The New Korea
An Inside Look at South Korea's Economic Rise
Published on 1. April 2010
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-8144-1489-7 (ISBN)
Description
In 1953, South Korea was rated by the U.N. as the poorest country in the world. Five decades later, it is the fifteenth largest economy. Now, South Korea's decisions on how to manage its society and its role as a modern democracy while also establishing its policy regarding reunification with North Korea will determine where the country will go in the next fifty years. "The New Korea" examines the political, economic, industrial, and societal aspects of Korea today. Will it continue to enjoy an economic boom through new industries while competing against low-wage countries like China and India? Will it return to its role as a stomping ground for other powers? And what should Westerners pay attention to in terms of investment and business opportunities? As South Korea enters the most critical phase of its journey, it is crucial that we understand the factors involving its decisions and evolution. "The New Korea" is a fascinating account of what is and may become the state of this important region.
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Persons
Myung Oak Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea. She worked for 15 years as a jour nalist, including as an investigative reporter for the Rocky Mountain News and Phila del phia Daily. She's currently a communications manager for Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. Sam Jaffe is a senior research analyst with IDC Energy Insights and a former jour nalist whose work has appeared in the New Republic, BusinessWeek, and Scientific American.
Content
CONTENTS Acknowledgments vii Introduction 1 PART ONE: HISTORY 1 Still Living in the Past: Why History Matters 8 2 North Korea: A Distorted Mirror 23 PART TWO: ECONOMICS AND TRADE 3 The IMF Crisis and Its Impact on South Korea 46 4 The Middle Nation: How Korea Navigates Between Japan and China 63 5 So Long, Uncle Sam: The Korean-U.S. Relationship 79 PART THREE: INDUSTRIES 6 Korea in the Driver's Seat: A Short History of the Korean Car 100 7 Samsung Eternal: From Rice Trading to $174 Billion in Sales 118 8 LG's Rebirth: Lak Hui Learns to Create Its Own Luck 132 9 Technology Nirvana: Korea's Wired and Wireless Leadership 148 10 The Korean Wave: Ebbing or Flowing? 163 PART FOUR: SOCIETY 11 The Culture of Business: What It's Like to Work and Play in Korea 176 12 Teeing Off: Korea's Obsession with Golf 193 13 From Homogeneity to Multiculturalism: The World Comes to Korea 209 14 A Changing Society: Shifting Roles in Modern Korea 224 PART FIVE: THE FUTURE 15 Whither the North? Four Scenarios for the Future of North Korea 242 16 Toward Korea 3.0: Challenges and Opportunities for the Next Forty Years 257 Index 273