4/18 Talk about the steel industry of Korea.

One of the major locomotives of the Korean economy is the steel industry.
* locomotive: 기관차,, 동력을 제공해서 기차를 끌고 가는
ex> Can you tell me what sectors are locomotives of the economy in your country?

It can be considered the backbone of the booming shipbuilding and automobile industries.
* backbone: spine, basic, 척추, 근간
ex> My old sister is the backbone of the family and brings us all together.

To meet the needs of these other industries, the government built the POSCO steel mill in the 1970s.
* steel mill: 제철소

There are currently two steel mills belonging to the company, located in Pohang and Gwangyang.

The steel giant played a role in the gradual growth of Korea's steel industry.
* steel giant: 거대 철강 기업
* play a role in: ~에 있어서 역할을 하다.
ex> The steel giant is responsible for over 40% of the country's steel production.

Korea was ranked sixth in the global steel industry as of 2009.
ex> My country is ranked the lowest in the world when it comes to violent crime.

Zoning in on the big players of the industry, as of 2010, POSCO was the fourth largest steel producer in the world.
* zone in on: ~로 범위를 좁혀가다.
* as of: (특정 시점) 기준으로

@ I want to stay ahead of the game. 나는 앞서가고 싶어.

1. The automobile industry has been the locomotive of the Korean economy.
2. The stock market has been booming again recently.
3. My father played a role in my decision to study abroad.
4. He was twice ranked number one in the world.