Harmful Chemicals Found in Popular Korean Squishy Toys
Listen to the story
Squishy toys are very popular in South Korea. People call them "waekpoo balls" and "marlangi". Adults and children use them to feel less stressed. You press or squeeze the soft toy in your hand.
Now there is a problem. Tests found harmful substances in some of these toys. The toys did not pass the country's safety standard for toys. Some toys had six times more of the bad substance than the safe limit.
Some "marlangi" toys are put in a microwave before use. This may make the problem worse. People feel worried about this news.
Even Japanese tourists in South Korea talked about it. One tourist said, "It's a little scary." Many tourists like to buy these toys as gifts.
Officials are asking people to check for a KC mark on the toy before buying it. This mark shows the toy is safe. If a toy does not have this mark, people should be careful.
Vocabulary15 words
- squishy toy
- a soft toy you press with your hand
- waekpoo ball
- a type of soft squeeze toy from Korea
- marlangi
- another type of soft squeeze toy from Korea
- harmful substance
- a chemical that can hurt your body
- safety standard
- a rule that says a product is safe
- microwave
- a machine that heats food quickly
- KC mark
- a symbol showing a product passed safety tests in Korea
- tourist
- a person who visits another country for fun
- stressed
- feeling worried or tense
- limit
- the highest amount allowed
- official
- a person who works for the government
- product
- a thing made to sell
- test
- checking something to learn about it
- gift
- something you give to another person
- warn
- to tell people about danger
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Types of squishy toys 2. Harmful substances 3. The KC mark
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Squishy toys are very popular in South Korea. People call them "waekpoo balls" and "_____".
Adults and children use them to feel less _____.
Tests found _____ substances in some of these toys.
The toys did not pass the country's safety _____ for toys.
Some toys had six times more of the bad substance than the safe _____.
Some "marlangi" toys are put in a _____ before use.
Even Japanese _____ in South Korea talked about it.
One tourist said, "It's a little _____."
Officials are asking people to check for a _____ mark on the toy.
This mark shows the toy is _____.
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