You know the reason: in the 13 years since a South Korean president last came visiting, Pinoys have discovered the delights of K-pop, K-drama, tteokbokki, bingsu and samgyeopsal.
These days, millennials and GenZs are sporting Korean hairstyles, dressing (and dancing and singing) like BTS and Jennie, and using Korean beauty products.
Without grabbing anyone's maritime territory and alienating trading partners through economic blackmail, South Korea has conquered the world, through the projection of soft power.
It has also become an industrial and economic powerhouse not yet on the scale of the second and third largest economies, China and Japan, but closing in, if the Koreans sustain their innovation and growth trajectories.
And to think that the Korean War armistice was signed only in 1953, with the two Koreas still technically at war today.
Perhaps the bloody civil war and the continuing threat posed by a heavily armed enemy sitting just across the demilitarized zone has developed a strong love of country among the South Koreans.
We saw dramatic, only-in-Korea manifestations of this patriotism in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis, when about 3.5 million Koreans voluntarily donated gold items in their possession to repay their debt to the International Monetary Fund. Some 227 tons of gold, valued at $2.13 billion, were donated.
Having a national enemy probably also helped foster a national urgency to excel - something that requires the development of human capital, through quality education and health care, and support for creativity and innovation.
The highly competitive education system has created mental health problems among Korean youth. But I'd take this problem anytime to seeing our 15-year-old students landing at the bottom in international assessments on reading comprehension, math and science literacy.
この記事は The Philippine Star の October 07, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Philippine Star の October 07, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
MQuest Artists Agency offers acting, dance, voice workshops
Those who will participate in the MQuest Artists Agency (MQAA) acting, dance, and voice public workshops will get the chance to be discovered and have exclusive access to auditions and the opportunity to join the MQAA talent pool.
SAM VERZOSA ON GIRLFRIEND RHIAN RAMOS: SHE'S MY LUCKY CHARM
SAM VERZOSA DESCRIBED girlfriend Rhian Ramos his \"lucky charm\" after receiving back-to-back awards this month.
The charmed life of Happy Ongpauco-Tiu
I was recently invited to the birthday lunch of PR guru Susan Joven at Tsokolateria-Pamana restaurant in the new GH (Greenhills) Mall.
FEELING RIZAL HOVER 'IN THE AIR' TONIGHT IN HEIDELBERG
HEIDELBERG, Germany—They say history is not just something we read or study; it is something we walk through. All our movements and moments become, in a sense, historic (with the magnitude of their historicity being relative, of course). History inhabits the air of cities—most especially old, grizzled ones such as Heidelberg in Germany with the hum and thrum of its cobblestones, where we recently echoed the footfalls not only of countless German figures who have shaped history but also of one Dr. Jose Rizal.
New Phl CPF finalized early next year – WB
The World Bank expects to finalize by early next year its new country partnership framework (CPF) that will outline programs to be supported in the Philippines for 2025 until 2028.
Focus on exports
Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) president Cecilio Pedro hopes that government officials would focus on increasing the country's self-sufficiency next year in the face of possible tariffs threats from the United States with the expected takeover of the government by president-elect Donald Trump.
ERC: EPIRA amendments could bring down power costs
The proposed changes to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) could deliver the long-awaited solution to soaring electricity costs, according to the country's power regulator.
The bigger problems
\"In the larger scheme of things, Sara is unimportant. So please do not file impeachment complaints. It will only distract us from the work of governance which is to improve the lot of all Filipinos.\"
Phl MSMEs among target beneficiaries of ADB, Mastercard financing in Asia-Pacific
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines are among the initial target beneficiaries of financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Mastercard to support small businesses in Asia-Pacific.
Metro Retail revisiting network expansion plan
Metro Retail Stores Group Inc., the listed retail company of the Gaisano Group, is revisiting its network expansion plan and strategies to adapt to the changing preferences of Filipino consumers.
