Why are South Korea and Japan so prosperous, but the historically US-backed South American regimes so poor?

I’ll focus on South Korea because their story is even more dramatic than Japan’s, although both countries employed a very similar strategy.

South Korea literally rose from the ashes to become one of the richest countries in the world today. In 1955 their per-capita GDP was $64; today it’s around $30,000, an increase of almost 500-FOLD.

They went from this:



To this in a single generation:



How?

The answer lies with the chaebols, family-run conglomerates that dominate the South Korean economy. In the U.S. and Europe we’re all familiar with Samsung phones and Hyundai cars, but within S. Korea itself these companies reach into every corner of day-to-day life.

Let’s look at Samsung, the most famous chaebol that makes up almost 15% of South Korea’s economy.

You can get a university degree at Samsung-affiliated Sungkyunkwan University, then get a job at Samsung and move into your new apartment at Samsung Tower Palace which is equipped with a Samsung-manufactured home security system, air conditioner, TV, refrigerator, oven and microwave. When you get sick you can get treated at Samsung Medical Center in the Gangnam district. When you want to get married you can do so at a Samsung-owned venue, and when it’s time to retire you can go to a Samsung retirement home. When your time is up, your funeral arrangements can be handled by a Samsung funeral parlor.

The chaebols expanded their influence during the Park Chung-hee era. Park was a military dictator who ruled South Korea from 1961 until his assassination in 1979. The companies were designated for special treatment by the government in order to jump start industrialization and modernize South Korea’s economy. A number of strategies were employed: the firms were protected from foreign competition through tariffs, and given loan guarantees which enabled them to invest and build new factories. Government economic policy favored exports in order to gain foreign capital for further investment. Over time, repeated investment enabled the chaebols to move up the value-added chain, producing more complex, sophisticated products that enabled these companies to then compete directly with their American and European competitors.

You can see this most easily with cars. Early Korean imports from Hyundai and Kia were in the low-end segments of the market, compacts and mid-sized sedans. An obsessive focus on reliability enabled them to gain new customers, and supply chain efficiency made them profitable in a low-margin segment of the market. As they got better they started to compete in the more profitable, upper end of the market: SUV’s, luxury sedans and hybrids.

This symbiotic relationship between government and business, coupled with the insane work ethic of the Korean people, is what transformed South Korea into the country we know today. The U.S. contribution to this was military. By providing protection through the U.S. / South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty, South Korea was given protection from external threats that provided the stability needed for the country to develop. But the bulk of the credit has to go to the Korean people and their leaders, including Park, a brutal dictator who nevertheless set the stage for the remarkable rise of the chaebols.

Bottom line: the nations of South America have not done as well in marshaling their people and resources. Poor political leadership, lack of coherent strategy in economic policy, corruption, the drug trade, a lack of resources devoted to education are all factors that come into play. Compare this to South Korea: ALL of South Korean society, beginning in the 1950’s, focused like a laser beam on one goal, creating a prosperous society. The nations of South America…didn’t.

There are downsides to the Korean strategy that are causing a great deal of suffering among her people, which is why many young S. Koreans refer to their country as “Hell Joseon” (Joseon was an ancient dynasty that ruled the Korean peninsula until the late 19th century). The competitive pressures of South Korean society have created one of the highest suicide rates in the world and a rate of poverty among the elderly of almost 50%.

So while the people of South America may not be as materially prosperous, they don’t live in a pressure cooker society where everyone is constantly being pushed to succeed and looked down upon if they don’t.

https://www.quora.com/Why-are-South-Korea-and-Japan-so-prosperous-but-the-historically-US-backed-South-American-regimes-so-poor

South Korea became more or less prosperous (its actually debatable, since their elderly people in general are as poor as in the least developed countries living on less than 1 dollar per day), only because of implemented Marshal plan, to keep the country out of communist hands and create a stable base for US against Soviet Union as well as China. South America never was on the frontline because of far proximity from the main frontline with Russia, and never received support similar as West Germany and Korea received during the Marshall plan. And nevertheless since Korea and Taiwan for a long time were occupied by Japan their population were educated accordingly to Japanese standards and cultural values, it helped them significantly to restore the economy after the war in a quick pace, because the main resource, educated people, were still pretty much alive and well being after the war. For instance its well known that most South Korean chebols started their activity during the Japanese Imperial rule and were heavily subsidized and trained by Japanese.

https://www.quora.com/Why-are-South-Korea-and-Japan-so-prosperous-but-the-historically-US-backed-South-American-regimes-so-poor

because they don't practice quota system over there

Sentiment aside,so you do not know that South Korea are also backed by US

They dont have Buhari....

