what do you think about Korea?

Question

South Korea today is a technologically advanced and wealthy country with the 11th largest economy in the world, w/ major corporations like Samsung, LG, and Hyundai.

But it seems like whenever people hear about Korea, most people only think about division, the Korean War, and North Korean missiles. i think it's a shame that after all that South Korea has accomplished in becoming a wealthy country, most people don't seem to know this and somehow think that South Korea is not a developed country.

why is this?

"Isn't Samsung Japanese?" - a lot of people

Answer 1

Well, without resorting to the easiest answer, which is that westerners do not know Korean history or culture, you have to admit, living here, that some things still need improvement before we take Korea to the International Stage.

Korea is "dynamic" because of it's amazing growth. But it is not a 1st world nation yet. (that's not an opinion; it is not considered a 1st world nation because it does not meet the definition yet)
the 2 greatest barriers are in it's infrastructure, (things like garbage collection and building codes), and trade. (1st world nations operate successfully with free trade agreements with each other.. Korea has not accomplished that yet)
So, to wonder why other 1st world nations do not recognize Korea as they doJapan, (who has been a 1st world nation for decades), is a politically easy question to answer. But yes, westerners are ignorant of korea. but the knowledge will spread, as it did with Japan, when the 1st world nation status is reached, and then tourism will grow, etc etc

Ouch.. LostInch was a little rough with his words, but yes, that is another example. The adoption/social services for children department must also be fixed before korea is a 1st World Nation. This will take a fundamental shift if Korean attitudes toward family and bloodline and may need the older generation to die off before happening

Answer 2

I believe its the division between the rich and poor in Korea it seems the rich are getting only richer whilst the poor are stagnating, unlike in the British society we have a social netting that helps those whom can't help themselves. Maybe when there currency becomes stronger, will they be taken seriously. The brands they produce are also not seen as market leaders, such as Samsung seen second rate behind Panasonic and Sony, Hyundai seen as a cheap alternative, in foreign lands but not to Koreans in Korea, this is also true of LG, Large conglomorates primarily assisted by the state to export and bring foreign currency to prop up the economy. Stabilization is what makes a country strong and open to market forces...The UK has been doing this well before America was even born...

Answer 3

i personally think that Korea is a great country! But that is because i have been there and seen it! Most people don't kow anything about Korea except for the war maybe and Samsung and Hyundai! Not much is seen on TV about South Korea but a lot more is seen about North Korea. So, it is once again a media problem!

Answer 4

Yeah that's a sad reality.
When I was traveling in Europe and North America, local people always asked me if I'm Chinese or Japanese.
I said "No I'm Korean" and they were like "Oh, does that mean you speak Chinese?" - No!!!
People often mixed up Korea with Vietnam, so they asked me if there was any jungle in Korea or if I had ever seen snow in Korea. They were indeed so stupid! Did they ever learn geography at school?

Korea isn't as well-known as it should be or it should deserve.
Many people in the world are so ignorant of Korea and I'm very upset about it.
But people on this category actually know Korea quite well and that's why they're staying on this category to answer the questions about Korea.

I honestly want to discuss this topics with foreigners living in Korea and Koreans living outside Korea.
Why are people in the world so ignorant of Korea?
Can we ever become as well-known as Japan or China?
How can we improve Korea's prestige?

P.S. Korea is just like my school Sogang University - Sogang is one of the Top 5 universities in Korea but it isn't as well-known as Yonsei, Korea or even Ewha University.

Answer 5

You ask a good question. I must admit that I don't know how people can ignore the progress of South Korea. It is rather like ignoring China, don't you think?

I do believe that most Americans have limited experience with either Korea, and that was gained in the conflict on the peninsula in the 1950's.

We tend to think of the world in terms, not of friends, but rather of threats. The nuclear program in North Korea certainly tends to catch a lot of prime time news minutes.

Hyundai, Samsung and their corporate brothers do not catch the same attention. Perhaps because they don't represent the same level of threat to world peace.

Answer 6

It sure is a developed country no doubts about that. I like Korea's both complex and rich culture, the thing i don't like is that i feel koreans disgarding a lot of the original culture. taking many inputs from foreign countries . things like like pop culture.. but hey its your culture your country.
and i still like it. ignorant people will see everywhere with same eyes not only Korea.don't worry

Answer 7

Simple answer. The abandoning of children. If a country abandons it's children it is not an advanced country. Koreans still abandon their children and the rest of the world is still adopting Koreans.

When Korea can take care of it's own then maybe it will qualify as a developed country.

Do not blame others for problems Korea created.

Japan doesn't abandon it's children so the world knows it is a developed country.

Korea abandons it's children so the world knows it is not a developed country.

Answer 8

nah...when i heard korea the first thing come on my mind are the korean dramas, since that they're great making korean dramas and movies, and the gorgeous actors and actresses. And yah the cool history too such as famous kiseanbg and what so ever

Answer 9

I think that Japan is starting to lose its standing on the technology platform and other countries such as China (just launched rocket to go to the moon) as well as Korea is surpassing them in the field. Right now if you ask my friends to buy a Sony tv their reaction is "no way, their products s*ck". That goes for a wide variety of things from cell phones to computers. Perhaps Japan should start innovating technology instead of copying it and they would survive the onslaught of Korean as well as US inventions. BTW, the answer to the quote "isn't samsung japanese" is "thank god its not".

Answer 10

don't know nothing about 11th biggest economy in the world?
then don't know nothing about the other couple of hundreds....
you english guy,, better blame yourself for the tiny knowledge to outside world..shame on you...