Czech, a country of industry, history and beer
As I head to Prague for the first time, memories from over 30 years ago come flooding back — not of the city itself, but of a connection I made back then. I was sent to the United States by my company, and the CEO of the American firm I worked with was a Slovak who fled to the U.S. during the Prague Spring and built a successful business.
One evening, I was invited to his home. There, a photograph immediately caught my eye — a man in military uniform, yet with a thoughtful, intellectual expression. Curious, I asked who it was. The CEO replied, “That is Dubček.”
That moment stayed with me. I told them that Dubček had been the symbol of “socialism with a human face” during the Prague Spring, an idealistic reform movement that was crushed by the Soviet invasion. He survived the invasion but later died in a car accident. The CEO and his wife looked at me in surprise. “How do you know that?” they asked. “That all happened before you were even born.” They hadn’t expected a foreign visitor from Asia to be familiar with such a painful part of their history. That moment became a bridge for us, as we shared respect for the man and a movement that had shaped their lives.
Back then, as a student, I had assumed Czechoslovakia was a minor country in Europe. Under the Munich Agreement, Britain, France and Italy had handed much of it over to Nazi Germany in the hopes of avoiding war. I only realized later that it was, in fact, an industrial hub, essential to Germany’s war machine.
Lately, as I’ve studied more, I realized that under Soviet influence after World War II, Czechoslovakia adopted a planned economy modeled on the Soviet system. While such an economy could be effective in less developed countries, in the advanced industrial nation of Czechoslovakia, it led to economic stagnation. Moreover, dictatorship, censorship and the presence of a secret police suffocated the society and suppressed freedoms. These repressive conditions sparked the Prague Spring in 1968.
Today’s Czech Republic is not just a land of fairytale spires and medieval charm, but also a country of industrial and technological depth. Car production began as early as the late 19th century, and it boasts engineering universities with over 200 years of history. Walking through Prague’s Old Town, dotted with buildings 400 or 500 years old, and crossing the 700-year-old Charles Bridge, one can feel the weight and resilience of its history.
Since gaining independence, the Czech Republic has grown rapidly, powered by a strong industrial base and a hardworking, skilled workforce. Strategically located in the heart of Europe with excellent infrastructure, it has become an attractive hub for global business. Many Korean companies have a presence. The automotive sector plays a key role — of the 1.3 million cars produced there annually, around 300,000 are manufactured at Hyundai’s Czech plant. Additionally, the Czech Republic has expertise in power plant turbines and possesses original, fundamental technologies for turbine development. In meetings with Czech engineers, their deep explanations and systematic approach inspired mutual trust and confidence.
And then, of course, there is the beer. Czech beer is widely considered among the best in the world. Its rich, crisp flavor must be experienced locally to be fully appreciated. When I asked a local why Czechs consume more beer per capita than anyone else in the world, he laughed and simply said: “What else would we drink, if not beer?”
Wandering the streets of Prague, I’m struck once again by the contrast: a city that feels like a medieval fairy tale yet stands at the forefront of modern industry. The well-kept parks, museums and theaters, along with its rich history — including early calls for religious reform and resistance against Soviet oppression — all speak to the strength of this nation’s spirit.
As a manufacturing powerhouse with high energy demands, the Czech Republic needs stable and efficient energy infrastructure. South Korea, with its proven record of building nuclear power plants on time and on budget, is a natural partner. Our shared values in technology, resilience, and mutual respect can form the basis of a long and fruitful partnership.
The writer is an engineer. Contact him at atom@kepco-enc.com.