From Rags to Riches: Koreas success story

By Han Sang-hee

With numerous international delegations and important business officials heading to Seoul for the G20 summit, a simple yet well written book about Korea is expected to help visitors and future visitors understand the host country and be inspired by the challenging obstacles it overcame throughout the years.

“Korea: From Rags to Riches” is the first collection of articles that examines Korea’s path from tragic war to significant wealth.

Korea has been described as the nation of the miracle of the Han River, thanks to its fast economic development shouldered by numerous unknown yet hard working patriotic Koreans.

“This book is an encyclopedia of the Korean development model. It is designed to further enhance readers’ interest in Korea’s development as well as to provide a guideline for state policy planners in developing countries as they pursue economic development and political democratization,” Park Eung-kyuk, president of the Korea Institute of Public Administration (KIPA) and editor of the book, wrote in the acknowledgements.

Indeed, the book will be an absorbing outline on how Korea, and Koreans, did it from 1950 to 2010: from the war-torn streets cluttered with orphans, beggars and corpses to hosting international sports events such as the Asian Games (1986) and the Summer Olympics (1988), joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 1996 and finally chairing the G20 summit this year.

“Korea: From Rags to Riches” covers 60 developmental achievements, which was intended to match the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-53). The 60 articles have been published under the title “From Rags to Riches” in the weekend editions of The Korea Times.

It is divided into three main categories — Government’s Role in Nation Building, Role of Private Sector and Legacies of Koreans — and 13 sub-chapters featuring specific incidents, figures, issues and agendas.

How can one understand a nation without learning about the leaders that shaped the administration, the people and the overall system?

“Mr. President — A Kingpin in Nation Building” by the book’s editor and media professor at Kyung Hee University, Park Chang-seok, gives a thorough overview of the presidents that led Korea and placed the nation on the map. From the first president Syngman Rhee to the current Lee Myung-bak, Park gives extensive knowledge and insight on the men that built up a war-torn country into one of the most successful developmental cases in the world.

“The essential elements of success were goal-oriented executive leadership, a highly-educated bureaucracy and a hard-working labor force. South Korean leadership has been president-centric with the presidency always at the apex of the executive establishment, which has often called for popular unity in the face of numerous trials and adversities,” Park wrote.

The book continues with historical events and policies including the “Saemaul Undong” or the New Village Movement that was carried out under former president Park Chung-hee’s reign, diplomatic issues regarding neighboring countries and also unique “masterpieces” only found in Korea, such as the Cheonggye Stream and local subway system.

Continuing with business-related articles including the role of chaebol, small firms, and the local workforce, the book also examines the softer side of Korea and its people.

The last main chapter, “Legacies of Koreans,” gives an in-depth description and explanation on why the Koreans are the way they are and how to adapt to their culture and perspectives. The “Korean Soul” and “Dynamism of the Ajumma” is an interesting read, while “Ppalli, Ppalli: Get Everything Done Early” and “Museum of All Religions” offer examples of what helped shape Koreans and the country.

The last three articles touch upon the issue of multiculturalism, something that has been an important and also thorny issue in recent years.

The book is simple and well put together, perfect for those who want to study Korea — its historical, cultural, social and political spheres— and also the people who strived effortlessly to help their nation to pick up and stand side by side with some of the most influential and powerful nations in the world.

“This book will no doubt serve to upgrade Korea’s national prestige as well as deepen a mutual understanding between Korea and other countries,” the editors wrote.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr