What do you mean fast? Fast-growing economy? Well, I guess in a way. I'm talking about South Korea, the way the society moves. When you go to a restaurant, you can get food within 20 seconds, and at most a few minutes. This speediness exists around the country, and is notable in the capital. 빨리빨리, or "ppalli-ppalli", refers to this phenomena of South Korea.
Lighting-fast internet, intensive classes, speed-dating events, food-delivery motorcyclists who defy the laws of physics compose South Korean society. It's hard to imagine that decades ago in the 60's 72% of the population lived in the countryside. The per capita GDP after the Korean War was about $69 USD, and was one of the poorest nations in the world. Now, its over $20,000 USD per capita! However, rapid 5-year plans by the president then brought reform and led to the "Miracle on the Han River". North Korea was seen as the wealthier and more powerful of the two Koreas but we know how that's fake news. In the following decade or so, exports rose 30-40% per year. That's crazy, especially since it's basically the only time a dictatorship with 5 -year plans worked out. Remember Stalin's 5-year plans for Soviet Union and China's Great Leap Forward? Construction projects, industrial projects take up less than projected time. Of course, the dictator then promised rewards to companies who could beat deadlines. There was the term, "gonggidanchuk" which meant "shortening the construction period" that was held with high regard. The funny thing is that now that terms refers to being clumsy.
In the US we would have delays and other "problems". Just look at all of those sprawling new industrial districts and highrises in Seoul. This fast-paced society challenges the growth of other Asian nations like Japan and China, which have also seen remarkable transformations in the past few decades.
With a progress like this, who knows what will happen in the next 20 years. Perhaps South Korea may become a superpower that is highly organized and efficient. Here's the other thing: South Korea is efficient and "cleanly-run". Everything has a purpose and everything is responsive. No one's really sloppy or anything, and not really aggressive. Obviously, the ppalli-ppalli nature has brought some tragedies,like collapsed bridges, or epic fails during the 2002 World Cup, where there were signs like "Memoriol Stadium" or "Disabled elevator" Think of the US northeast cities like Boston or NYC but more efficient, more mannered, and not sloppy.
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180708-south-koreas-unstoppable-taste-for-haste
http://allinkorea.blogspot.com/2011/04/ppalli-ppalli.html
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/n_feature/2010/12/18/30/4901000000AEN20101218001000315F.HTML
Comments
Post a Comment