In 1953, after the signing of the ceasefire that has so far prevented the further outbreak of the Korean Civil war, South Korea (also known as the Republic of Korea or ROK) was one of the world's ten poorest countries. Fifty years later, the ROK is a member of the rich countries' club the OECD (Organisation of Economic co-operation and Development) and has become a significant industrial power in the world. It has also broken into the world's top ten sporting nations, as the recent Olympics medal count demonstrated and of course hosted one of the most successful ever Olympic Games festivals in 1988. How has the ROK managed this staggering transition?
For many hundreds of years, Korea was a completely enclosed kingdom, permitting neither visitors nor emigrants and was known as the Hermit Kingdom. This was its response to having been invaded dozens of times by Chinese, Manchurian and Japanese invaders - Korea itself has never attempted to invade another country. In 1910, this period of self-sufficiency, which had led to a situation of remarkable ethnic and cultural homogeneity, was ended by the conquest and occupation of the peninsula by imperial Japanese forces. The subsequent treatment of the Korean people was very deplorable and thorough, including such actions as building government buildings in front of Korean palaces and temples to block their flow of spiritual energy according to feng shui principles, in addition to regular imprisonments, beatings and other forms of oppression.
When the ceasefire was signed, it was far from clear that the southern side would be able to resist the north. North Korea was slightly stronger at the time economically and industrially and had the support of communist allies. The south was supported by the USA and the west but far away from friends and seemingly isolated - Japan could scarcely be considered a friend then and indeed is still regarded with considerable mistrust. Consequently, leaders of the newly-established ROK realised they would have to develop the country and its defence and industrial capability as rapidly as possible and on the basis that they might have to protect themselves alone. The principles on which this rapid industrialization took place were:
- ensuring that all South Koreans understood the dangers they faced and were determined to work as hard as possible (and make such sacrifices as might be required) to ensure survival;
- enlisting business and government institutions to work together. Business corporations such as Hyundae, Samsung and Lucky Goldstar (now LG) were provided with significant advantages and support as long as their business plans followed various government priorities, particularly with respect to chemical and heavy industries and in promoting exports;
For many hundreds of years, Korea was a completely enclosed kingdom, permitting neither visitors nor emigrants and was known as the Hermit Kingdom. This was its response to having been invaded dozens of times by Chinese, Manchurian and Japanese invaders - Korea itself has never attempted to invade another country. In 1910, this period of self-sufficiency, which had led to a situation of remarkable ethnic and cultural homogeneity, was ended by the conquest and occupation of the peninsula by imperial Japanese forces. The subsequent treatment of the Korean people was very deplorable and thorough, including such actions as building government buildings in front of Korean palaces and temples to block their flow of spiritual energy according to feng shui principles, in addition to regular imprisonments, beatings and other forms of oppression.
When the ceasefire was signed, it was far from clear that the southern side would be able to resist the north. North Korea was slightly stronger at the time economically and industrially and had the support of communist allies. The south was supported by the USA and the west but far away from friends and seemingly isolated - Japan could scarcely be considered a friend then and indeed is still regarded with considerable mistrust. Consequently, leaders of the newly-established ROK realised they would have to develop the country and its defence and industrial capability as rapidly as possible and on the basis that they might have to protect themselves alone. The principles on which this rapid industrialization took place were:
- ensuring that all South Koreans understood the dangers they faced and were determined to work as hard as possible (and make such sacrifices as might be required) to ensure survival;
- enlisting business and government institutions to work together. Business corporations such as Hyundae, Samsung and Lucky Goldstar (now LG) were provided with significant advantages and support as long as their business plans followed various government priorities, particularly with respect to chemical and heavy industries and in promoting exports;
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