The Power of South Korea
I can still vividly remember, just before moving to Asia in 2015 and people asking me where I was going, and timidly responding South Korea.
They would all reply, “Oh that place where the leader shoots rockets”. I would have to politely respond by saying “No, that’s North Korea, I’m going to South Korea.”
Even though Hyundai’s and Kia’s are a common sight on Western streets, and Korean technology found in smart phones such as Samsung.
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South Korea remains somewhat of a mystery in most parts of the world, because directly to the North looms North Korea, a dark cloud which totally overshadows South Korea in the media for its nuclear weapons program and eccentric monarchical leader Kim Jong Un.
For a country so small, with no natural resources, and a terrain filled with mountains and no precious minerals.
How on earth was this modest country able to transform itself into a global player and dominate the world economy to find itself in 12th place on the global GDP ranking.
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South Korea has overcome the mammoth task of pulling itself out of abject poverty while navigating through a sea of chaos in its process of industrialisation.
Most people don’t know about Korea’s precarious history of overcoming total annihilation during the Korean war and rising from the ashes like a Phoenix into an Asian Dragon of power and influence.
South Korea’s geographical location puts it at the centre of perpetual danger, it is surrounded by historically aggressive nations such as China, Russia, Japan and North Korea. Its ability to walk along this political tightrope and still prevail is an admirable feat.
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The Geo-Political Climate of the Modern world is completely different from what it was a few decades ago. A nations power is not only determined by its military power or its ability to coerce other nations, through intimidation or bully tactics.
Modern power requires the subtle ability of excelling in key industries while at the same time projecting a favourable image which wins friends and tames enemies.
I have identified 3 key areas whereby I think Korea’s power comes from: Soft-Power, Technology and the Power of Jeong (정).
Soft Power:
In the 1980s, political scientist Joseph Nye Jr. coined the term soft power, defining it as a country’s ability to influence others without resorting to coercive pressure.
Korea has used film and music, to attract millions of people around the world into their unique Asian experience. Asia in the past has been inaccessible to Westerners due to its different cultural practices and difficult language. However Korea has changed that, and made the Asian experience more appealing to a wider audience.
Korea’s New age cinema and TV Dramas are a breath of fresh air to an industry saturated with Western ideals. Korea provides an alternative to what many critics feel is a decline in Hollywood storytelling.
Whether it’s a record breaking tv drama such as “Squid Game”, or the thought provoking critique on society by “Parasite”. Korean entertainment has transcended all boundaries of modern cinema.
K-Pop has perfected the American formula of polished production, catchy melodies and well-choreographed dance routines. These have spread all over the world, and have placed South Korea in a favourable position to influence and shape the world according to their world view.
This is an extremely valuable currency in Geo-Politics because it cannot be purchased, it has to be acquired through authentic cultural material.
K-pop is big business, it’s not in the same league as Samsung, but it’s a market which brings in an estimated $10 bn for South Korea's economy each year.
Technology:
Korea’s dominance in the global economy is mainly due to the rise of Chaebol’s (재벌), which are family-owned business conglomerates.
In 2021, the revenue of the largest ten chaebols, which include Samsung (삼성), Lotte (롯데), and LG (엘지), made up about 60% of the country’s GDP.
Korea achieved this economic miracle by creating a symbiosis ecosystem whereby the government would provide economic support to select companies in specific industries like cars and electronic goods, while the companies would work alongside the country’s economic plans.
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The strategy of concentrating all of the countries resources and brightest minds into a few key areas, has paid off tremendously as Korea stands at the centre of technological innovation. Samsung being the leading player of the Chaebols.
Despite the negative attention of the Chaebol’s due to corruption scandals, it’s undeniable that they are responsible for Korea’s rapid industrialisation.
It’s a double edged sword when it comes to Chaebol’s, while I was in Korea I often asked locals about their views regarding Chaebol’s. A large majority of people had negative opinions.
I think it’s because over the years these conglomerates have become too powerful, and have squeezed out any competition. This has destroyed many small businesses and startup companies, who are unable to compete with the sheer size and resources available to Chaebol’s.
Most Koreans feel they represent the dark side of Capitalism, which is greed, expansion and sheer ruthlessness.
Jeong (정)
If you ask anyone what makes South Korea stand out, It is the safety of the country and a powerful element which I think is unique in Korean society called “Jeong”. This can loosely be translated as, “affection” or “warm heartedness.”
I personally like to refer to it as the “invisible hug” This is something I was able to experience, during my 2 years living in Korea.” Jeong refers to feelings of fondness, caring, bonding and attachment that develop within interpersonal relationships. Jeong is like a cord linking people to each other, so this cord is like a metaphorical bond.
Whether it was the random salesman at the electronics store, who chased after me after realising that I paid too much for a camera and returned my change.
Or my Tennis club members, a group of wonderful people who refused to let me pay for anything to the point where I had to pretend that I was going to the toilet and settle the bill. They were fuming with anger after the waiter informed them that the Waegukin (외국인) paid for everything. I received nothing but love from these amazing human beings.
Mijeong, my dear friend, who was my language buddy, helped translate Korean documents I couldn’t understand. She took my Mother and Sister for tours around Korea while I was busy teaching during the day.
Or Mr Kwak, a guest house owner, who went out of his way to make my family comfortable during their trip to Korea. Driving them around and taking them to the best restaurants in the countryside.
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Not once did these people want to be remunerated. It was an act they were happy to do from the bottom of their heart. I would always ask myself why? The answer is Jeong, something uniquely present in Korean culture.
Before I get too sentimental, I did have my fair share of nasty encounters with grumpy people who didn’t like the idea of having foreigners in their country. But those encounters were a drop in the ocean compared to the constant love and generosity I received in South Korea.
Jeong is the social glue of the nation, South Korea scores highly on social trust. It has transparency, so any scandal or disaster will be uncovered and brought to light which is an important aspect in a democratic society. Jeong is the shining light, in a world lacking in compassion.
In Conclusion
In my opinion the power of South Korea lies in its people. They are dynamic, have strong work ethics and the ability to organise themselves in large groups through national unity and accomplish ambitious goals. They have written the most unlikely and amazing story of nation building of the last century.
However, the Modern Miracle has also brought a curse which has shattered the moral fibre of its society. Years of exponential growth through industrialisation have brought modern day ailments such as overwork, unrealistic expectations and high beauty standards.
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South Korea still has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, It’s facing a national crises from a downward spiral of low birthrates. This is nothing unique in East Asia; China and Japan are tackling these exact problems. But only time will tell how they will deal with this modern day crisis.
But if there is any nation I would bet my last dollar on finding a solution to the challenges ahead, its South Korea. It’s uncanny dynamism and forward thinking attitude towards the storms of uncertainty are built in its DNA, and I will be watching closely from the sidelines chanting 화이팅!
