Carnet diplomatique: How South Korea Rose From The Ruins Of War

South Korea is today a model of economic transformation, barley 70 years after the devastation of the 1950-1953 war with North Korea. The war and previous Japanese colonial occupation left the country in tatters, putting it at the same level of development with several African nations in the 1960s. But South Korea has since risen from the ruins of war, becoming the world’s 11th largest economy today.

The details were given in a lecture at the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, IRIC, Yaounde on October 25, 2018 by Ambassador Bok-Ryeol Rhyou. Prof. Mol Nang, Vice Rector for Research, Cooperation and Relations with Enterprises, represented the University of Yaounde II at the event. IRIC Director, Dr Samuel Ehet and Zacharie Perevet, the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, were also present.

With theme, “Policy on the Korean Peninsula,” the lecture marked the launch of the 2018 Korea Week that runs until October 30. South Korea is ranked 18th in the world according to the Human Development Index, with annual exports of 600 billion US dollars (345,792.5 billion FCFA). On the other hand, 97 per cent of children are in school, giving the country the world’s lowest illiteracy rate. “In five decades, South Korea has moved from a receiver of foreign aid to a donor,” Bok-Ryeol noted.

The Ambassador attributed her country’s phenomenal achievements to visionary leadership, government initiative, hard work, discipline, close monitoring and follow-up of projects, good education and training. Good governance, incentives to private enterprises, their efficiency, promotion of value-adding local production and the implementation of five-year development plans, helped in propelling the country to rapid industrialisation. Implementation of “Saemaul” or the New Village rural development policy in 1970 became a game changer. “Rural life was transformed, greatly curbing poverty,” she underscored. Because of its huge success, the Saemaul model of development has since been emulated by several countries. “The opposite of human dign...