A foreigner's view on korea

It is almost impossible to talk of Asia and not to mention South Korea at least once in that same discussion. Indeed, for over the past decades now, Korea has proven to be an economic powerhouse in East Asia. Their products are heralded as among the best in the world, even proving superior to their American and European counterparts. Just a mere mention of the brand names Samsung, Kia, Hanjin, Hyundai, LG, iRiver, Cowon, and the first thing that would come to ones mind are high technology gadgets, the leader in its field, and all the superlatives one could actually use to describe a particular brand or product. Even in the world of sports, Korea has produced world-class athletes such as KJ Choi, Se Ri Pak, Park Tae Hwan, Park Ji Sung, just to name a few.

Hard to believe, that 56 years ago, this country was ravaged by war. A war which is more commonly referred to as 6:25 or the Forgotten War, a major conflict of the 20th century that gets far less attention than World War II, which came before it, and the Vietnam War, which came after it. From the meager resources that they had left, they devised and implemented a success formula that caused a major turnaround, politically, socially, and economically. True to form, Korea is now one of the largest economies in the world. Much has been reported and written concerning this blueprint for development and growth, particularly in the realm of politics and economy. I, however, feel that this country’s transformation owes a lot to the efforts and attitude of the Korean individual. Citizens, from all walks of life, from the poorest and most deprived up to those holding sway to power have come together to accomplish a common vision of peace and prosperity. They have done this, knowing that more than a few sacrifices would have to be made. Such a display of selflessness, duty and singleness of purpose is what strikes me about Korea.