Abstract
In order to confirm ecological validity of D$\ddot{o}$rnyei's second language motivational self, the present study investigated 495 South Korean secondary school students' L2 learning motivation and motivated behavior by using a questionnaire survey. The participants' ideal L2 self, ought-to L2 self, integrativeness, and instrumentality were examined and compared to identify which motivational factor had the most effect on their motivated L2 learning behavior. Among Korean secondary school students, the concept of integrativeness was replaced with the ideal L2 self as a more appropriate concept for understanding Korean secondary school students' L2 learning motivation. As for instrumentality, promotional aspects demonstrated a significant correlation with both the ideal and ought-to L2 selves, whereas preventional aspects showed a relatively high correlation with the ought-to L2 self. The ideal L2 self had the most impact on the motivated behavior, and the ideal L2 self and ought-to L2 self reflected the students' different motivational characteristics. It is suggested that D$\ddot{o}$rnyei's (2005, 2009) L2 motivational self system can be a better psychological model than Gardner's (1985) socio-educational model for understanding Korean secondary school students' L2 learning motivation.