Page 56 - AEI Insights 2020 - Vol. 6, Issue 1

AEI Insights, Vol 6, Issue 1, 2020

started to carry out its first five-years economic plans that fully utilized its well-educated
25
manpower . Koreans began with highly labour-intensive industries which then restructured
its industry to heavy industry in 1970s. In the 1990s, Korean emphasis on high-tech industries
26
28
27
which Koreans excel in industries of steel , ships , automobiles , constructions, armaments,
electronics and chemicals. In order to fulfil the agenda in becoming an industrialized country,
Korea chose an export-driven economic strategy and in almost thirty-five years later. In 1997,
Korean’s export had increased 2,480 times, and imports 340 times compared to 1962.
Although, Korea have also impacted from the Asian Financial Crisis which occurred in
1997/98, ROK has been advocating a series of comprehensive reform measures in the
corporate, financial, and labour sectors to address important difficulties in the economy. Under
the leadership of Kim Dae-jung governance and successful negotiation with IMF and foreign
debts, Korea has overcome the problems by creating an economic structure suitable for an
advance economy. By 2010, ROK became the sixth largest exporters and eighth largest
importers. In 2014, ROK GDP reached US$ 28 million and in 2015, ROK GDP ranked
thirteenth in the world.

Apart from politically and economically stability, Korea also began to expand its culture
worldwide. In the late nineteenth century, Korea was known as the country of morning serenity,
a place where everything was static and slow in those days. In the twentieth century, Korea
blossomed into an energized and dynamic country. Skyscrapers were built in the cities and
towns and modernization began to change its culture and people. Nevertheless, there are still
old people, the historians were able to nurture the young generations to preserve their national
identities and old traditions which are valuable to the Koreans.
Koreans have established its public-school system as early as AD 372 called ‘Taehak’ in the
Goguryeo dynasty. This public-school system continues to exist as “Gughak” during the Silla
dynasty, “Gukjagam” during the Goryeo dynasty, and “Seongyungwan” during the Joseon
dynasty. Private schools called “gyeongdang” also existed through Goguryeo, Silla and Goryeo
29
dynasties. In Joseon, there were private schools called “seowon” for yangbans and “seodang”
30
for commoners. The current educational system in Korea has been modelled on the American
system; preschool followed by six years of primary education and six years of secondary
education. Education was made compulsory for children. Thanks to this government effort for
which Korea enjoys almost a hundred-percent literacy rate.

This culture in enriching lives with knowledge has become major roles in promoting the
political, economy, and socio-cultural for Koreans. Education has served as a means of political
socialization by instructing students in knowledge and behaviour patterns and attitudes
regarding democratic values and systems and by bringing up political leaders and politicians
(the Korean Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development, 2003).

25 In 1960s, Korea had almost no natural resources.
26 The steel industry had been the backbone of Korean economic development. One of the most successful
company, Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) is the leading steel producer in Korea and third-largest in
the world that produces 31 million tonnes on steel each year.
27 Seven Korean shipbuilding are amongst the world top ten which produces tankers, containers, cruise ship etc.
28 Korean cars also recognised worldwide. Amongst the top are Hyundai.
29 Yangbans was a traditional ruling class during the Joseon dynasty which they were mainly civil-servants and
military officers.
30 Changes begin in middle 1990s

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