เรียนภาษาอังกฤษจากเรื่องใกล้ตัว ตอน Korean pop culture
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Korean pop culture
Lesson by Zack Laohavoravudhikul
There’s probably nothing hotter than the Korean fever that’s been bombarding Thailand and the rest of Asia for some time now. The recent visit by a Korean girl band, The Wonder Girls, is a testament to their success of having reached cult status among both the young and old here. After reading our lesson this week, you can discuss with your friends what started this Korean wave and what impact it has on their economy.
ศัพท์น่ารู้
bombarding - attacking a place with continuous shooting or bombs กระหน่ำ
testament - proof ข้อพิสูจน์ชัดแจ้ง
cult status - the condition of being adored or worshipped by many people สิ่งที่ฮิตราวกับเป็นลัทธิ
impact - a powerful effect that something, especially something new, has on a situation or person ผลกระทบ
Surf's (still) up
Story by SIRINYA WATTANASUKCHAI
A Korean Wave is sweeping across Thailand, entrapping Thai youth
Once the Korean series is over, the next thing Warakorn Panithanarak does is Google a cute and compact powder case she has just seen one of the characters take out from her purse.
‘‘[The package] was so cute and attractive,’’ said the 21-year-old Thammasat University student. That cute little compact case led her into a world of pretty little things from Etude and Skin Food, two of the most popular Korean cosmetic brands among young Thais today.
Even better, these cosmetics turn out to be affordable enough to allow youths to wear light make-up similar to the beautiful females portrayed in the dramas.
Korean drama — a part of the ‘‘Korean Wave’’ — now works as an inter-Asia advertising medium, says Assoc Prof Ubonrat Siriyuvasak, an expert on media and culture.
Take a look around Bangkok and you’ll see an increasing number of Korean restaurants. The youths sport spiky haircuts like those worn by K-pop singers, and the girls put on light make-up to further enhance the size of their ‘‘Big Eye Circle’’ contact lenses.
Warakorn and her friends enjoy the affordable cute Korean cosmetics while her family has become big fans of Samsung and LG products since the 10-year-long economic crisis has made such electronic devices very affordable; even cheaper than items imported from Japan.
Another K-pop fan is 20-year-old Unchisa Charoensawadsiri. Although she’s still loyal to Thai cosmetic brands, the Chulalongkorn University student agrees that the fine quality of K-pop songs have slightly changed her perspective on Korean products. That is, if the songs and singers meet these high standards, then products born from Korea, including electrical appliances, should be on the same par, she says.
‘‘Now we are beginning to perceive that Samsung is better than Sony,’’ said Ubonrat.
ศัพท์น่ารู้
Korean wave - a craze for Korean stars and products เกาหลีฟีเวอร์
entrapping - causing someone to do something that they would not usually do ทำให้ติดกับดัก
series - a set of TV broadcasts on the same subject or using the same characters but in different situations หนังชุด
compact powder case - a small flat case which contains women's face powder ตลับแป้ง
affordable - not expensive ไม่แพง
portrayed - represented or described someone or something พรรณา
medium - a method or way of expressing something สื่อ
spiky haircuts - haircuts with short pointed pieces of hair ผมทรงตั้งๆ
K-pop - Korean popular music เพลงป๊อบแบบเกาหลี
enhance - to improve the quality, amount or strength of something ปรับปรุง
cosmetics - substances that you put on your face or body which are intended to improve its appearance เครื่องสำอาง
crisis - a situation that has reached and extremely difficult or dangerous point ช่วงวิกฤต
loyal - firm and not changing in your friendship with or support for a person or an organization, or in your belief in your principles ซื่อสัตย์
perspective - a particular way of considering something ทัศนคติ
electrical appliances - instruments or tools that run on electricity เครื่องใช้ไฟฟ้า
on the same par - on the same level ในระดับเดียวกัน
perceive - to come to an opinion about something, or have a belief about something รับรู้