Category：Offbeat

Squid Game Experience gives Taipei fans a thrill

A Taiwanese supermarket has opened a new Squid Game Experience in Taipei. It gives visitors a chance to don costumes from the popular Korean horror show, and take part in the deadly games for themselves and their friends. Its sponsor hopes it will generate a lot of noise on social media. It’s part of a big marketing blitz following the release of the second season of the hit show.

Squid Game has partnered with a Taiwanese supermarket to create an immersive experience. Let’s start with playing cards with a Taiwanese Gong Yoo…

And then we transform into competitors…

Lin Yung-chi
FTV reporter
If you want to try Squid Game, you have to prepare properly. Now I’ve got the vest and I’m player no. 345.

The music starts and the giant Young-hee doll turns around. Everyone stops still in terror. Only those who survive can progress.

People dress up as supermarket workers to recreate the scene of a game where you search for a partner. You can even get a glimpse inside the secret control room that the main character is always trying to break into.

Lin Yung-chi
FTV reporter
Congrats to player no. 345 for surviving! But more important now is getting my prize money home!

Three games, four experience zones and five halls make for a truly immersive experience here in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. The venue took one year and more than NT$1 million to create. It will be open until Feb. 2.

Liu Hung-cheng
Supermarket marketing representative
We spent quite a lot of money, something like seven digits. We’re hoping that it will attract about 300,000 photo uploads and at least 50,000 visitors.

The worldwide phenomenon that is Squid Game is not just working with this supermarket. It’s also got partnerships with a potato chip company and phone cases. If the game is calling you, why not step up and try your chances?

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-01-15

Resident reports theft to find cat behind peanut heist

A Changhua resident recently reported a theft to police. Before going out, they left a gift for a friend outside their door. But after only minutes, a bag of peanuts inside went missing. Police combed through hours of CCTV footage to eventually find the culprit. But what they found left everyone smiling. Can you guess who the thief is?

As people are gearing up to celebrate the Lunar New Year, thieves are on the prowl. This time it’s a bag of peanuts. Who’s to say next time it won’t be money? Police took the call very seriously, spending hours watching surveillance footage from the scene of the crime. Eventually, they found the culprit.

They saw a cat quickly reach forward and, after investigating the bag’s contents, dragged a bag of peanuts under a car, where it enjoyed a feast.

Observers said the cat was adorable. But the target of the crime was embarrassed that he made police spend so long on the case.

Chan Shun-hsi
Police officer
He left the gift here. It wasn’t there for long at all. I watched the surveillance footage with him. It was there less than five minutes, and when he came back, the peanuts were gone.

Voice of Mr. Chang
Filed police report
I’m so sorry. Next time, I won’t think of the worst right away.

Even though it was just a bag of peanuts, the police still took the case very seriously. But after seeing the innocent face of the thief, everyone decided to forgive him and let him avoid the big house.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-01-10

Trainee pilot almost mistakenly lands in Chiashan Air Force Base undetected

A pilot trainee and his coach accidentally trespassed into the Chiashan Air Force Base in Hualien this past Sunday, and apparently nobody even noticed. The trainee allegedly mistook the air base for the Hualien Airport to the east. He was about to descend for landing when he realized his mistake at a mere 700 feet above ground. The aircraft did not receive any warnings for trespassing, which has raised concerns about security measures at the base. Let’s hear from an expert.

Chang Yen-ting
Retired air force lieutenant general
A trainee could misidentify the base, but the coach? If it’s 700 feet, then there’s only 230m, which is really low. Altitudes below 4,000 feet and a radius within 5 nautical miles are the base’s controlled zone. Why did the plane that flew there not get a warning? The PRC often probes our Huadong base, so we should be more cautious. After this incident, they may think the Chiashan Air Force Base has insufficiencies in air defense or control.

The Chiashan base is located in a network of tunnels, which makes it a suitable location for testing military equipment in secret. For example, the Teng Yun II drone developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology was tested there. The fact that the civilian trainer aircraft was able to enter undetected has raised concern over the military’s response to an incursion by the PLA.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-01-08

Traveler faces up to NT$1 million fine for blocking train doors

Taiwan Railway received a complaint this Sunday, from a passenger who stated that a train had departed from the platform before closing one of its doors. But security camera footage from Yangmei Station shows that that’s only half the story. It turns out that the train door had been forcibly kept open by another passenger to let a latecomer get on board. Let’s hear more.

Member of public
When it’s time to get on, you get on. And when the doors close, they close. You have to be there early and get on the train on time. Doing something like that is very dangerous.

Member of public
It’s common sense. The train is leaving, it’s already in motion. You shouldn’t block the door with your foot, even children know that.

