《英语流行话题阅读:语境识词3500》Unit81:“韩流”来袭

　　Unit 81
Asian Interest in Korean Pop Culture
The Korean entertainment has been popular in China and many other Asian countries for years. It touches lots of young souls with exciting stories. It has made Samsung and LG household names. It has caused people to put their bodies under a surgeon's knife to become beautiful Korean-style.
It's usually not easy for foreign pop culture to enter Japan. However, it seems the country's show business has been losing its protection from the Korean pop influence. "Japan seemed to be a bit late in appreciating Korean entertainment, but I'm happy that more people are interested now," said Im So Yeon, 30, a Korean born shop clerk in Tokyo.
The interest in Korean pop culture began in 2000 with "Shuri", a high-powered action film staring Han Suk Kyu. Since then, general interest in Korean pop culture has been growing steadily¹, and picked up in 2002 when Japan and Korea co-hosted the FIFA World Cup and promoted cultural exchanges. This year, more than 30 Korean films are scheduled to open in Japan. According to Kim Kang Sik, director of the Korean Culture Center in Tokyo, this is the largest number so far -- two times the number of annual imports in Japan over the past few years.
Similarly, Korean TV dramas, which used attract a limited number of viewers, are finding a wider audience. This month, Japan broadcasting corporation NHK's land-line channel began airing the hit Korean TV series "Winter Sonata²". It is notable³ since this 11-12 pm time-slot has traditionally been reserved for American TV series. The show already struck a chord⁴ in Japan when it was broadcast twice last year on NHK's satellite channel. Its popularity⁵ has spilled into other areas. NHK's publishing branch has already sold 860,000 copies of novel based on the screenplay, and 150,000 DVDs and videos.
"In general, relationships between families and friends in South Korea tend to be closer than those in Japan, and the happiness or sorrow are almost excessively described in dramas," said Baeg Seong Soo, a Korean lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies who specializes in Asian media studies. "Meanwhile, many Japanese trendy dramas seem to be popular with only young people, and the conflicts tend to be less emotional than those in real life." Baeg believes that the current Korean entertainment boom⁶ is reaching its peak and will soon level off, though she doesn't see this as a bad thing: "When Japanese people just choose Korean movies and dramas like they do with those from Hollywood, Europe or Hong Kong, that is when the meaning of this boom will really be defined⁷."

1 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

2 sonata   

n.奏鸣曲

参考例句：

• He played a piano sonata of his own composition.他弹奏了一首自作的钢琴奏鸣曲。
• The young boy played the violin sonata masterfully.那个小男孩的小提琴奏鸣曲拉得很熟练。

3 notable   

adj.值得注意的，著名的；n.名人，要人

参考例句：

• His achievement is very notable.他的成就是非常显著的。
• He wrote and published the essay under notable's name.他假托名人写文章发表。

4 chord   

n.和弦，和音，弦，心弦

参考例句：

• Her speech struck a deep chord in my heart.她的话深深地拨动了我的心弦。
• This is a chord of a circle.这是个圆的弦。

5 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

6 boom   

n.隆隆声；vt.发隆隆声

参考例句：

• The country is having a great boom in industry.这个国家的工业正蓬勃发展。
• Boom!Boom!Boom!A series of explosions shook the valley.轰！轰！轰！一连串爆破声震撼山谷。

7 defined   

adj 定义的; 清晰的

参考例句：

• These categories are not well defined. 这些类别划分得不太明确。
• The powers of a judge are defined by law. 法官的权限是由法律规定的。