Having been born and raised in Seoul, Korea, I’ve spent the past 30 years observing the nation’s transformation. I studied this field at university and later worked for 5 years as an economic journalist.
Korea is a nation without natural resources — no oil, no coal, no natural gas. Roughly half of its territory is mountainous, leaving limited land available for agriculture or industry.
After emerging from Japanese colonial rule, Korea focused on light manufacturing sectors such as wigs and textiles. At the time, manufacturing offered the fastest returns on scarce capital.
However, as global manufacturing shifted to countries with cheaper labor — China, Vietnam, and Indonesia — Korea had to pivot toward high value–added industries.
Through one of the fastest economic growth trajectories in the world, Korea rose to prominence in shipbuilding, defense, information technology, and battery innovation. To withstand the geopolitical pressures from its powerful neighbors, China and Japan, Korea developed a culture of rapid adaptation — the well-known ppalli-ppalli (“hurry-up”) mindset.
Moreover, the nation chose to invest heavily in human capital. Korean children begin learning English in kindergarten and master the Korean alphabet before entering elementary school. From elementary through high school, students study more than ten hours a day, both in schools and in private academies known as hagwon. During vacations, they preview the next year’s curriculum. Textbooks, especially in English and mathematics, are worn from use — calculus, for example, is taught in high school rather than at university.
This culture of speed and rigorous learning nurtured the ability to anticipate global trends, commercialize ideas swiftly, and sustain innovation with a highly educated workforce. Together, these forces shaped Korea’s unique growth engine.
In essence, the very absence of natural resources compelled Korea to transform into both an economic and cultural powerhouse. Geopolitical pressures from neighboring giants, coupled with U.S. support during the Cold War, further accelerated this transformation.
Thank you for taking the time to read my piece.
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