Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
Korea's major exports were wigs, umbrellas, shoes, nurses to Germany and construction workers to the Middle East. I was awoken each morning to the blast of the theme song of the New Village Movement coming from the nearby elementary school encouraging us to all rise, do some calisthenics and get moving.
Every day conversations were still filled with the tragic wondering of whether family members separated during the Korean War were still alive and whether they were in the North or South. The trauma from war was still a real emotion and the one year celebration of new babies had a joyful and poignant meaning of survival. What was remarkable about this poverty and trauma, however, was the juxtaposition of the optimism and hope that things will improve, that lives will be better and that Korea will rise to become a great nation. And it has.
I recently read the inspiring autobiography of Hyundai Group founder and late Chairman Chung Joo Young. He was a remarkable optimist filled with confidence. He was innovative and persistent. But mostly he was driven to work extremely hard. He had his faults, which he readily confessed to. But his story symbolizes the remarkable transformation of Korea and the unstoppable dynamism of the Korean people.
With the world's ninth or 10th largest economy, Korea has a lot to brag about. It has the highest literacy rate among developed countries. Korea is the world leader in some of the most critical technologies needed to keep the world economy growing to include semiconductors, cell phones, ships and automobiles. Korean athletes are excelling on the world stage in golf and baseball, Korean movies and dramas are loved world-wide and Korean music is global in its reach.
Korean companies, both small and large, are global players and they have significant influence on economies around the world and not just in Southeast Asia. Korean companies are major investors in the U.S. and Europe and it is not surprising that two giants of Korea recent battled it out in the U.S. to maintain control of the U.S. market with the U.S. government having to step in and resolve the dispute.
Many of Korea's large and medium sized companies employ more people outside of Korea than they do in Korea. Many of the wealthiest in Korea are not the traditional chaebol owning families, but a new generation of billionaires who have made their fortunes from technological innovation with much of the wealth being generated from outside Korea.
Despite this remarkable transformation, some of the old attitudes and thinking remain. Given the rather tragic history of Korea and constant invasion by its neighbors, it is no wonder that there is a fear of foreign domination and the victim's mentality that colors Korean thinking and policies. Less so today, but certainly, Koreans desired to be recognized by foreigners and wanted to receive their accolades. At the same time, however, they feared their domination, and barriers were erected to keep foreigners and foreign capital at a distance.
The fact is, the world needs and wants Korea. The world needs Korean technology, Korean products and Korean investment. The world is thirsty for Korean culture, Korean visual and musical content, Korean food and Korean athletes. This need and thirst gives Korea real influence and real power. It gives Korea new found ability to persuade and positively influence world policies.
It is time to throw away the longing and need for foreign recognition. It has been achieved. No longer do Koreans need to huddle amongst themselves in the back of the room at international gatherings or conferences. Koreans need to be on the front row leading the conversations. Koreans do not need to feel inadequate or shy about their place in the world. They are on top.
Does this mean Koreans can be arrogant or dominant? Certainly not. But it does mean Korea needs to rethink its place in the world and how it deals with the world. Korea no longer needs to be reactionary to the policies of Japan, China or the United States. Korea needs to have a comprehensive plan and policy of what the country wants to achieve, establish a short and long term diplomatic, strategic and economic policies and goals and work proactively to influence the thinking of the world's political and economic leaders to buy into these plans and policies.
Korea's political leadership need to cooperate closely with the academic, political and economic leaders of the country to establish comprehensive policies and objectives that can help Korea attain international policies that will favor Korea's desired direction in security, diplomacy and that will help Korean companies remain competitive and profitable on the world stage. The world is ready to listen to Korea and it is time for Korea to raise its voice to achieve what is good for Korea.
Jeffrey Jones, an international lawyer at law firm Kim & Chang, serves as board chairman of American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Korea.
