Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
South Koreans are quick to rally around their leaders, and much of the traditional mistrust
of authority subsides.
THE GOVERNMENT AND EXPATRIATES
South Korean authorities, especially outside Seoul, are generally not accustomed to dealing
with expatriates, but they are learning quickly. A dearth of foreign-language services in im-
portant agencies such as immigration and taxation has been addressed with the introduction
of forms, websites, and help lines for non-Koreans, although there are still some problem
spots.
For most expats, contact with the government is minimal and handled largely through
their employers. Those who have to deal with South Korean officialdom directly generally
find civil servants polite and efficient enough, although they tend to be sticklers for the
rules. Bureaucratic corruption undoubtedly still exists, but blatant demands for under-the-
table payments to process or expedite paperwork are largely a thing of the past.
Some authorities, particularly the police, have been criticized by the foreign community
for an alleged tendency to side with locals in any Korean-foreigner dispute. Whether this is
the result of communication issues or genuine prejudice is difficult to say, but it is another
reason to avoid conflicts with locals whenever possible, and to have a good Korean friend
or two who may be able to intervene on your behalf in case of an incident.
Economy
South Korea's breakneck transition from agricultural backwater to export powerhouse is
sometimes referred to as the “Miracle on the Han River,” and indeed it looks like a super-
natural achievement. In the 1960s, when leader Park Chung-hee kick-started the country's
industrialization, it had a per capita income of less than US$100 per year, shoddier infra-
structure than its northern counterpart, and ranked beside Africa's poorest nations on most
development indexes. A couple of generations later, per capita income has shot up to around
US$30,000, and South Korea is the fourth-largest economy in Asia and the 13th largest in
the world, a major global builder of infrastructure and a producer of some of the most ad-
vanced and in-demand products on the international high-tech market.
The “miracle” was achieved thanks to a cozy relationship between government and big
business, particularly for the chaebol or conglomerates that still dominate most segments
of the economy, as well as an enviable national work ethic. None of this is to imply South
 
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