S. Korea a rich blend of technology, culture

S. Korea a rich blend of technology, culture

It was not that long ago that South Korea was a poor and
struggling country. However, the nation has gone through a great
transformation, turning itself into an industrialized country
with a per capita income that has soared from US$87 in the 1960s
to about $10,307 last year.

Earlier this month, the Southeast Asia Division of South
Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade organized the ASEAN
Media People's Visit, to allow journalists from the region to get
a closer look at the country.

The following story and accompanying photographs were
contributed by The Jakarta Post's T. Sima Gunawan, who took part
in the visit.

SEOUL (JP): An early autumn wind is blowing across the night
sky, dispelling the heat of the day and carrying with it the
sounds of a nearby concert.

Up on stage, a young woman sways to the beat as she performs a
pop song, the huge crowd in front of the stage enjoying her
efforts in quiet appreciation.

This is a common sight at shopping areas in Seoul, where the
effort to attract customers has led to small stages being
constructed in front of giant department stores, such as the
Migliore across from Dongdaenum Stadium and in Myongdong.

These stages are usually equipped with powerful stereo systems
and sophisticated lighting equipment to ensure quality shows for
the rapt audiences.

You don't have to shop to watch the show -- but you might find
it hard not to break away from the performance to browse through
the goods, which offer customers a varied selection both in terms
of price and quality.

For the young people of South Korea, these department stores
have become favored haunts. Young couples walk hand-in-hand and
small groups of girls gather everywhere.

They all appear carefree and seemingly without worry of
harassment or pickpockets -- a luxury that is difficult to find
in Jakarta, where parents are often concerned about the safety of
their children.

The Republic of Korea was at one time one of the poorest
countries in the world. But in just three decades it has been
able to transform itself into a newly industrialized nation, with
an average annual economic growth of 8.7 percent, making it the
world's 11th largest trading nation.

Business leader

And the country is not just the producer of Samsung cellular
phones and Rinnai gas stoves; South Korea today is a leading
shipbuilder and manufacturer of semiconductors, electronics and
automobiles.

Wherever you travel here, you will see Korean-made cars on the
roads, most of them Hyundais and KIAs.

Last year, Hyundai's domestic market share was an impressive
45.2 percent, while its global vehicle production was 1,580,000
automobiles, an increase from the 1,310,000 autos the previous
year.

Hyundai exported 880,000 vehicles in 2000, with 38 percent
going to North America, 32 percent to Europe, 13 percent to South
Asia and the Middle East, 9 percent to the Asia Pacific and 8
percent to South America.

"In 1997, when the economic crisis hit the country, Hyundai
Motor laid off 10,000 employees," said a public relations officer
at the company.

But it has since come back stronger than before, and three
years ago, or just one year after the layoffs, it merged with
KIA.

Established in 1967, Hyundai has three plants in Korea -- in
Ulsan, Asan and Chonju -- producing 1.9 million units per year,
while another 500,000 units are produced at its 10 plants
worldwide, including in India, Turkey, China and Indonesia.

The word hyundai means "modern".

"I guess that was what the company really wanted to achieve as
it was established when the nation was in a poor state," said a
local.

Indeed, South Korea has established itself as a modern country
on the leading edge of technology, as reflected not only in the
products it manufactures but also in the daily lives of the
people.

Computers, for example, play a major role in the daily
activities of both the young and old.

"My nephew, who is an elementary school student, does his
homework on the Internet and sends it by e-mail to the teacher,"
said a young diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade.

Cultural heritage

But South Korea is also preserving its cultural heritage amid
the push for technological advances.

One sign of this effort is that English is not widely spoken
in the country and virtually everything is written in the Korean
alphabet, Hangeul (a disadvantage for tourists who cannot speak
the language).

And several Korean treasures are included on UNESCO's world
heritage list. One of them is the eighth-century Bulguksa Temple,
which was constructed over a 23-year period during the Silla
Kingdom (57 B.C. to 935 A.D.). The temple, built on a series of
stone terraces, is located in the rocky foothills of Mt.
Tohamsan.

Children in South Korea are taught at an early age to
appreciate their country's legacy. They are often taken on tours
of historic and cultural sites, while students go on study tours
of these sites.

However, there is one historic spot South Koreans cannot
visit: Panmunjon.

Located in the demilitarized zone between North and South
Korea, this is where the truce talks were held during the Korean
War.

Situated 62 kilometers from Seoul and 215 km from Pyongyang,
the area is officially called the Joint Security Area and is
overseen by UN troops. An average of 500 foreigners visit
Panmunjon daily.

"Reservations should be made 72 hours in advance, but local
tourists are not allowed," said Chong-chong, a freelance tour
guide who was hired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
to accompany a group of ASEAN journalists on a tour of the
location.

It has been 40 years since the truce talks between the two
Koreas began, making them the longest in history.

Despite protests from some politicians and citizens concerned
by the huge economic costs of the process, South Korean President
Kim Dae-jung is determined to continue engaging the North with
his so-called "Sunshine Policy" in order to achieve stability on
the Korean Peninsula, for the sake of a future prosperous and
united Korea.