[caption id="attachment_275179" align="aligncenter" width="324" caption="pic source: google"][/caption] Before leaving Indonesia to study in Korea, one of my friends invited me to watch badminton match which is very famous in my country, Indonesia Open 2013. I was shocked, as far as I know my friend is not too fond of sports. He’s a true fan of K-Pop. She’s only a fan of some music concerts. Then why all of a sudden did she take me to a sports event? After I get a ticket from her, I finally figured out why. LEE YONG DAE! Yes, my friend really wanted to see Lee Youngdae, a badminton player who is very famous for his great skills and good-looks! The stadium was naturally filled with girl-fans. Nearly half of them were carrying posters of Lee, expressing their love and support. I remember how excited when k-pop stars held a concert in Indonesia. And this sports stadium was being exactly the same except for the part that there’s neither singing nor dancing. And I realized that this is a new phenomenon finally, the k-sport star! Lee Yongdae was born on 11 September 1988. He first won at Asian Games as the men’s team and bronze as the men’s doubles at the 2006 Doha Asian Games. Then he won gold in mixed double at the 2008 Beijing Olympics through which he gained such a fame. At the 2012 London Olympics, he won a bronze medal as the men’s doubles. Badminton is the second most popular sport in Indonesia after football. I once did a small survey with teens and young adults of their favorite badminton athletes. Taufik Hidayat and Simon Santoso of Indonesia were listed of course but also, the name of a Korean athlete came out as well. Almost all of them mentioned the name, Lee Youngdae as their favorite athletes. I guess it’s because Lee had participated many of world championships and marked the great results. [caption id="attachment_275180" align="aligncenter" width="192" caption="pic source: google"]
Lee Si-Young is an actress – with dramas such as Boys Over Flowers, Poseidon, Wild Romance, and Playful Kiss which has made her famous. But this talented lady made her impressive debut as a boxer which was all of sudden for her fans. Despite of the age she had started boxing in her late 20s, she has established herself in the sport by winning a number of amateur titles in the 48-kg class, only in just three years. Lee Siyoung is also a goodwill ambassador of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. 2. Kim Yuna
The world best figure skater, Kim Yuna is definitely the world star from Korea. She won the 2010 Olympic champion in ladies’ singles, the 2009 & 2013 World champion, the 2009 Four Continents champion, a three-time Grand Prix Final champion, and a five-time South Korean national champion. She has been a goodwill ambassador for many of great events and she once said at her acceptance speech, “I am glad for this opportunity to bring more attention to the sport of figure skating so that more girls can become interested and inspired to participate”. 3. Park Tae Hwon
Park Taehwan was born in September 27, 1989. Since swimming has not been a league for Koreans or Asians, his outstanding achievement like winning gold in the 400 meter freestyle and a silver in the 200 meter freestyle events at the 2008 Summer Olympics was a hit for Koreans and all over the world as well. He is the first Asian swimmer to claim a gold medal in men’s 400 m freestyle, and the first Korean to win an Olympic medal in swimming. Since the Asian Games Asian Games 2006 to 2010 he has collected quite a lot of medals. 4. Ki Sung Yong
Ki Sungyong born in Gwangju, January 24, 1989 is a football player, currently a midfield for club Sunderland, on loan from Swansea City and also the national player of Korea.
5. Son Yeon Jae
Recently appointed as a goodwill ambassador of 2014 Incheon Asian Games, Son Yeon-jae (born May 28, 1994) is a South Korean rhythmic gymnast. She won bronze at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. She rose as a star after ever winning a medal at the international stage, as a Korean gymnast.
6. Kim Ji Yeon
Kim Jiyeon (born 12 March 1988 in Busan) is a South Korean sabrefencer. She is the 2012 Olympic Champion in the Women’s Fencing Individual Sabre. Kim is the first South Korean woman to win an Olympic gold medal in fencing and the second South Korean female Fencer to win any medals at Olympics after Nam Hyun-Hee, who won silver in 2008.
7. Koo Ja Cheol
Koo Ja-Cheol is a football player from South Korea who played as a midfielder in the Fudball-Bundesligateam FC Augsburg on loan from VfL Wolfsburg and the national football team of South Korea. Koo Ja Cheol was the captain of the South Korean national team who appeared extraordinary at the 2012 London Olympics. Many of his fans are looking forward to seeing his great move at the 2014 World Cup.
This ‘K-sport star rising’ can be said as a new phenomenon after the stream of Korean pop, which is said ‘Hallyu’. Korea is not only spreading the spirit of art and culture through k-pop, but also the spirit of sports with those global athletes and also with hosting international events in Korea.
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