HY | Freddit Co.
Today we visited a manufacturer of probiotic-based products, HY, whose parent company is Freddit Co. Their most popular products include drinkable yoghurts, which are very tasty!
Upon arriving to the luxurious factory, we were instructed to wear special sandals, a part of Korean culture aimed at conserving the integrity of the floor. In the tour, we saw many interesting products and innovations. At the very beginning, we had the opportunity to witness a version of a delivery mini vehicle, where a driver operates the cart-like machine around a city, selling the HY products as requested. An image of the cart may be seen above.
Afterwards, we observed the factory’s decontamination procedures, aimed to keep the workplace clean. Shortly after, we observed the various machinery that contributed to the creation of the tasty yoghurts. While my knowledge of assembly lines is not extensive, I understood and enjoyed learning about the process. In short, the yoghurt is kept in large container, where it is fermented for 20 days. Afterwards, it is poured into the mini-drinking containers, which were previous decontaminated using a special machine. After the yoghurt has been packed and tested for defects, it is ready to be sold! This was a very rewarding experience that ended with some sampling of HY’s various products.
Samsung Innovation Museum — 심
After leaving the HY Manufacturing Plant, the Plus3 Korea group drove to the Samsung Innovation Museum (SIM). However, before entering we had a tasty, traditional chicken soup with the program instructor, Dr. Minhee Yun. Overall, the soup was delicious. The thick velvety broth was a delight to sip down to the last drop. As for the chicken, I was a little surprised to find an entire chicken, bones and everything, inside the soup, but the challenge of eating the whole chicken made for a funny meal.
At the conclusion of our meal, we entered the SIM. The building, located in a Samsung Korea Campus, seemed very slick and modern. The hour-long, guided tour had three main parts. In the first part, the tour guide talked about the evolution of electricity. I found it fascinating to see ancient machine, that were once considered to be futuristic. Similarly, the creators of these machines were prominent people, more specifically, scientists which were talked about in my PHYS 0175 course. Thus, topics related to these people were mentioned, such as voltage, current, and magnetic fields, key for the creation of today’s modern devices. On that note, the second installation featured the evolution of technological devices, mainly centered towards phones and televisions. Observing technology used by parents and grandparents and comparing it to the widely available technology we have today was eye-opening. The third and last installation highlighted the present-day Samsung Ecosystem. A few of the products presents were speakers, televisions, smartphones, smart fridges, and smartwatches. As a group, we were able to better understand the Samsung smart system, controlled primarily through the Samsung Galaxy mobile device. As an avid Samsung user, the experience of visiting the SIM was a dream come true.
Lotte World
Once the tour of the SIM ended, we were done for the day or so we thought. Dr. Yun had prepared a special surprise event for us, a scavenger hunt! In our Plus3 groups, we had to find and take a group selfies at four distinct locations. The first group to finish would receive a price. As the group leader for one of the four groups, I was excited for the challenge and the opportunity to explore new corners of Korea! We arrived at the hotel shortly after 3 pm, however, my group agreed to begin the scavenger hunt at 5 pm. My fellow group members were exhausted from the daily journey, so a break was more than deserved. Even though some groups left as early at 3:30 pm, I was still hopeful.
At five, we set out to find the first image, the Gangnam Hands Statue, located in the Starfield, COEX Mall. This statue commemorates the success of PSY’s “Gangnam Style”. We got off at a wrong stop, which delayed us, but still found the statue in no time. After that, we took the subway to the Lotte World Complex, where the remaining three pictures were expected to be at. The Lotte World Complex is an area where the Lotte World Mall, Tower, Amusement Park, and more are located! This bustling district surrounds the Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in Korea, towering at over 123 stories. For pictures two and three, we had to take a selfie in front of the “LOTTE WORLD TOWER” and “LOTTE CONCERT HALL” signs. These were easy to find and only took us 10 minutes.
However, the fourth and last image, a hand imprint of Korean actress Uhm Jung-hwa was much more difficult to locate. We asked various locals and employees of the Lotte Mall, and they all mentioned that those hands were not present in the mall. It was not until we asked the attendant at the Lotte World Tower that a clue was revealed. The kind lady mentioned that we should check the cinema on the fifth floor of the mall. Once we arrived there, we asked a cinema employee of the whereabouts of the hand, and she suggested that we should take the escalators to the 7th floor where additional cinema halls were located. After reaching the 7th floor, we asked another employee who pointed us in the right direction; and finally, at 7:24 pm, we sent Dr. Yun the final image of the scavenger hunt, being the first group to finish the challenge!
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life”.
-Steve Jobs