Korean 'DMZ' water focused on positives

SEOUL, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The South Korean makers of bottled water named after the Demilitarized Zone with North Korea said they hope consumers will see the positives of the namesake.

Chun Woo-chul, spokesman for the Lotte Chilsung Co., said DMZ brand natural mineral water is meant to conjure images of an unspoiled ecosystem -- not land mines and conflict between North and South Korea, Stars and Stripes reported Monday.

Chun said the company "had fears and concerns about the negative image many people have of the DMZ, such as heightened tensions and conflict between the two Koreas, war, division, lethal mines and how the area is heavily fortified."

However, he said surveys indicated most people believe the DMZ's "ecosystem is the best in the world, that has been left untouched by humans for the past 50 years."

"We decided there was no better name than (Lotte Icis) DMZ 2km to pinpoint the purity and cleanness of this water," Chun said.