Post World War 2, North and South Korea engaged in a civil war with the North Koreans having a communist ideology and the South having a much more democratic. Since that war, 1950 – 1953 Korea remains divided with no official peace treaty being signed between the two countries. Following a leadership change in 1994 relations between the two countries began to improve only to be severed again by the North Korean sinking of a South Korean ship in 2010. The effects of the civil war were that South Korea was devastated and became one of the poorest places in the world but now the South has grown into an industrialised country that has living standards which are approaching those in Europe. Some of this rapid growth can be attributed to former president, Lee Myung-bak who has taken a more authoritarian and harder line with the North.
The official name of South Korea is the Republic of South Korea (ROK) with its size being 50% of Victoria and with approximately 49 million people meaning it has one of the highest population densities in the world. The South has grown to become the 15th largest economy and a HDI value of 0.90 which ranks of 15/187 highlighting the rapid recovery of the South over the last 50 years and in particular over the past 20 years. (The average HDI in East Asia is only 0.67). (UNDP, 2013)
The official name of South Korea is the Republic of South Korea (ROK) with its size being 50% of Victoria and with approximately 49 million people meaning it has one of the highest population densities in the world. The South has grown to become the 15th largest economy and a HDI value of 0.90 which ranks of 15/187 highlighting the rapid recovery of the South over the last 50 years and in particular over the past 20 years. (The average HDI in East Asia is only 0.67). (UNDP, 2013)
Figure 3. Table denoting statistics regarding HDISource: http://hdrstats.undp.org/images/explanations/KOR.pdf
Figure 1, shows the rise in 4 categories used to measure the HDI of a nation. Between 1980 and 2012, life expectancy increased 14.6 years, expected years of schooling increased 5.6 years and mean years of schooling increased by 4.6 years and GNI per capita increased by a staggering 417% all a result of South Korea’s rapid development into one of Asia’s most developed countries. These trends in Figure 1 also highlight the rise in the standard of living as the GNI per capita rose 4 - fold in the span of 32 years. Education is often used to measure the quality of life of a country and South Korea’s increase in the expected and mean years of schooling further place emphasis on the South’s development and higher standard of living especially in comparison to its Northern counterpart.
Figure 1, shows the rise in 4 categories used to measure the HDI of a nation. Between 1980 and 2012, life expectancy increased 14.6 years, expected years of schooling increased 5.6 years and mean years of schooling increased by 4.6 years and GNI per capita increased by a staggering 417% all a result of South Korea’s rapid development into one of Asia’s most developed countries. These trends in Figure 1 also highlight the rise in the standard of living as the GNI per capita rose 4 - fold in the span of 32 years. Education is often used to measure the quality of life of a country and South Korea’s increase in the expected and mean years of schooling further place emphasis on the South’s development and higher standard of living especially in comparison to its Northern counterpart.
Figure 3.1. Line graph denoting trends in different categories in South Korea
Source: http://hdrstats.undp.org/images/explanations/KOR.pdf
Figure 3.1, on the left, places the trends in Figure 1 into a graph for better visual representation and further shows how the trends have been steadily growing since 1980, highlighting the rapid development of South Korea
Source: http://hdrstats.undp.org/images/explanations/KOR.pdf
Figure 3.1, on the left, places the trends in Figure 1 into a graph for better visual representation and further shows how the trends have been steadily growing since 1980, highlighting the rapid development of South Korea
Figure 3.2: Line graph denoting trend in South Korea's overall HDISource: http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/KOR.html
Figure 3.2 above uses lines to denote the HDI trends of different countries. OECD is the organisation for economic co-operation and development consisting of 34 countries all with the aim to kick start economic progress and trade, with most members of the OECD are developed countries with a high HDI.
Looking at the line denoting South Korea, it is clear that it originally started with a mediocre HDI growing since 1980 until it reached the level of high human development in 2010 and this is ultimately a testament to South Korea's significant increase in the four factors contributing to a nation's HDI. Comparing South Korea's growth to the rest of the world it is clear that South Korea has grown considerably - by more than 0.2 HDI points. The line also highlights how there has been a steady growth, as it started off very quickly and eventually reaching the level of very high human development in the span of 20 years.
Figure 3.2 above uses lines to denote the HDI trends of different countries. OECD is the organisation for economic co-operation and development consisting of 34 countries all with the aim to kick start economic progress and trade, with most members of the OECD are developed countries with a high HDI.
Looking at the line denoting South Korea, it is clear that it originally started with a mediocre HDI growing since 1980 until it reached the level of high human development in 2010 and this is ultimately a testament to South Korea's significant increase in the four factors contributing to a nation's HDI. Comparing South Korea's growth to the rest of the world it is clear that South Korea has grown considerably - by more than 0.2 HDI points. The line also highlights how there has been a steady growth, as it started off very quickly and eventually reaching the level of very high human development in the span of 20 years.
