Harley-Davidson fans revved up for a rally

Harley-Davidson bikers and fans in Korea will hold their annual rally at Baegam, North Gyeongsang province, starting from today until Sunday.
H.O.G. Korea and Harley-Davidson of Korea Co., Ltd. have hosted the rallies since 1999. H.O.G. Korea is one of the chapters of Harley-Davidson Owners Group, or H.O.G., a global motorcycle organization of Harley-Davidson customers.
Started in 1983 by Harley-Davidson Motor Company, which was founded in 1903 in the United States, H.O.G. has about 800,000 members and 1,300 chapters in 48 countries. The South Korean chapter, H.O.G. Korea, was established in 1999 and it has become the biggest motorcycle club in the country.
The Korean chapter has 700 members, most of them in their 40s. With the price of a Harley averaging 30 million won ($26,000), it’s a fairly well-to-do group.
With an estimated 500 people participating, the Baegam rally features various bike games and bands’ performances. The games include a slow race contest, the winner being whoever drives slowest without his or her feet touching the ground.
On the final day, 400 Harley riders will tour around the event area for 100 kilometers (62 miles) in a long line.
The Baegam rally is the second national event for H.O.G. Korea this year. In April at Mansang near the East Sea, H.O.G. Korea successfully held a national rally with 700 South Korean and 100 foreign Harley riders, inviting 3,000 citizens to the event.
Harley-Davidson is well-known in the United States for its success at maintaining a mystique around the brand. “The key to our success is keeping a strong relationship with our customers,” vice president, John Russell said in press materials. “We actively engage with our customers; we encourage our people to spend time with our customers, riding with customers, being with customers whenever the opportunity arises.”

by Park Jun-suk