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South Korea Automakers say: Cut Out The Cheescake - Look at cars not women

SEOUL, March 21, 2007; Reuters reported that South Korean carmakers plan to cut down on the number of scantily clad models at the Seoul Motor Show hoping people will look at the cars instead.

The show, which starts in April, usually attracts thousands of camera-wielding men snapping pictures of young women models in revealing costumes whose images quickly make their way to Web sites in the world's most-wired country.

"We would rather have the spectators' attention on our cars than the attractive ladies," said Hyundai Motor Company spokesman Jake Jang.

Hyundai, which is unveiling several new models and a concept car called QarmaQ that uses lightweight plastics, will hire fewer models for the event. Its affiliate Kia will do the same.

Hyundai, with Kia, is the world's sixth-largest car maker.

Renault Samsung Motors, starting last year, changed the attire of its models from miniskirts to more modest business suits and gave them handheld computers to help answer questions, a company official said.

"When we look at motor shows overseas, the foreign brands did not have models with provocative clothing," the official said.

"It only seems to commercialise women and we want the car to shine, not the women."