UNIT

4
SWING ENGLISH

The Korean wave

 Match each word with its correct definition

1. Inspire a. the act of looking forward to something

2. participant b. an important part

3. disappoint c. to fail to meet the expectation or hope of

4. foster d. to affect or guide others in a positive way

5. mainstay e. as person who takes part in some event

6. anticipation f. to brin up or to help raise

Check your English Level
Synonym: “disappoint ”

C2 discourage

C1 disenchant

B2 dismay

B1 discourage

A2 depress

A1 upset
 The Korean wave

The last few decades have seen South Korea rise in popularity.
A Beijing journalist coined the Phrase, "The Korean Wave," in
1999. That phrase describes the increase of Korean pop music
and Korean products in Asia. Riding this wave are actors,
musicians, athletes and political figures. Daniel Dae Kim and
Yun-Jin Kim are two of many Korean actors performing on
television in North America. Musicians like rain and BoA have
fan clubs everywhere. They are also featured in television ads
and in fashion magazines. Rain is also becoming a well-known
actor on movie screens worldwide.
 Korea shared hosting duties during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In
addition, it hosted the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Since then, Korean
athletes have become a mainstay on sports television. Soccer
star Ji-Sung Park and baseball star Shin-Soo Choo are favorites
on the world sports stage. These athletes also inspire Korean
youth to work hard at achieving future goals. Koreans were
great competitors at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Mi-Ran
Jang won a gold medal for weight lifting. The women's archery
team also set a world record. Sung-Hyun Park, Hyun-Jung Ju,
and Ok-Hee Yun won gold. These were some of the many
strong participants.
 Yu-na Kim won over the hearts of everyone at the 2010 Winter Olympic
Games in Vancouver, Canada. She is a household name in Korea. She is on
television commercials and game shows, as well as popular magazines.
Due to her incredible athletic talent, she is famous all over the world. The
UN secretary General Ki-Moon Ban is paving the way for future Korean
politicians. He was the first Korean elected to the post. There is no doubt
that the Korean wave is having an impact on a global scale. The Korean
spirit is something that the world needs to take note of. So where did this
seemingly sudden burst of talent come from? Since the 1950's, South Korea
has struggled to find its own place in the World. The government has
created many programs dealing with education and business. Koreans
have worked hard to build up their country. they have fostered a
competitive spirit in everything they do.
 In the last few decades, they've taken that approach to higher
levels within Korea itself. That same spirit is making waves
outside the country. The world is just beginning to take notice.
Korea will play a major role in the world in the near future.
From athletics to politics, it continues to create more talent. As it
is primed and readied for this responsibility, the world looks on
with anticipation. Surely Koreans will not disappoint as they
move forward.
UNIT
4
SWING ENGLISH

International Marriages