As suggested by its name – Republic of Korea, South Korea has a republic for a government containing an executive, legislative and judicial branch. Despite the high HDI ranking, corruption remains a large problem with South Korea ranking 43rd out of 182. When former President Lee was in power he vowed to make changes all with the aim to tackle the issue of corruption as such corruption could deter possible companies ; the South Korean economy is very import, export driven. This corruption is evident in all sectors even in sports where 11 players were banned for match fixing. Due to the nature of the South’s government style it is subject to a large amount of bureaucracy and consequently leads to corruption and the South’s modern legal framework means it has laws which protect private property and are strongly enforced. The GINI index of South Korea is 31, ranking 105/133; the lower the rank the more inequality. This inequality is evident in South Korea with the richest 10% making 14 times more than the poorest 10% while the richest 10% in countries such as Mexico and Chile, infamous for their corruption make 25 times more than the poorest 10%. South Korea’s infrastructure such as roads, railways, communications, water and sanitation and energy systems are advanced and well – develop with the majority of this infrastructure being built within the last 40 – 50 years hence meaning it is modern and new. (Government, 2012)Rail lines are extensive with high – speed rails with 6 of South Korea’s largest cities having subway systems. All of the urban population have access to clean water and sanitation with 83% of South Koreans having internet speeds which are faster than those achieved in the US. Furthermore there are more phones then people in South Korea (104 per 100) and most of the country is filled with high – rise apartments with only 17% of the country living in rural areas. .The statistics above highlight how the quality of life in South Korea is significantly higher than its Northern counterpart and shows the rapid development of South Korea into a technologically advanced country evident through its internet speeds and phone to people ratio. (Government, 2012)
South Korea is a democratic country where almost all rights are guaranteed a significant change to what it was before in 1986 where a military dictatorship ruled the country. The establishment of the National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea (NHRCK) in 2001 was aimed at committing South Korea to the international human rights standard at a domestic level. A further indicator of the South’s rapid development is how legal protection for gender rights having been increased drastically over the past 20 years with a non – government organisation, Korean Institute for Women and Politics being established. Since 1999, different laws have been passed all with the collective aim of gender equality in South Korea with the gender pay gap being women being payed 66% of the men’s pay. However during the 2008 recession where unemployment rose in South Korea 98% of all people who lost their jobs were women highlighting how despite the laws passed aiming for gender equality there still is gender inequality in predominantly male society with most women is hired on a part – time basis. South Korean women were also forced into human trafficking to other countries and more often than not forced into prostitution. There is not much cultural diversity in South Korea with the country being very homogeneous and having very few ethnic/minority groups with 20,000 Chinese immigrants make up the largest minority group. (Government, 2012)
The rapid industrialisation of South Korea has meant that the country’s environment being detrimentally affected. Most business in South Korea is export – driven and the country needs to import 97% of its energy needs. The GDP per capita – the measure of a country’s overall economic output also commonly considered an indicator for a country’s standard of living has, was $22,424. Due the nature of South Korea, trade is consequently held in high regard however there are many challenges regarding the South Korean economy most notably the aging population, inflexible labour market and an overdependence on exports. (UNDP, 2012).
South Korea is a democratic country where almost all rights are guaranteed a significant change to what it was before in 1986 where a military dictatorship ruled the country. The establishment of the National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea (NHRCK) in 2001 was aimed at committing South Korea to the international human rights standard at a domestic level. A further indicator of the South’s rapid development is how legal protection for gender rights having been increased drastically over the past 20 years with a non – government organisation, Korean Institute for Women and Politics being established. Since 1999, different laws have been passed all with the collective aim of gender equality in South Korea with the gender pay gap being women being payed 66% of the men’s pay. However during the 2008 recession where unemployment rose in South Korea 98% of all people who lost their jobs were women highlighting how despite the laws passed aiming for gender equality there still is gender inequality in predominantly male society with most women is hired on a part – time basis. South Korean women were also forced into human trafficking to other countries and more often than not forced into prostitution. There is not much cultural diversity in South Korea with the country being very homogeneous and having very few ethnic/minority groups with 20,000 Chinese immigrants make up the largest minority group. (Government, 2012)
The rapid industrialisation of South Korea has meant that the country’s environment being detrimentally affected. Most business in South Korea is export – driven and the country needs to import 97% of its energy needs. The GDP per capita – the measure of a country’s overall economic output also commonly considered an indicator for a country’s standard of living has, was $22,424. Due the nature of South Korea, trade is consequently held in high regard however there are many challenges regarding the South Korean economy most notably the aging population, inflexible labour market and an overdependence on exports. (UNDP, 2012).