Ask teenagers around the world how they love to spend their free time,and chances are they'll say video games. But no country can compare to South Korea for love of video game!
You walk around the COEX mall in Seoul on friday evening,and you look around. Teenagers are hanging out,people are shopping,families are eating in food courts,couples are out on dates...it is just like any other mall. and then you hear screams that are coming from the end of a corridor in the huge building. You walk in,and what do you see?Hundreds of young people,mostly women and girls,are waving sings and singing slogans. They are fans of some of the nation's most famous sports stars,such as Lim-Yo-Hwan, Choi Yeon-Sung,and Suh-Ji-Houn. Their sport is something you don't normally find in the West. They are professional video gamers. People admire them for their skill in the science-fiction strategy game StarCraft. Next to these players is a panel of commentators and dozens of reporters. The players are not competing today. They are here for selection for a coming tournament.