Because they reason like humans and not like zoo inhabitants.

SK is one of the country i must visit. I heard they dont discriminate and involve in racism.

Nigeriabiafra80:
Sentiment aside,so you do not know that South Korea are also backed by US

That's only because North Korea were backed by the Soviets!

South Korea, Japan, Singapore and UAE are prosperous because they don't have their heads in the sand....thinking that quota-system, federal character and handing over their country to some backward, islamofascist supremacists is such a good idea!

XANDERBOY85:


That's only because North Korea were backed by the Soviets!

If South Korea backed by US is progressing
And southern American backed by the US is not
Why are you blaming US
What of Nigeria backed by many world powers nko

They value culture and indigenous religion over western nonsense.
Their science is based on their own terms and conditions and so is their technology.

FlordFlorez:
SK is one of the country i must visit. I heard they dont discriminate and involve in racism.

Racism is rampant there bro.

Nigeriabiafra80:

If South Korea backed by US is progressing
And southern American backed by the US is not
Why are you blaming US
What of Nigeria backed by many world powers nko

You're getting things muddled up a bit.

I was only saying that as an off-shoot of the cold-war between the US and the USSR after WW-II, that the Korean peninsular was divided between the two world powers at the time. My post was on the reason the US was backing South Korea, and not why some countries the US supports do well economically while others don't. There are many factors (mainly domestic/local) that come into play to determine why one country the US support does well while another doesn't.

kemicalreact:
Racism is rampant there bro.

seriously? I never heard such. I know of China, Indian, etc in Asia but never heard of SK & Jap.

They are prosperous because they are smart people who think beyond self

But most importantly, they're suceeding because they are each a true nation.....they're all pulling in the same direction!

because dey don't worship Jesus ,Allah n Jehovah der

Amatarasha:
because dey don't worship Jesus ,Allah n Jehovah der

Korea has 29% Christian population and the home of world"s largest congregation. So since you dont worship any of those you listed, why is your life not progressing? It is an act if irresponsibility to lay your failure and frustration on God...take responsibility

therealpeace:
Korea has 29% Christian population and the home of world"s largest congregation. So since you dont worship any of those you listed, why is your life not progressing? It is an act if irresponsibility to lay your failure and frustration on God...take responsibility

The goddess I serve knows u are a bloody liar! I won't curse ur tongue, Be good please

They have one thing in common

USA

South America has a deep history of corruption which affected most of the left-wing countries...from Brazil to Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia e.t.c, coupled with the drug trade which is supported Behind the scenes by politicians and military officials, then you have the issue of racism, and the prejudice that comes with multi-ethnic heterogeneous societies...
The worst thing that can happen to any country is when its socialist society get marred by corruption, look at Brazil and how they bleeped up badly and mismanaged many state owned assets, Venezuela has the highest proven reserves of oil but the state owned oil company was severely mismanaged...
Chile the only extreme Capitalist country is suffering from inequality but has a far better standard of living than most of her neighbors...
The Asians stamped out corruption and allowed chose innovation to drive their economy, i do not think Japan has so much natural resources but they are number 3 in the world, China is doin well as a socialist nation because they ve stamped out corruption and promoted nationalism..
Corruption+Socialism is Disaster and that's what happened to South America

therealpeace:
Korea has 29% Christian population and the home of world"s largest congregation. So since you dont worship any of those you listed, why is your life not progressing? It is an act if irresponsibility to lay your failure and frustration on God...take responsibility

Religion is a destabilizing factor for any democratic country, take it or leave it, South Korea has a sizeable population of Christians but Religion is not a hot issue/priority for South Koreans, there are tons of other religions practiced there but its not high on people's agenda compared to South America where everybody is waiting for heaven...
Brazil has a right-wing president who is relying heavily on backing from the Church, religion Plays an important role in South American politics and when you have corrupt politicians who hide under the guise of religion to perpetuate their corrupt acts, it easily becomes a pandemic coz it would be difficult for your own religious folks who voted you to criticize you which is exactly what we see in Nigeria and plaguing the US...
The Church Must Be Separated From The State...
Nobody needs the Bible or Koran to build a nation..

