What's best about Korea?

By John Burton

Having lived in Seoul on and off for 15 years, sometimes it’s nice to be reminded of the good things about Korea that one takes for granted after being here for awhile. I was reminded of that when I was recently reading the postings on Quora, a U.S. question-and-answer website, in response to the question: “What does South Korea do right?”

Although some of the answers, mostly from short-term expats, may be obvious to those of us who have lived here longer, nonetheless it’s still useful to be told that we have a lot to be thankful for. Here are some of the observations that were offered on Quora about what is best in Korea:

― An excellent public transportation system, particularly in Seoul, while traveling in the rest of country is relatively easy and reasonably priced due to an extensive network of bus, train and air services.

― Internet connectivity is among the fastest in the world, with the wide availability of Wifi, even in remote areas, being praised.

― The rapid adoption of cutting-edge technology as well as the country’s well-earned chops in computer gaming. A favorite app was Kakao Talk.

― Korea’s entertainment culture, including TV dramas, K-pop and mainstream and art house films.

― A vibrant nightlife in Itaewon, Hongdae and Gangnam that combines late-night drinking with streets that are safe to walk in the wee hours.

― A wide range of tourism places to visit, from the lush green mountainous countryside and coastal islands to temples, palaces and first-rate museums and art galleries.

― The four distinct seasons, with autumn widely selected as being at the top of the list.

― The extraordinary food, with kimchi and barbecued meat mentioned as favorites.

― Shopping, but not just at the high end. The ubiquitous convenience stores were prized for their, well, convenience, along with outlets such as Paris Baguette and Home plus.

― Excellent customer after-sales service and speedy deliveries.

― The world’s best airport at Incheon, which makes travel to other destinations easy.

― And finally the Koreans themselves ― friendly, warm-hearted and well-educated.

That’s a pretty good list of why a lot us love being in Korea. But I would add some other observations. The biggest appeal of the country, besides the above, is how rapidly the country can change in a relatively short period of time, which can make it a vibrant place to live. It’s exciting to see a country grow and innovate right before your eyes.

When I first came to Korea in 1992, I described Seoul to friends as the Warsaw of Asia, by which I meant Cold War Warsaw, a place of urban bleakness. Foreign restaurants were few, with TGIF considered the height of Western cuisine outside of the hotels. One was hard put to find a good cup of coffee since most were of the instant powder kind.

Little would I have thought that nearly 25 years later, Seoul would be the truly global metropolis that it is today, with an absolutely extraordinary selection of restaurant, bars and, yes, coffee shops that offer something to every taste and interest. This has been matched by the blossoming of cultural life from cutting-edge contemporary art exhibits to an increasing number of examples of outstanding architecture. The city’s vibe is cosmopolitan with Koreans easily mingling with foreigners from all over the world.

Nonetheless, the country has preserved its essential values, which has enabled society to function well and embrace innovation at the same time. In this regard, Confucianism and inbred respect for superiors have contributed to the strong sense of social cohesion that has allowed Korea to experience such rapid changes without fragmenting. It has also has produced a dedicated workforce willing and able to achieve ambitious corporate goals that has made Korea a global leader in a number of product categories from cars and ships to semiconductors and TV displays.

But change will continue and the next big challenge will be in social attitudes. Will Korea successfully navigate a transition from conservative Confucian values to more Western-style liberal attitudes on such issues as acceptance of ethnic minorities, gay rights and executive power for women at work?

You can already see these new ideas being embraced by the young and it will be interesting to see how they will change the tone of the country in the years ahead. It is the creative blending of the old and new that for me makes Korea the exciting place that it is.

So with Valentine’s Day only two days away, consider this my Valentine card to Korea. But no doubt I will return to form in my next column and start grumbling and complaining again about what needs to be improved.

John Burton, a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is now a Seoul-based independent journalist and media consultant. He can be reached at john. burton@insightcomms.com.

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