i sigh at the ignorance of some people, ie the chinese guy below me. yes, every developing country has the potential to be an advanced country, like you said. However it is incredibly difficult for a country starting from the very bottom of the economic food chain, to pick itself up, brush itself off, and develop its economy into one that is promising and stable. You forget that Korea has gone through colonisation and persecution by Japan, civil war that grew into an international conflict, splitting of an already small country by democracy and communism, political issues involving dictatorship and student demonstrations in which many young people lost their lives, and an unstable and perhaps even corrupt government with former presidents charged with embezzlement and fraud. even now south korea faces threats from their northern counterpart, but the most important thing is, they have gone through so many disastrous events but they didn't allow such events to hinder their development and growth. 50 years ago, their economy was one of the shakiest in Asia, but their intelligence, education, diligence, and tenacity got them this far, with a big, competitive economy that is surprisingly stable, despite the fact that it didn't take that long to build. many countries still struggle with paying their IMF debts, yet South Korea paid theirs in full in just about a year. Now, they have some of the biggest and budding businesses in the world, like Samsung, LG, Hyundai, etc. Such an achievement is very rare, and haven't been observed anywhere else. Even Obama and other international leaders have praised the education system in South Korea. Sure, South Korea has problems in its society, but which country, developing or advanced, doesn't? European nations are falling economically, US is over their head in debt, and even China, with their fast-growing economy, have societal problems like the huge divide in wealth across the population that is leading to a growing number of Chinese people living in extreme states of poverty. It's unfortunate that the Koreas is still divided, but that is not a reflection of their potential. Actually, the fact that South Korea succeeded despite disadvantages in their small population or sometimes unstable political state make them even more admirable. I mean, how can such a tiny country have achieved so much is such little time, when countries with more people, more money, more resources, and stabler political states still struggle to do the same? I know a lot have changed since 50 years ago, but you have to admit, it's pretty darn amazing. I'm not Korean, and I'm still blown away by what this small country has achieved and continues to achieve.
Thank you Lila! You literally took the words right out of my mouth! This minuscule little moronic jealous China man is riding backwards on his tricycle munching on his dim sum and won ton!
Let's not forget that China is a work in progress. They could continue rising like they have or blow up at some point and regress. What separates Korea and Japan from China is that both of the countries developed into civil societies where the rights of people are respected whereas in China if you don't toe the CCP line you are not regarded as valid. What has yet to be written is how things will play out with the CCP monopolizing power and conitnued economic development. They think they can get away with that but all I see is increased opportunities for nespotism and so forth. I have a feeling that they will hit a wall at some point.
Korea will be the next trillion dollar exporting nation, not Japan. Sudden devaluation of the Yen will only make Korean companies become more competitive and profitable.
If South and North Korea unify. Unified Korea economy will expand! And they will be 80,000,000 in a unified Korea! It's a miracle if North and South Korea unified.
I suggest people read Victor Cha's new book The Impossible State. It is about north korea.
just amazing ppl
i sigh at the ignorance of some people, ie the chinese guy below me. yes, every developing country has the potential to be an advanced country, like you said. However it is incredibly difficult for a country starting from the very bottom of the economic food chain, to pick itself up, brush itself off, and develop its economy into one that is promising and stable. You forget that Korea has gone through colonisation and persecution by Japan, civil war that grew into an international conflict, splitting of an already small country by democracy and communism, political issues involving dictatorship and student demonstrations in which many young people lost their lives, and an unstable and perhaps even corrupt government with former presidents charged with embezzlement and fraud. even now south korea faces threats from their northern counterpart, but the most important thing is, they have gone through so many disastrous events but they didn't allow such events to hinder their development and growth. 50 years ago, their economy was one of the shakiest in Asia, but their intelligence, education, diligence, and tenacity got them this far, with a big, competitive economy that is surprisingly stable, despite the fact that it didn't take that long to build. many countries still struggle with paying their IMF debts, yet South Korea paid theirs in full in just about a year. Now, they have some of the biggest and budding businesses in the world, like Samsung, LG, Hyundai, etc. Such an achievement is very rare, and haven't been observed anywhere else. Even Obama and other international leaders have praised the education system in South Korea. Sure, South Korea has problems in its society, but which country, developing or advanced, doesn't? European nations are falling economically, US is over their head in debt, and even China, with their fast-growing economy, have societal problems like the huge divide in wealth across the population that is leading to a growing number of Chinese people living in extreme states of poverty. It's unfortunate that the Koreas is still divided, but that is not a reflection of their potential. Actually, the fact that South Korea succeeded despite disadvantages in their small population or sometimes unstable political state make them even more admirable. I mean, how can such a tiny country have achieved so much is such little time, when countries with more people, more money, more resources, and stabler political states still struggle to do the same? I know a lot have changed since 50 years ago, but you have to admit, it's pretty darn amazing. I'm not Korean, and I'm still blown away by what this small country has achieved and continues to achieve.
Thank you Lila! You literally took the words right out of my mouth! This minuscule little moronic jealous China man is riding backwards on his tricycle munching on his dim sum and won ton!
well said !
Let's not forget that China is a work in progress. They could continue rising like they have or blow up at some point and regress. What separates Korea and Japan from China is that both of the countries developed into civil societies where the rights of people are respected whereas in China if you don't toe the CCP line you are not regarded as valid. What has yet to be written is how things will play out with the CCP monopolizing power and conitnued economic development. They think they can get away with that but all I see is increased opportunities for nespotism and so forth. I have a feeling that they will hit a wall at some point.
Korea will be the next trillion dollar exporting nation, not Japan. Sudden devaluation of the Yen will only make Korean companies become more competitive and profitable.
If South and North Korea unify. Unified Korea economy will expand! And they will be 80,000,000 in a unified Korea! It's a miracle if North and South Korea unified.
Agree! I think about that all of the time. It makes me want to cry. I hope it happens.
ᄃ최윤석
That would actually be pretty bad for South Korea.
A country half the size of California with only 48 million people is the 10 largest economy in the world? Amazing people
Are you Korean?