EXPRESS

 written by 10219 Lee Hyunseo As the Internet develops, digital trade becomes more active. Digital trade is the transaction of goods and services through the Internet. It handles not only digital products like drama series but also physical goods like clothes. So, ordering jeans online and receiving them at home is also a digital trade. Although digital trade has the advantage of getting the products you want with just a few clicks from home, it has many problems. These problems include information leakage and the complexity of work in cross-border data flows. Cross-border data flows are the movement of data across countries. If you create an account on a new website where the corporation is headquartered in another country and use it, the result is a cross-border data flow. As corporations collect data, they analyze consumer’s preferences. So they can provide better-customized services to consumers. However, not every corporation uses data in the right way. Some choose to sell pri...

  written by 10226 Jin Young In November 2023, Starbucks and Stanley released their holiday collaboration line, leading to a frenzy of customers’ physical conflicts and violent harassment between customers. The Stanley Quencher literally skyrocketed from a common tumbler to the most coveted birthday gift. Then what caused Stanley’s rapid rise in popularity? The answer lies in the term that has become more prevalent and intricate in contemporary society: influencer marketing. The Stanley Quencher is one of the current examples of influencer-driven marketing. Power of Influencer Marketing According to a Sprout Social survey in 2023, more than 80% of marketers agree that influencers are essential to their overall social media strategy. Influencer Marketing Hub revealed that 93% of influencers are willing to contract partnerships with brands that have potential values. 63% of consumers are likely to buy products from an influencer they follow and trust. This cyclical relationship has l...

written by 20106 Kim Choeun The Olympics have the whole world’s attention at once. During the Olympics, almost everyone in the world pays attention to Olympics broadcasts. From the magnificent opening ceremony that shows the features of the host country to each sports match that makes you competitive and nervous, to catch people’s attention internationally The host country has many tasks to solve before, during and especially after the Olympics. As the host city of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Paris built stadiums and sports facilities because the Olympics is a massive undertaking that requires years of planning, coordination and investment. The French government also renovated stadiums, arenas and other sports facilities so that they could meet Olympic standards. The French government decided to place stadiums and sports facilities all over the city, especially at infamous landmarks. The beach volleyball matches were held in front of the Eiffel Tower. The fencing stadium was located at t...

written by 20112 Woo Seyeon Around the world, there are some regions being called by different names. When different political bodies disagree on the official name of a region, naming disputes can happen. Dokdo Dokdo is the easternmost island of the Republic of Korea, belonging to Ulleung-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, under international law. It has been a Korean territory since Isabu subjugated the island from Usanguk in 512 during the Silla Dynasty. The earliest record of the name “Seokdo,” which means stone island, was in the 1906 report by the governor of Uldo in the Daehan Empire. However, Japan argues that the name of the island is Takeshima, meaning bamboo island. They insist that Dokdo was under their control and was incorporated into Okinoshima, Shimane Prefecture in 1905. Internationally, the name Liancourt Rocks is also used as a neutral term. The name comes after the French whaling ship that discovered Dokdo in 1849. However, this term is criticized because the name denies Korea’s...

  written by 20309 Kim Hayun The economic status of parents significantly influences the children’s learning outcomes. The root of educational inequality is dependent on private education. South Korean households pay about 42% of their income on private education for their children, compared with the 22% average among other OECD countries. Nearly 68% of students attend hagwons, private educational institutes. The opportunity to attend hagwon is influenced by household income because individuals need to pay hagwon to attend. Hagwon tuition could be burdensome for low-income households. According to Statistics Korea, parents who have a low 20% income spend 5,925 won monthly in education costs. In contrast, the parents who have the top 20% income spend 242,600 won, which is about 27 times higher than the low 20%. The problem is that attending hagwons significantly impacts student achievement. The students who receive more private education have an advantage in competitive exams, whi...

written by 10527 Hong Yena The Ministry of Education announced that starting in 2027, 10% of students will get grade 1. This will be 6% more than now. Also, they announced that grades 6 to 9 will no longer exist. The current college exam system’s features are grades 1 to 9. Only 4% of the high-ranking students get grade 1, which is a necessity for the ideal college. Also, students can choose the subject of the test which they are going to take. There are problems with the current system. First, getting grade 1 is too hard; therefore, many students retake the test for college. According to the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, “2,182 more entrance exam repeaters will take the September mock test than last year.” Those who retake the tests get better grades, and more students will retake them. This is becoming a vicious circle in college admission. The tests are too hard due to the numerous questions, and their content difficulty is gradually increasing. English tests are be...

