Challenges for South Korea

Being in the center of Asian economy and one of the most fast developing countries in the world is not an easy task, so Korea is facing and overcoming plenty of challenges and obstacles.

Talking about obstacles, we can't avoid mentioning the relations with North Korea, and the fact that through years the tension only got worse. And all attempts to come to a peaceful agreement weren't successful at all.

Another challenge would be growing power of its democracy. Since Park Geun-hye’s government took office in February 2013, soundness of political democracy requires special attention. It is no secret in South Korea that conservative governments have used security concerns for domestic political purposes. So, democracy is a controversial and forbidden topic to discuss with Koreans, thereby the best way is to avoid mentioning it at all.

 Also, the competition on a global market level with Chin and Japan is also a serious challenge, it is crucial not to compare them with one another. Let alone the fact that Korea used to be colonized by Japan through 1910-1945 years, another topic to avoid during discussion as well.

Industry and manufacturing in South Korea truly took off in the 1970s under dictator Park Chunhee, which consequently caused the air quality in Seoul and the surrounding province deteriorated significantly throughout this period of rapid industrialization. Fortunately, later Green belts and emission restrictions have markedly improved Seoul’s air quality. In fact, South Korea’s biggest air quality problem is dust blown from expanding deserts in China and Mongolia.

Otherwise, as any other well developed country South Korea will have its up and downs, and the challenges will become more harder to deal with as the economy and wealth of the country will grow.