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.