SOUTH KOREA: SOUTH KOREAN INVENTOR SUH WON-GIL BRINGS THE SELF COOLING DRINK CAN ONTO THE WORLD STAGE

Record ID: 779834

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: SOUTH KOREAN INVENTOR SUH WON-GIL BRINGS THE SELF COOLING DRINK CAN ONTO THE WORLD STAGE
  • Date: 18th March 2002
  • Summary: (L!1) SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (RECENT) (REUTERS) SCU COMPANY EMPLOYEE OPENING SELF-COOLING CAN AND DRINKING SCU SUH WON-GIL, INVENTOR AND HEADS OF VENTURE COMPANY, ICETEC SHOWING COILS FOR COOLING CAN (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) INVENTOR SUH WON-GIL SAYING "When consumers want to drink, open the can and let it cool down to the temperature which they want within fifteen seconds and drink it. That is the concept of this invention." SCU SUH DEMONSTRATING WITH THERMOMETER CU MORE OF DEMONSTRATION (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SUH WON-GIL SAYING "In order to let those who visit Korea during the World Cup know that we have the cooling can in Korea, my company will try to introduce it into the beverage market before the World Cup finals." SCU CANS (2 SHOTS) MV COMPANY WORKERS WITH SUH; SCU CANS (2 SHOTS) (L!1)INCHON, SOUTH KOREA (RECENT) (REUTERS) MV/SCU ASSEMBLY LINE FOR CANS (4 SHOTS) SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (RECENT) (REUTERS) SLV SUPERMARKET MV/SCU BEVERAGE SHELVES (4 SHOTS) MV/SCU CUSTOMERS AND CASHIERS (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 22-YEAR-OLD CASHIER KANG MI-SOOK, SAYING "The cooling can is portable. You can carry and drink it without needing a refrigerator. By making it handy, we are able to drink it anywhere so that it is more convenient than others."
  • Embargoed: 2nd April 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SEOUL, INCHON AND POHANG, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Quirky,Science,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAONH9HXOPPXUFZGB3OJQZLGZ9
  • Story Text: A South Korean company is hoping a newly developed self-cooling can will help quench the thirsts of 2002 World Cup fans.
    Open a can and wait for just 15 seconds and presto, you can drink cool beverages without any help from refrigerators.
    South Korean inventor Suh Won-gil (pronounced WON-KIL) hopes the high profile of thirsty soccer World Cup fans will project his invention, self-cooling drink cans, onto the world stage.
    Inventor Suh Won-gil says the cans are the first to cool drinks within seconds after being opened.
    "When consumers want to drink, open the can and let it cool down to the temperature which they want within 15 seconds and drink it. That is the concept of this invention," he said.
    The can contains a tiny steel tank with a refrigerant and a piped aluminum coil which releases gas generated from the tank to the outside when opened.
    Suh says the technology is cost effective, just eight U.S.
    cents per can, just one cent more than common aluminum cans.
    He also claims the can is friendly to the environment and safe for consumers because it uses a harmless coolant.
    Like other Korean entrepreneurs with new gadgets, Suh sees the 2002 World Cup soccer finals being co-hosted by South Korea and Japan in May and June as a good chance to promote his device.
    "In order to let those who visit Korea during the World Cup know that we have the cooling can in Korea, my company will try to introduce it into the beverage market before the World Cup finals."
    The technology, which works with all beverages including beer, can also be used for bottled drinks.
    Now Suh is talking to South Korea's top drinks makers like Lotte Chilsung and PepsiCo Products and a steel firm hoping to market his Icetec cans.
    Lotte Chilsung, which commands about 40 percent of South Korea's soft-drinks market and distributes PepsiCo Products, says it is reviewing a plan to use Suh's invention.
    Retailers say they would welcome the product.
    "The cooling can is portable. You have a cold drink without needing a refrigerator. Its easy to carry and we are able to drink it anywhere so that it is more convenient than others," said 22-year-old cashier Kang Mi-sook (pronounced KAHNG MEE-SOOK).
    POSCO, South Korean major steel corp, is helping Icetec's research and development in the hope Suh's device will boost demand for its steel plate. The steel maker is optimistic about the commercial viability of the cans, saying they will be easy to mass produce.
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