What South Koreans Taught Me

South Korea – undoubtedly, a nation of wonder.

It all began when South Korean films and TV series took the entire Asian continent by storm. This phenomenon is so prevalent among few of my acquaintances. Since then, the world noticed South Korea. South Korean pop culture is now regarded as the “alternative to American pop culture” (think American Pie, if you know what I am talking about) by many. People are emulating the latest hairstyles of the South Korean celebrities, glorifying kimchee (despite the fact that I don’t find them very tasty), and increasingly saying “saranghaeyo” instead of “I love you”!

South Korean music on the other hand, are tinged with a South Korean identity. I find that their music resembles a fusion of Asian and American-style music, creating a distinctively unique east meet west genre. On a personal level, I love Clazziquai’s music. Their music arrangements are some of the best things that I have heard in a while. Other than that, I adore every single song of Rain. And have you heard of Park Jin-Young? He apparently is the very first Asian producer to cross over to the US music market, producing for Will Smith, among many others.

What about technologies and industries? Samsung, LG, Hyundai and other familiar names are some of the hallmark of the wonder of South Korea. Samsung is one of the most admired conglomerates in the world and it had since overtook Sony in electronics, asserting itself as a force to reckon with. If memory serves me well, Samsung’s stock prices once rise to record levels to become the largest company in Asia in terms of market capitalization.

There are many other fields which South Koreans have made a mark in while the rest of the world watch with envy. Architecture, designs, tourism, food, and city planning are merely few of them. The real clincher that turned me green (with envy), however, was this super creative idea that they came up with. I was momentarily tuned out while displaying my jaw dropping hey,-I’ve-never-thought-of-that expression.

As I kept myself wondering how these people, who are essentially of the same species as yours truly, possess such an efficacy and ability to innovate and create things that command reverence from the rest of the world, two separate articles that I encountered recently, taught me something important.

The first was by Forbes magazine- a ranking of the hardest working nation in the world. The second was a CBS news article about the rankings of the most effective education system in the world.

Guess which is the hardest working nation and has the most effective education system in the world?

Here comes my classic phrase: You think that’s a coincidence (that South Koreans achieved so much) ? I don’t think so.

What I am realizing, is the importance of good education in changing people, in moving a nation forward. Which is why I was in great despair knowing that the education system of my country is currently in a very sorry state. Which is why I hoped to at least devote some of my time to think of how I can make a difference and give a helping hand in saving my country. Which is also why I am *still* trying to get myself a good education in *some university* despite being rejected once.

Above everything else, South Koreans had effectively corroborate the fact that it is through hard work, sheer hard work, that excellence is attained.

For that, I am very inspired by South Koreans. And I hope you are, too.