Because Japan agreed to be America's b_tch and host tons of US military bases. The Japanese also received reparations, and whites don't interfere with their progress because Japanese allow themselves to be used by whites. Even going back centuries, Japanese betrayed other Asians to help white people. Japanese love white people's butter biscuits. South Korea is mostly the same.

They're also very small countries with little ethnic variation and a shared language. It's easy to get people to agree, and they don't need much to prosper. Still, they all want to be in other countries, especially Koreans. Their culture and society is one of the worst in the world. They constantly abuse each other to the point that suicide is common. They hate their country and people. Even the most rich in those countries (rich by US and European standards) commonly take their own life.

Another defining thing for them is their lack of resources beyond human labor. They don't have the option to get rich off trade. Everyone in those countries knows that and agrees they have no choice, but to maximize on their only option.

Nigeriabiafra80:

If South Korea backed by US is progressing
And southern American backed by the US is not
Why are you blaming US
What of Nigeria backed by many world powers nko

South America isn't backed by the US. The US needs it, like Africa, for resources, so the US employs destabilizing tactics.

IduNaOba:
They value culture and indigenous religion over western nonsense.
Their science is based on their own terms and conditions and so is their technology.

Their technology is a carbon copy of the west. They haven't invented anything.

Christian fanaticism is rampant in Korea, in part because they hate their own culture.

There are people happily living in shacks in South America while Korean millionaires (in US dollars) are killing themselves.

There's a lot of reasons for that, but I'm sure the better looking women and better culture has a lot to do with it.

Lol Ask Japanese Brazilian women if they want to go back to Japan.

FlordFlorez:
seriously? I never heard such. I know of China, Indian, etc in Asia but never heard of SK & Jap.

that's because they hardly give visa to black immigrants especially africans

Minsk24:
South America has a deep history of corruption which affected most of the left-wing countries...from Brazil to Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia e.t.c, coupled with the drug trade which is supported Behind the scenes by politicians and military officials, then you have the issue of racism, and the prejudice that comes with multi-ethnic heterogeneous societies...
The worst thing that can happen to any country is when its socialist society get marred by corruption, look at Brazil and how they bleeped up badly and mismanaged many state owned assets, Venezuela has the highest proven reserves of oil but the state owned oil company was severely mismanaged...
Chile the only extreme Capitalist country is suffering from inequality but has a far better standard of living than most of her neighbors...
The Asians stamped out corruption and allowed chose innovation to drive their economy, i do not think Japan has so much natural resources but they are number 3 in the world, China is doin well as a socialist nation because they ve stamped out corruption and promoted nationalism..
Corruption+Socialism is Disaster and that's what happened to South America

The truth about south Americans well said.

FlordFlorez:
SK is one of the country i must visit. I heard they dont discriminate and involve in racism.

Lolz. For your mind. They discriminate against their own who pursue foreign education and come back to settle. They are even xenophobic to Chinese and disregard those from Thai esp. the ladies as brothel warmers. Now imagine you a brown skin variant. You ain't pale skin, you ain't it bruf.
Be aware.

https://qz.com/1172515/living-in-south-korea-as-a-chinese-canadian-woman-is-a-lesson-in-the-complex-world-of-contradictory-privilege/

swagguElite:

Lolz. For your mind. They discriminate against their own who pursue foreign education and come back to settle. They are even xenophobic to Chinese and disregard those from Thai esp. the ladies as brothel warmers. Now imagine you a brown skin variant. You ain't pale skin, you ain't it bruf.
Be aware.

https://qz.com/1172515/living-in-south-korea-as-a-chinese-canadian-woman-is-a-lesson-in-the-complex-world-of-contradictory-privilege/

is that so.

Minsk24:
South America has a deep history of corruption .....

Their "corruption" is almost 100% due to stooge politicians planted by the US and others, or flat out lies. The US released official documents detailing how they've done this for decades. The recent gains and peace in the region are directly related to the US reducing this in recent years. Venezuela is a huge exception because it has so much oil that the US can't resist terrorizing them.