written by 10508 Kim Jinhee At the 2024 Paris Olympics, while the entire world was watching, South Korea was wrongly introduced as North Korea. This remarkable mistake rapidly spread into an international incident, eliciting outrage among South Koreans. During the opening ceremony, as the South Korean athletes made their debut, both the French and English announcers incorrectly introduced them as the “People’s Democratic Republic of Korea,” which is the official name of North Korea, instead of the Republic of Korea. The South Korean media promptly reported this incident. In response, the South Korean public expressed anger and disappointment on social media, emphasizing the importance of preserving the nation’s image on the international stage. Their common comment was, “It was a big mistake for organizers on the international stage, and it really damaged Korea’s reputation.” The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach apologized to South Korean President Yoon Sukye...

  written by 20715 Yoon Dawon North Korea has sent trash balloons, each one almost 8 meters in length and weighing 10 kilograms, from May 28 to now nearly 15 times. There were at least 1,100 balloons that they tried to drop, among them, about 400 balloons were dropped in South Korea. The trash balloons landed near terminals and the runways of Incheon International Airport. The Incheon International Airport control tower was worried that the planes could suck the trash balloons in their engines. So, Incheon Airport decided to halt take-offs and landings located near the trash balloons. The trash balloons even threatened citizens. Not only citizens living near the North Korean border but citizens as far away as southern Gyeonggi-do also suffered damages. On June 2, in Ansan, a car that was parked in a parking spot was broken by the trash balloons. On the same day, in Anyang, citizens had trouble walking because dropped trash balloons covered the streets, making people scared. Some ...

written by 10311 Oh Seungri On August 22, during the 8th period, Ting Ting Tang Tang (TTTT) held its first badminton tournament. Members have been practicing since the first semester, and now it was time to show off their skills. 13 of the 21 members participated in the tournament. TTTT is one of the school’s free, non-official school sports clubs. During the first semester, the members would meet on Wednesdays. Every Tuesday, starting in the second semester, members set up four nets in the gym and started playing badminton freely. The club consists of first-grade students, but they are not the only people who play badminton there. Anyone interested in sports can join the class despite not being an official member, including second-grade students and even some teachers. Fisrt-grade Chinese major Kim Minkyul, the leader of TTTT explained why he formed the club. Kim stated, “It’s mandatory to join at least two clubs in SAWL. I joined one academic club and one hobby club. Since I liked sp...

written by 10420 Lee Junmyeong On July 16, the 19th-generation Sawlians held SAWL Together in the gym. This event happened during the 8th-period self-study and 1st-period self-study that night with different activities. The first activity was the Narak Quiz Show, which featured teachers from different subjects. This quiz show creates an environment where guests have no choice but to answer sensitive questions. The show asked each teacher sensitive but humorous questions such as, “Choose your teacher to name the most awkward person in the school office!” This was a way for students to see real actions and hear authentic responses from their teachers. 19th Chinese Major Kim Dana The PRESS: Please describe your experience of participating in the SAWL Together event. Kim Dana: T here were many class unity events in the first semester, but we just enjoyed activities in each major so I think SAWL Together was very meaningful for the whole 19th class to get together and do activities and unit...

 written by 20204 Kim Eunhwan, 20306 Kim Yena & 20326 Hwang Yerin The 18th generation of French majors went on a trip from May 3 to 10. During this international exchange, buying and eating food were the easy ways for French majors to get to know more about French culture. In Paris After Sawlians arrived at Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport, they had their first meal in France, which consisted of escargot and steak. Escargot means “snail” in French. French major Park Somin said, “It tastes like rose pasta.” After touring the Orangerie Museum, students visited Jardin des Tuileries for a freestyle lunch. Students could roam around on their own and buy what they wanted for lunch. In the afternoon, students visited the Palace of Versailles and the Musée d’Orsay. Both of them are some of the most famous places in France. For dinner, students had bossam and met with French students. In Tours Sawlians wandered the streets of Tours and ate freely. Students were able to spea...

 written by 20204 Kim Eunhwan, 20306 Kim Yena & 20326 Hwang Yerin The 18th generation of Chinese majors went on a trip from May 5 to 11. Two classes of Chinese major students moved together, so they could enjoy their trip with another class. They went to Beijing and Shanghai for seven days. In Beijing On their first day in China, they went to watch the cultural performance, House of Golden Masks. On the second day, they went to Beijing Foreign Language University. At the university, university students guided their campus tour. They also asked some questions to the university students. After the campus tour, they toured the Great Wall by cable car. With that, they could see the Great Wall directly with their eyes. The next day, they went to Beijing Foreign Language High School (BFLHS), which is affiliated with Beijing Foreign Language University. In the morning, they had a class exchange with them. They experienced the class of another foreign language high school. In the after...