Chou Po-hsun
Railway Police Bureau
We are trying to discern the passenger’s identity through security camera footage. The actions are in breach of Article 68-1 Subsection Five of the Railway Act. The relevant penalties will be processed by the Railway Bureau.

According to the Railway Act, manipulating railway equipment or hindering its normal operations is punishable with fines of up to NT$1 million. Taiwan Railway urges passengers to respect the rules and not interfere with operations that could put themselves and other passengers in danger.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-01-08

Hengchun local scared witless after finding 1m crocodile on the street

A Pingtung resident got the fright of a lifetime on Wednesday, after stumbling upon a 1-meter-long crocodile near Nanmen Gate in Hengchun. Fortunately, the reptile was in the storm drains and not on the street. Authorities captured the creature in the afternoon.

Authorities say a population of crocodile escapees had previously emerged in Donggang River. But they say it’s unlikely that members of the group made it to Hengchun. The current theory is that the croc was kept as a pet and abandoned by its owner. Authorities urge owners of dangerous animals to take good care of them to avoid creating problems for humans and the environment.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-01-08

Black bear caught on camera fleeing from an angry dog

Did you know that Taiwan’s mountain areas are home to Asian black bears? The mighty creatures can be found on many of Taiwan’s popular mountains. Recently, footage came out, showing a bear frightened by an encounter with a dog. The bear actually ran up a tree to get away from the angry canine. It was a surprise to many who think of the bears as fierce predators. But there are more sides to these big creatures than we normally consider. We spoke to forest officials to find out how you should behave if you’re heading into bear country.

A dog barks from somewhere offscreen. Zoom in, and you realize that’s an Formosan black bear climbing the tree. To the side, tree branches sway violently. That’s where the barking seems to be coming from.

The bear is scared, and keeps glancing down to the ground. The dog was chasing it, and the bear has escaped up into the tree. The whole story was captured by an onlooker who wondered if they should report the incident.

Huang Chun-tse
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
It’s actually normal to encounter bears in the mountains. It doesn’t need to be reported. But there are special cases. One would be if you come across a bear who is in trouble or injured on the mountain. The second would be encountering a bear who is making trouble, for example by invading people’s homes or workers’ cabins, which would need to be reported.

It’s a surprise to see this mighty bear scared enough of a dog to escape into a tree. Luckily, both bear and dog escaped unscathed from their run-in. And another mountain-lover recently captured this bear foraging for food in a river.

Bears are often seen in the mountains near the village of Panital in Hualien. This infrared automatic camera caught a mature bear foraging with their cub, as well as an adult traveling with two cubs. Humans are constantly encroaching on bears’ habitats. But when you encounter a bear, should you play dead or get up into a tree?

Huang Chun-tse
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
That’s a complete mistake. Bears can climb trees better than we can. And bears are scavengers. So those ideas are all incorrect information. The most correct action is simply to watch the bear, not to alarm it, and to slowly get away.

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency advises that when you go climbing in the mountains, you take a bear bell, as well as bear spray, to help you keep clear of the powerful creatures. Hopefully you’ll have a safe stay in their home, at a mutually respectful distance.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-01-07

Runaway capybaras celebrate New Year’s together, giving a scare to their owner

Who can say no to a nice trip to celebrate the start of the year? That’s apparently what two capybaras in Yilan decided to do this past Tuesday, leaving their owner worried sick. The two animals broke out from their enclosure in the early morning of Dec. 31, and stayed out all day and all night, only returning home by themselves on New Year’s Day.

Two capybaras trot along a dark street, the bigger one in front of the smaller one. Where are they going? Are they rushing to a New Year’s party?

Member of public
I think they look so funny, hanging out together on New Year’s. Maybe they met up to watch the fireworks show together.

Member of public
They are like a young couple on a date, going out to watch the night views together.

People find the excursion cute. But for the capybaras’ owner it was a nightmare.

Voice of Mr. Wu
Capybara owner
They escaped at around 3 a.m. on Dec. 31. We only found out they were gone when we went to feed them at midday.

The owner went on social media to ask for help locating the two capybaras, but nobody had any leads. It was only the next day, when their owner was watching security camera footage, that he found the two runaways had returned, leisurely and unbothered.

Voice of Mr. Wu
Capybara owner
I had a hunch that they would come back in the New Year. So I looked at the security camera footage on my phone. After a minute, I saw them pacing back and forth at the entrance. Then I saw that they had gone out to play in the fields.

