The Transformation of Korea – A Personal Story of Change
1. How Korea Has Changed – Through My Eyes
In this post, I’d like to share how Korea has changed—not through statistics or textbook facts, but through my own experiences and reflections. I hope my story will help you understand Korea and Korean people just a little better.
When I was a child, Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world, having just come out of the devastating Korean War. Many of us often skipped meals, and some students couldn’t even bring lunch to school. At the time, Korea’s GDP per capita was under $100—poorer than the Congo. We relied heavily on international aid, and I still remember eating donated milk and bread as a child. Education was difficult for many kids back then.
If you want a vivid picture of that time, the current drama "Thank You for Coming" (폭싹 속았수다) captures that era with remarkable accuracy.
But what about now?
Today, Korea is among the top 10 economies in the world. Our lives are richer in ways that would have been unimaginable back then. Of course, many countries are still wealthier, but I believe Koreans live well today. Having lived through these changes, I’m excited to share Korea from my perspective with you. It still amazes me how far we’ve come.
2. What Kind of Country Is Korea?
Korea is a small country—about the size of Hungary or Portugal if you look at South Korea alone. But in this small land lies over 5,000 years of history and a unique culture.
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Despite facing countless invasions from powerful neighbors like China and Japan, Korea survived. Some say Korea has been invaded dozens or even hundreds of times, but it never lost its identity. The Korean people endured and preserved their culture, language, and national spirit.
This isn’t unique to Korea—other nations in Europe and Asia have faced similar histories. But Korea’s resilience helped shape a strong, persistent national character.
✅ The Spirit of Resilience
A great example is the 1997 IMF financial crisis. The entire nation participated in a gold donation campaign—people gave up personal treasures like wedding rings to help pay the country’s debt. This spirit of unity and sacrifice is deeply rooted in Korean society.
✅ Division and War
Korea is the only divided country in the world. After 35 years of Japanese colonization, Korea was liberated in 1945 but soon split into North and South under the influence of global powers. Then came the Korean War (1950–1953), which cost millions of lives and left deep scars.
(일본이 한국을 점령한 35년은 오늘날까지 양국에 어두운 그림자가 짙게 드리워져 있습니다 The 35-year Japanese occupation still casts a long shadow over Korea–Japan relations today)
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| (일본 압제를 벗어난 지 5년 후 1950년 미국과 소련의 대리전으로 치러진 3년간의 한국전쟁은 전 국토를 완전 폐허로 만들었습니다. Just five years after liberation from Japan, Korea was devastated again by the Korean War—a proxy war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union) |
The Impact of Division
Division is not just a political issue—it profoundly affects how Koreans think and feel.
We know that “we could have been like North Korea,” and that thought drives our determination to succeed.
It shaped our survival instincts and created a collective drive for progress.
It also limited political diversity in South Korea, where anti-communism became a foundational principle, leading to a more uniform political landscape.
3. The Driving Forces Behind Korea’s Growth
🔸 Education
Education has always been a top priority in Korean families. Our parents often sacrificed everything to give their children a better future. I’m deeply grateful to my own parents for this. In my school days, it was common to study late into the night. There was even a saying:
“Sleep four hours and pass, sleep five hours and fail.”
This obsession with education helped Korea develop rapidly. Even President Obama once said the U.S. should learn from Korea’s education system. While things have changed today, education remains a core value in our society.
🔸 Perseverance and Grit
Many foreigners say, “Koreans never give up.” I didn’t realize it myself until I heard it from non-Koreans. During the 1997 IMF crisis, people didn’t just complain—they acted. This determination is one of the reasons behind Korea’s remarkable growth.
🔸 Adaptability
Korea is constantly changing. We adapt quickly to new technologies and trends. Why?
Because we had nothing to lose. Poverty forced us to embrace change and innovation.
Countries that once thrived often resist change to preserve the past—but Korea had to move forward.
(한국 모든 식당에서 볼 수 있는 탁자에 붙어 있는 숫가락 통, 식사하는데 필요한 물품들이 비치되어 있어서 아주 편리합니다. 20여년 전부터 생기기 시작해서 순식간에 전국 모든 식당에 보급되었어요 Chopstick holders attached to tables—now a staple of Korean restaurants for over 20 years, offering self-serve convenience)
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That’s why I believe other developing countries can grow just as fast, if they take advantage of being latecomers with a clear goal in mind.
What do you think?
4. Korean Spirit and Emotion
If I were to describe Koreans in one phrase, I’d say:
“Warm-hearted people with strong spirit.”
🔹 Jeong (정) and Han (한)
Jeong is the deep emotional bond and affection we feel for others.
Han is a uniquely Korean concept—it's not just sorrow, but a mix of frustration, longing, and a will to overcome hardship.
You can find Han in Korean traditional music like pansori, and even in K-dramas and K-pop—where stories often show hope rising from despair.
🔹 The “Hungry Spirit”
Korea lacks natural resources, so we had to rely on ourselves. That hunger built resilience.
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After the war, our country was in ruins.
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In the 1960s and 70s, people worked day and night to overcome poverty.
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In 1997, we bounced back again from economic collapse.
This spirit of “we must survive no matter what” still lives on in Korean hearts.
5. Confucian Roots and Resistance Spirit
🔸 Filial Piety and Military Service
Loyalty to one’s country and respect for parents are central to Korean values.
All men serve in the military, and this is seen as a natural duty. Even global superstars like BTS have completed their service.
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Our language reflects this value system too—honorifics in Korean show deep respect based on age and status. That’s why Korean is often challenging for foreign learners.
🔸 The Scholar’s Spirit
Traditionally, scholars (Seonbi) were respected more than warriors. They believed in truth and justice, even at the risk of death.
This legacy lives on in Korean society today:
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Leaders are expected to be ethical.
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Whistleblowers are respected.
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Citizens admire those who fight for what’s right.
🔸 Spirit of Protest
Koreans don’t stay silent in the face of injustice.
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1919 March 1st Movement and the Provisional Government during colonial rule
- (1919년 3월 1일 독립만세 운동, 전국적인 비폭력 독립운동으로 카이로회담(1942년 미국, 영국, 중국)에서 한국의 독립을 논의하는 중요한 계기를 만들었고, 지금도 3.1일은 국경일로 기념하고 있습니다 Korea’s March 1st Movement of 1919 was a peaceful uprising that laid the foundation for international recognition of Korean independence—it remains a national holiday today)
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Democracy movements in the 1960s–80s
(군사독재에 항거하여 민주화를 위한 끊임없는 투쟁으로 1987년 민주화를 이루었습니다 Through years of resistance against military dictatorship, Koreans achieved democratization in 1987).jpg)
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The Candlelight Protests of 2016–2017, which peacefully changed a corrupt government
(민주주의는 완성체가 아니라 발전하는 과정을 보여준 촛불 시위 Korea’s candlelight protests showed that democracy is not static—but an evolving journey).jpg)
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Even during the 1992 LA Riots, Korean shop owners protected their communities with courage and unity
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Koreans have a deep-rooted resistance spirit that values justice over fear.
💬 In Conclusion – What Defines the Korean Spirit?
The Korean soul is a tapestry of:
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deep emotion (jeong)
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sorrow-turned-hope (han)
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resilience from poverty (hungry spirit)
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and the courage to stand up for what’s right.
What kind of Koreans have you seen?
Are there similar values or emotions in your country’s culture?
Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you!
Click the thumbnail below to see the story come to life on YouTube.
