaken, Podori is the real deal. If you look closely you'll notice that his badge is not a mere drawing but a real badge!
I think there may be a problem with having Podori as a mascot. He may be too cute a character for the police department. It almost makes me want to commit a small crime just so I can see him. Then maybe I can give him a choco pie and he'll let me off the hook. Then we can go get pizza or something and we'll become close buds. Then we'll team up and become a crime fighting team!
I also noticed that Podori's design seems awfully similar to this character in Pata Pota Monta, a Japanese production. Maybe they are cousins? I prefer Podori, though. Especially in the first image. I particularly like the way his eyes are drawn.
