How did a country with a dearth of natural resources, a sprawling population congested in a limited arable land transform itself to a modern industrial state within a generation? How could these have been achieved given the lingering geopolitical threats to its very survival as a state, as evidenced by the Korean War and the internecine aggressive posturing of its neighbor from the north? This book looks at strategies, institutional arrangement, role of entrepreneurs and workers in this odyssey, and on how those factors have worked together through effective leadership to transform South Korea’s economic fortunes.

This comprehensive study omits no aspects of Korean life: its chequered history, brilliant success and aspirations for the future. Its tribal trek from Mongolia via China and subsequent wars to establish independence have taken part in producing a civilisation beneficial to mankind. Its outstanding economic success, formerly attributed to low wages by Western countries unable to compete, results from skill, hard work and an educational system, both public and private, relevant to country and individual. Recently a political revolution has established a democracy as President Chun, father of economic success, retires in favour of a new constitution drafted by ruling and opposition parties: a triumph for the moral stance of 'The Land of the Morning Calm'.

Because the author sees South Korean development as contingent on a variety of particular circumstances, he ranges widely to include not only the information typically gathered by sociologists and political economists, but also insights gained from examining popular tastes and values, poetry, fiction, and ethnography, showing how all of these aspects of South Korean life help elucidate his main themes.

"An explanation for Korea's economic success"--

This book by a noted Korean economist is already known for providing a unique insider's view on Korea's impressive economic and industrial growth. The third edition of this standard work is now updated with statistics as recent as 2000 as well as analyses of the Asian Economic Crisis, the restructuring of the Korean Economy, and the major policy measures resulting from changing North-South Korean relations.

Economic growth picked up in 2017, but reforms are needed to sustain Korea's convergence toward the income levels in the most advanced countries. Its labour productivity is 46% below the top half of OECD countries, reflecting problems in the service sector. In addition, productivity in small ...

Economic activity has contracted less in Korea than in other OECD countries, thanks to the prompt and effective reaction of the authorities to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to the wide-ranging government support to households and businesses. Nevertheless, the pandemic generates strong headwinds.