Korean media: Is South Korea a developed country?
On July 29, the Korean newspaper "Chosun Ilbo" published an article stating that Nobel Prize-winning economist Simon Kuznets (1901-1985) divided the world's countries into four categories: developed countries, developing countries, Japan, and Argentina. During his lifetime in the 20th century, Japan was the only country that moved from a developing country to a developed country, while Argentina was the only country that moved from a developed country to a developing country. Kuznets believed that it was almost impossible for developing countries to develop into developed countries, just like touching the stars in the sky. But South Korea touched that star.
For a long time, most international organizations have classified South Korea as a developed country. In 1996, South Korea joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), known as the "club of developed countries," and in 2010, it upgraded to a contributing country that provides aid among its members. The World Bank, which uses per capita gross national income (GNI) as a standard, has classified South Korea as a "high-income country" since 1995. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has included South Korea in the "developed economies" since 1997, based on standards such as national income and financial market development.
Foreigners who have visited South Korea said, "Only Koreans do not know how rich South Korea is." A 2019 survey by the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange found that the percentage of foreigners who answered "South Korea is a developed country" was over 70% in Asia (excluding Japan), 65% in Europe, and 57% in the United States. However, the self-evaluation of Koreans was poor. According to a recent national perception survey released by the Ministry of Government Administration and Safety, 27% of respondents answered "South Korea is a developed country." This is a significant increase compared to the survey 10 years ago (8%), but three-quarters of Koreans still do not consider South Korea a developed country.
Some people explain the unique psychological state of Koreans as a "complex about being a developed country." It is said that Koreans have long been in a weak country situation, sandwiched between strong countries such as the United States, China, and Russia, with a sense of inferiority that "one must always be cautious and not show off." Others believe that Koreans have overly high expectations of developed countries. For Koreans, developed countries are the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Nordic countries, and Japan, and South Korea has not yet reached that level.
The "complex about being a developed country" is not just a negative emotion. Because the desire to become a developed country and feelings of inferiority have led South Korea to become a developed country. South Korea succeeded through a "fast follower" strategy, quickly following and surpassing developed countries. Now, South Korea's task is to transition from a follower to a "leader."
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838947850147923/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.