Made in Korea

Until the ’60s, South Korea was almost a mediaeval country, poor and underdeveloped. After just 50 years, South Korea is now one of the most advanced countries in the world. The rush towards modernity has been fostered by imposing a huge sense of competition and a painstaking effort to reach scolastic, aesthetic and professional perfection. Youngsters grow up by keeping in mind the same ideals and future aims: get the best marks to get the best jobs. At the same time, the aesthetic models are totally conformed, obtained through a massive us of plastic surgery. The Country pushes the young generation towards an alienating standardization, the exact opposite of what happens in Western Countries, where success comes from one’s ability to emerge from the mass. All this has caused dangerous side effects, such as stress, alcoholism, social isolation and a high suicide rate. The modernity-rush implies a widespread diffusion of technology; as a matter of fact, South Korea is considered to be 5 years in advance compared to other countries. Samsung, the greatest technological company in the world, produces 20% of the national GDP. The Country is also a cultural empire, with the highest education rate in the world, achieved through a high competition in order to get excellent marks and get admitted in the most prestigious universities; this effort will later guarantee social leaps, money and ambitious careers. It is not by chance that President Barack Obama exhorted the American students to follow the example of the South Korean ones; in this country, 58% of the population between 25 and 34 is graduated. As equally important as social achievement is aesthetic perfection; South Korea is famous because it has the highest rate in terms of plastic surgery interventions; every young South Korean does at least the basic adjustments: “West-style” eyes and mouth. The collateral effects of this rapid social, educational, economical, aesthetic and technological evolution – achieved through high competition and rivalry – are psychological outbursts such as social isolation and stress that sometimes bring to alcoholism and suicide (South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world: 43 per day).