[throw272109]

> ...South Korea and Taiwan as they made their transitions from poor dictatorships to wealthy democracies (and peaceful US allies).

If I'm not mistaken, both these countries became wealthy during the dictatorship period. It was only after the stability and wealth that they become democracies.

Taiwan's first democratic vote was in 1996 and South Korea's first public election was in 1987.

[seanmcdirmid]

Yep. They were also basically peaceful US allies at almost their onsets.