The capybaras, which are valued at NT$300,000 made their way home safely after a muddy New Year’s celebration in the fields. Sometimes, the best way to get a fresh start to the year is really just to take a walk around the block.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-01-03

Film fans cry together in park to ring in 2025

While many cheered when the New Year’s countdown reached zero, in Taipei’s Da’an Forest Park a group of film-lovers bawled their eyes out instead. The collective cry was a tribute to “Vive l’amour,” a 1995 film dealing with themes of urban alienation in Taipei. The closing scene in the film features actor Yang Kuei-mei crying alone for seven minutes straight while sitting on a bench in the park. This year, she joined fans of the film to ring in the New Year, with tears down their cheeks.

More than 3,000 people gathered in Da’an Forest Park to send off 2024 with a good old-fashioned cry. As “Vive l’amour” turns 30, actors Yang Kuei-mei, Lee Kang-sheng and director Tsai Ming-liang joined the weeping crowd.

The countdown to zero did not end with a blast of fireworks. Instead, it was the start of the iconic 7-minute one-take crying scene that closes the film.

Looking back at the scene, Yang Kuei-mei said that such a performance happened just once in a lifetime. Meanwhile, Tsai Ming-liang told the crowd they’d see each other same time same place next year. “Vive l’amour” is one of his best known works and won the Golden Lion award at the 51st Venice International Film Festival.

The peculiar event attracted the attention of international media outlets such as the CNN and the BBC, and even made the front page of a Czech publication. Described as quirky and tongue-in-cheek, the tearful countdown has been dubbed one of the most unique events in the world.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-01-02

Cluttered hardware store becomes local Beitou staple

Hardware stores sell daily essentials. Traditional ones are usually packed to the gills with all kinds of products. But you have definitely not seen one that it’s so full, its merchandise spills out into the street. This over-the-top store in Beitou has been open for 47 years. Even though his merchandise is piled high, the owner can always find what you need. Let’s take a look!

Chen Shou-chen
FTV reporter
In this chaotic pile of products, you can see brooms, plastic stools, and cleaning supplies all thrown together. There are even umbrellas hanging from the ceiling. This general store has everything. Its unique look has also made it a staple in the neighborhood.

Customer
There are so many stores around here. If I need plastic bags or whatever else, I go here, because it’s cheaper.

This store has been open in Beitou’s Ziqiang Market for 47 years. Nearby residents come here to buy daily essentials. Seeing the owner move about his wares, everyone says he’s great at what he does.

Customer
This place has so much stuff, you can’t even imagine. But within three minutes for sure, even less than three minutes, he can find what you need. His memory is incredible.

Mr. Yu
Store owner
I have a system, it’s just not tidy. If there weren’t, how could I find anything? Sometimes I go in and organize it. Put things in place. If I put it there, that’s where it goes. It’s not random. If it were, I couldn’t find anything.

By packing it with goods, the owner said he initially wanted to open a hardware store that’s lively.

Mr. Yu
Store owner
Listening to older folks talk, people say it’s not a hardware store, but a general store. I said that general stores aren’t lively, but hardware stores, when they go down it’s bad. It’s just what I’m used to. It’s what I do every day.

Mr. Yu has been relying on the store for his livelihood for years. But now that he’s older and not as healthy as he once was, he’s thinking of closing. Before then, he wants to continue for as long as he can with a heart full of gratitude.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-01-01

Outlet offers luxury bath products at 92% off

The cost of living keeps rising with widespread inflation, so you might not believe this: an outlet store in Taiching is offering 92% off on luxury bath products by a Taiwanese brand. The only catch is you have to bring your own containers to fill. But this didn’t stop the many consumers armed with bagfuls of bottles on the first day of the sale.

Customers at this outlet store line up with bags full of empty containers. They’re looking to stock up on heavily discounted luxury bath products.

Member of public
I’ve come prepared. They’re all very cheap, just buy whatever you want. The more you buy, the more you save.

This hotel-favorite set of shampoo, shower gel, conditioner and body lotion are all set to expire in less than two years. Seeing they’re all in bulk, the store found a clever way to clear the overstock.

Wang Yun-hsuan
FTV reporter
If you’re looking to score this great deal, remember to bring your own containers to participate in this sustainable promotion.

Member of public
I’m buying this 900ml bottle for now, to try it out. If it’s good, we’ll rush back for more.

Member of public
I’m getting shampoo and shower gel, because even if you can’t finish them, you can probably still wash your hands with them.

At 92% off, no wonder so many people are coming armed with bottles. The mall says the products will probably all be sold out soon.

Chen Chih-yin
Outlet marketing head
We’ve actually planned for a 10-day promotion, but seeing how things were when we opened shop today, there probably won’t be anything left in three days.

With this novel promotional method, the store gets to recuperate losses, while consumers get a really good deal. What’s more, by encouraging consumers to bring their own containers, it’s also a great way to reduce plastic waste.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-12-30