S3 B1-B2 K-EVERYTHING: KOREA'S POP CULTURE TAKEOVER

to aspire to global status - to try to become famous/influential worldwide

on the cusp of sth - at the point when sth is about to change to sth else

export appeal - how attractive products are to foreign buyers

it is down to sth - it is caused by sth specific

government - the group of people that controls a country

to come to a crashing halt - to stop suddenly and completely

in debt - owing money to others

to export pop culture - to send music/TV/fashion to other countries

all-encompassing - including everything or everyone

soft-industry - businesses like entertainment and culture (not factories) that increase the country’s soft power (cultural influence)

to step in - to get involved to help or control

to enhance the appeal - to make sth more attractive

drawn to Korean cosmetics - attracted to Korean beauty products

endorsed by K-pop stars - supported/promoted by k-pop idols

12-step skin-care regimens - long, detailed skin care routines

adorable packaging - cute product containers

to turn Korea into a desirable brand - make Korea seem attractive worldwide

to wane - to become weaker or less popular

the halo effect of Korean pop culture - the fact that K-pop makes other Korean things seem good

Korean ventures - Korean business projects

to pay off - to bring successful results (especially after hard work)

innovation - new ideas or methods
depicted as emotionally intelligent - shown as being good at understanding feelings

shaped by female screenwriters - created mainly by women writers

to challenge toxic masculinity - go against harmful male stereotypes

to be into K-dramas - to be interested in Korean TV shows

to set/have high standards - to create very difficult expectations

emotionally available - able to talk about/share feelings

deeply devoted - extremely loyal and caring

to stem from sth - to come from a particular cause

to sell a fantasy - to offer an ideal (but unrealistic) dream

to feature sth/sb - to include or show sth/sb

a slew of desirable traits -a lot of attractive qualities

to possess a quality - to have a particular trait

handsome - good-looking (for men)

swoon-worthy male leads - charming male protagonists that make the audience adore them

refreshing - pleasantly new and different

distant hyper-masculine male leads - cold overly "macho" main characters

to reflect an aspirational version of romance - to show an ideal love story

to cherish one’s partners - to deeply value one’s boyfriend/girlfriend

removed from reality - not like real life

to provide a much-needed emotional escape - to offer a comforting fantasy

to lift sb’s mood - to make sb feel happier

to miss out on sth - fail to experience sth good

portrayed in K-dramas - shown in Korean TV series

to set a positive precedent - create a good example to follow

to prevail - to succeed or become common
K-pop stan - an extremely enthusiastic and devoted K-pop fan

parasocial relationship - one-sided emotional connection with a celebrity

to be blind to the issue - to ignore or not see a problem

prevalent in the industry - very common in this business field

delusional - believing things that aren't true or realistic

sane person - sb who thinks and behaves normally

to owe it to sb - to have a responsibility to sb

limited edition photo card - special, rare picture of a celebrity (for collectors)

cultural appropriation - the act using elements of another culture inappropriately or even offensively

global phenomenon - sth known and popular worldwide

obsessed with fair skin - extremely focused on having light skin

(under) scrutiny - close examination and criticism

to get into K-pop - to become interested in Korean pop music

baddie (inf) - sb with a cool, attractive, confident style

to go to great/tremendous lengths to do sth - to try very hard to do sth

to meet the idol standard - to try to look/act like K-pop stars

prevalent part of the industry - common aspect of this business

causes for concern - things that worry people

double eyelid - eyelid crease that some Asians get surgery to have

there is no ethical consumption under capitalism - in a capitalistic society buying and consuming media is always harmful in some way

dedicated fan - very loyal supporter
buzzword - a popular word or phrase that people use a lot

glass skin - extremely clear, smooth, shiny skin

sheet mask - a thin face-shaped cloth with skincare liquid

to spark a global beauty revolution - to start big worldwide changes in the beauty industry

to ride on the back of Korean wave - to benefit from the popularity of Korean culture

to overtake US - to become more popular/successful than America

glowing skin - healthy, bright-looking skin

moral integrity - strong principles of honesty and good behavior

to form the backbone of sth - to be the most important supporting part

to maintain healthy skin - to keep skin in good condition

flawless complexion - perfect skin

to craft a new narrative around skincare - to create a new approach to skincare

distinctly Korean - clearly coming from Korean culture

radiant - shining with health/happiness

tied to an aspirational lifestyle - connected to a desirable way of living

to master the art of sth - to become extremely skilled at sth

transparency - honest business practices

to set sb apart in the market - to make sb better than competitors

highly competitive - having many companies trying to succeed

indulgence - allowing yourself special treats

to cleanse your skin - to clean your face properly

to cater to sb - to provide what particular people want

instrumental in sth - very important in making sth happen

calculated - carefully planned

to reinforce unattainable standards - to support impossible beauty goals

empowering - making people feel stronger/more confident