After the inevitable question about the North and the South, another question I've often been asked is about the level of economic development of South Korea.
"Is Korea a developed country?"
The simple fact that I am asked this question shows once again how little the French know about South Korea. I don't think I would be asked this question if I lived in Japan. Though it is pretty obvious that Japan is a developed country, it is obviously not so clear when it comes to Korea.
To put it simply, I always answer that, yes, Korea is developed, and I often add that its level of development is comparable to that of Japan. That might make an economist cringe, but I think it can help people get the idea.
People who ask me this question often seem to associate Korea with countries in Southeast Asia that are not yet considered "developed" from an economic point of view.
That said, the confusion can be explained by the fact that South Korea used to be one of the poorest countries in the world (in the 1960s). But the country has grown dramatically and is now a world leader in industry and technology, not to mention the entertainment industry.
South Korea is now a member of the G20 and is knocking on the door of the G7. So, yes, Korea is a developed country. In fact, when I go back to France, I sometimes feel like I'm time-traveling to the Middle Ages!
However, it must be admitted that in some aspects, Korea is still lagging a little behind. Sometimes, I walk in Seoul or Busan, with the impression of being in a futuristic metropolis among all these skyscrapers and giant screens, when suddenly I come across an elderly person selling fruit sitting on a sidewalk, or another one pulling a cart full of old boxes, or cultivating a small vegetable garden between two ultra-modern high-rise buildings. In some back alleys, you may also see tangles of electrical wires that would certainly not meet the French safety standards. And it seems to me that many homes are real "thermal sieves" as we say in French to refer to poorly insulated buildings. In short, these few examples illustrate my impression that on some points, Korea is a bit behind. But given the speed at which Korea is advancing, it will not be long before it overtakes France!
More information about the economy of South Korea is available here.