written by 20204 Kim Eunhwan, 20306 Kim Yena & 20326 Hwang Yerin The Japanese majors went on their trip from May 6 to 11. They arrived at Narita Airport and moved to Tokyo. They not only slept in hotels, but they also had a homestay. They also went to Shichirigahama High School in Japan and had a joyful time with their buddy. In Tokyo Japanese majors went to Senso-ji of Asakusa, which is the oldest temple in Tokyo. After going to Nakamise Street, Japan’s oldest shopping street, they went to Skytree. Its height is higher than 600 meters. On the second day, they toured University of Tokyo. After touring the university, they enjoyed shopping. They went to Odaiba to see the rainbow bridge and marine park. Their third day was only for Disneyland. At Disneyland, they enjoyed many things all day. They went on rides, made Japanese friends and performed some special missions. They had many interactions with Japanese people. In Hakone On the fourth day, the students went to Hakone by bus. I...

written by 20204 Kim Eunhwan, 20306 Kim Yena & 20326 Hwang Yerin  The 18th generation of Sawlians went on a trip in May. Aside from the Russian majors, they were sent to a country where their major language was spoken to experience the culture and use the language they had learned. The Russia-Ukraine war has caused the Russian majors to travel to the U.S. again this year for their study abroad experience. The 18th generation of English majors and Russian majors went on a trip from May 3 to 10 with different itineraries. In Boston Both majors had the opportunity to take a local tour of the Boston Freedom Trail and learn about historical sites in Boston. Sawlians were able to walk around and learn about the history leading up to the American Revolution. Afterward, students visited Quincy Market and had some free time. A day later, Sawlians went to Harvard University to listen to a lecture from a Korean student attending Harvard Law School. Then, they had a campus tour with Harvar...

written by 10115 Oh Cherry The cafeteria renovations are finally over. Sawlians are showing a mixed reaction of feelings about the cafeteria and the changes it brings. During the first semester, Suwon Academy of World Languages (SAWL) relied on outside catering companies for the meals. However, there were several incidents with the food. Sometimes, the food was cold. Also, there were times when there wasn’t enough food for all the students to eat. Some students found bugs and particles in the food. Due to these problems, SAWL went through three catering companies providing school meals. Despite these efforts, these problems did not just simply vanish into thin air. Changes in Food Quality The food is better now. Before the cafeteria was open, the catering company had to prepare the food far before mealtime, resulting in cold food. However, because of the new cafeteria, food was kept warm until mealtime. For lunch and dinner, the school also offered freshly made meals at the school cafe...

written by 20204 Kim Eunhwan When we talk with our parents, we can often feel the generation gap. Not only with our parents, we can also feel it when talking with or listening to other adults. When we talk about animation, they don’t know much about what we watch, and we don’t know much what they saw too. Also, we can’t imagine how our parents and other adults lived with their neighbors friendly. Changed Generation The picture above shows the change in cell phones. We can see simply the difference between the generations. If we look more closely, we can see many differences: camera, storage space, speed of performance, etc. We can feel many differences directly by looking at the stack of cell phones. Culture of the Past Our parents’ generation lived with their neighbors closely. They believed in their neighbors, and sometimes, they depended on their neighbors to overcome some adversities. Sharing food during mealtime was common for them. They even knew almost every neighbor’s name. But...

 written by 20204 Kim Eunhwan & 20715 Yoon Dawon THE PRESS: What was your first impression of SAWL? Principal Park Jeongsook: At first, when I walked into the school, I felt that the buildings were generally traditional places. Walking through the halls, the students I met seemed very happy and bowed well. It made me think our school students are all so kind and civil. It was so good. THE PRESS: Well, we are so proud that we are those students, too. Do you have any hopes for Sawlians? Principal Park: Above all, I wish that our school students make the best effort they can for their futures. Also I want them to be those who are polite and care not only for themselves but also for other people. THE PRESS: We agree with those words. Did you have some personal or school-related plans made when you came to Suwon Academy of World Languages? Principal Park: First, I’ll tell you about my personal plans; digital technology is rapidly developing because of Industry 4.0. Unfortunately,...

written by 20104 Kim Soyeon, 20106 Kim Choeun, 20112 Woo Seyeon, 10210 Park Jiwoo, 10219 Lee Hyunseo & 10226 Jin Young 01. January:  Noto Peninsula Earthquake The first day of 2024 brought catastrophe to Japan. A magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck the isolated Noto peninsula in western Japan. It was the strongest earthquake since the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. 02. February:  Death of  Alexei Navalny On February 16, Alexei Navalny, who was the opposition leader in Russia, died suddenly in an Arctic Penal Colony. Post-election, President Putin uttered Navalny’s name for the first time, claiming he would have agreed to release him in a prisoner swap. 03. March:  Haitian Jailbreak On March 3, the Haitian government declared a 72-hour state of emergency. This was after two armed gangs stormed the prisons and released thousands of prisoners. The gangs were protesting the lack of elections after the appointment of the unelected acting PM Ariel Henry back in 2021. 04. April:...