: Super User; S. Korea; 22 November 2011; Hits: 1712

Cold Winter Ahead for South Koreans

This winter South Koreans will be swallowing their pride to endure an unprecedented round of electricity rationing.

: Super User; S. Korea; 19 October 2011; Hits: 2698

Politics Gripped in the Vice of Corruption

“THIS is an ethically perfect government,” South Korean President Lee Myung Bak reportedly told an unscheduled meeting of staff members late last month. The irony may not have been deliberate, but it would be difficult to interpret the statement otherwise.

: Super User; S. Korea; 22 June 2011; Hits: 1705

Home Truths about South Korean Growth

EARLIER this month, when the Bank of Korea (BOK) revised downwards its economic growth estimates for the first quarter, some observers saw little reason for concern. Exports were continuing to do well, and after chalking up a remarkable nine straight quarters of positive growth, the economy in general seemed to be on a sound growth track.

: Super User; S. Korea; 11 May 2011; Hits: 1666

Japan Quake, No Lift for Korean Producers

SOUTH Korea is the fifth largest economic power in Asia, after China, Japan, India and Russia. It is also one of the leading nations in the world in automobile manufacturing as well as the production of LCD screens and semiconductors.

: Super User; S. Korea; 16 February 2011; Hits: 1720

Coalition of the Unwilling

ARE South Korean industries about to face more disruptions at work sites this year? The inauguration of a tough- talking leader as head of one of the country’s largest trade union umbrella groups on Feb 1 certainly suggests this could be the case.

Key Political Risks

Park Geun-hye, daughter of former dictator Park Chung-hee, won the December 19 presidential election. She has the support of the ruling conservative New Frontier Party, but as a woman in a deeply patriarchal society, she may have to work hard to assert her authority in government.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Attitude of the government towards the chaebols (large family-owned conglomerates). Ms Park's father strongly supported chaebol development when he was president, but during the recent campaign Ms Park indicated that she would back reforms aimed at ensuring fair competition for smaller firms.
Measures designed to assist women enter the workforce, improve child care facilities and help lower income groups.
Official policies towards the North. In campaign speeches, Ms Park appeared to distance herself from her conservative predecessor's hardline stance. But powerful elements within the ruling New Frontier Party are likely to resist any change.
Continuing power transition in the North. It has gone smoothly so far. But there also appear to be those in the upper echelons of the regime that are unhappy with Kim Jong Un's credentials and see him as a weak leader.