The number of citizens turned journalists on SNS (Social Networking Services) has been increasing rapidly, especially on websites such as Facebook. Among the millions of Facebook pages, the UlsanMatjip pages' reputation and popularity is on the rise, not only among University of Ulsan students but also among other Ulsan citizens. The average visitors are between 20,000~100,000 people and therefore is fast becoming a representative Facebook page of Ulsan. I interviewed the administrator of the UlsanMatjip page, Yang Okjinin order to find out more about the very impressive UlsanMatjip page.

1. Why did you make this UlsanMatjip page and what were your ideas behind it?

"Since I love eating delicious food, I decided to create a Facebook page where I could share my restaurant experiences and pictures of these wonderful foods with others.  I thought that this would be interesting and simple and soon I met two other like-minded people who shared the same passion. We then proceeded to turn this idea into reality and finally the UlsanMatjip page was born. The page is now run by us, three co-managers, and our goal is to make this a representative Facebook page of Ulsan."

2. Have you had any proud moments or major difficulties while running this page?

"I have had many pleasant experiences while running this page, but I feel most proud when people react well to our posts and we receive positive feedback. It feels great seeing all the “like’s", replies, and tags with comments like; “How about going here?” or “I didn’t know that there was such a good place in Ulsan. “On the other hand, it is really tough when people post negative comments such as; “It’s not delicious” or “why is this restaurant posted here?". At times, especially after receiving negative feedback doubt can creep in and that is when I wonder if it is a good idea running this page as some of the things people say can be really hurtful. But I have learnt not to allow these comments to bring me down or make me doubt myself. Regardless of the negatives, I am still extremely proud of this page because most people do find the page useful and they complement me and my team often. The biggest challenge however is coming up with new posts along with the attention the Facebook page needs. In order to keep the page fresh, information should be updated regularly and the page managed carefully."

3. What selection criteria and processes do you use, before you decide whether a restaurant should feature on your page or not?

"At first, we only selected restaurants based on information we received from members of the UlsanMatjip page. Nowadays, the three co-managers of the page visit the restaurant first and then we decide whether it is worthy of its reputation as a top notch restaurant or not. After visiting the restaurant, managers evaluate the taste and service. When we are all satisfied, we post photographs, comments, and the location of the restaurant. Recently, we added a “taster system" to our page as we are striving to be more objective by providing members with a chance to evaluate restaurants themselves to ensure UlsanMatjip cannot be classified as biased."

4. Can you tell me more about the taster system?

"We seek the opinions of different "tasters" by reviewing comments or sharing posts of members on UlsanMatjip. The selections of these "tasters" are random and sometimes we follow the opinions of members based on reasons they have provided as to why they should be selected. "Tasters" have to then write a review of a restaurant that served the same food to us. Finally, we look at the reviews of 30~50% of "tasters", supporters and reporters. The difference between a once off "taster", and supporters or reporters is the kinds of reviews they provide. "Tasters" might only visit one restaurant and write only one review, while supporters and reporters write reviews of restaurants on Facebook or blogs regularly. They serve as a valuable source of information and ensure that UlsanMatjip posts fair and objective facts."

5. What do you do when all three managers have different opinions?

"Because each manager has a different role and focus, we do not generally argue or disagree with one another. When there is something we disagree on, we usually respect and trust the opinion of the manager whose role is related to that specific problem."

6. Do you have any advice for people who want to a famous Facebook page like yours?

"In the case of an informative page like UlsanMatjip, objectivity and the reliability of posts are essential. It is extremely difficult to judge whether or not information or reviews by other members are credible. Many restaurant owners might post false or misleading information just to get more people through their doors. People should be mindful of the administrative responsibilities that accompany these kinds of pages and think about the posing time so that articles can be viewed by as many people as possible. They will also need to follow some guidelines with regards to the length of posts and when materials should be posted."

7. What is the name our favorite restaurant in Ulsan?

It is a restaurant called "Bunji" which is located in Songnamdong. This restaurant was extremely neat and tidy and they only used fresh ingredients. Ulsan is often described as a city that has a shortage of amazing restaurants when compared to other cities However, there are a lot of hidden gems here in Ulsan. If you would like more information about this great restaurant, please check the UlsanMatjip Facebook page for more information.

8. What are the main goals you have set out for yourself and the UlsanMatjip page?

First of all, I would like our page to be considered as an exemplary Facebook page of Ulsan and then also, I would like to create a community for people who are passionate about food.

9. Lastly, do you have anything you would like to say to UlsanMatjip page members?

Please, refrain from making malicious comments. If there are any good places that serve delicious food, please do not hesitate to tell us all about it.