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Lesson 7

The Well-Being Trend

It’s on the lips of every Korean these days: “Well-being”.
“Well-being” has become a trend, a fashion and a lifestyle.
“Well-being” is the philosophy of the wholesome life. True to
the oriental idea of a “holistic” life, it encompasses not just the
well-being of the body, but also of the mind. As Korea grows
more affluent, pleasure and leisure becomes more and more
affordable. So Koreans are finding more free time to feed the
needs of the mind, not as means to and end, but as an end
in itself. People read not to get jobs but to enrich the mind, do
taekwondo not to defend against a foe but to tone the muscles, take trips not for business
but for the sheer pleasure of enjoying the view on the cross-country train window. Koreans
are becoming pickier about the diet they take, counting calories and checking the nutritional
contents of foods they buy. Even the Ajuma has remade her image in the spirit of well being.
In stark contrast to her traditional caricature as chubby homemaker with curlers, she now
appears on morning TV, glamorous with her toned muscles and ultra hip leotards, show-
ing “Those women out there” how to get “that 10 minute workout for busy moms.” On the
business front, smart entrepreneurs see a golden opportunity to enhance their economic
well-being by selling “well-being” items, from “well-being travel packages” to “well-being’
utensils”. Though highly priced, these items sell. After all, who wouldn’t want a piece of
“wellbeing”. Many people are starting to condemn this practice, calling it “commercialization”
and their complaints are not groundless since many unscrupulous businessmen would label
any of their good with the “wellbeing” tag. Others see the well-being trend as another case
of Bourgeoisie excess, since the Well-Being Items seem only to be afforded by the rich.
Whatever the case maybe, if you aren’t in on this well-being trend, it’s either you can’t afford
leisure or you just don’t care about what matters most in life. Or you aren’t cool enough.

Comprehension

1. What is “well-being” according to the article?
2. What do smart entrepreneurs do about the “well-being” trend?

Questions

1. What is “well-being” for you?
2. How has it influence people around you?
3. Do you think the “well-being” trend will soon fade like other trends in the past?

Vocabulary & Expressions

wholesome: conducive to or characteristic of physical or moral well-being
encompass: to include comprehensively
pickier: excessively meticulous; fussy
leotards: a skintight, one-piece garment for the torso, having a high or low neck, long or short
sleeves, and a lower portion resembling either briefs or tights, worn by acrobats, dancers, etc.
unscrupulous: having no conscience or scruples; wicked
bourgeoisie: In Marxist theory, the social group opposed to the proletariat in the class struggle.

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