| >Perhaps, though you would be wrong about the state of things - Korea had a fairly big manufacturing base when taken over by Japan, Ugh... I see you overlooked the small fact that the Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula happened before the Korean War... "After all, the South was by all standards a failed state after the Korean war (1950-53). GDP per capita in South Korea in early 1960’s was below $100. Lower than Haiti, Ethiopia or Yemen, making South Korea one of the poorest countries in the world. Infrastructure built during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945) was destroyed during the war. All of Korea’s natural resources remained in the North, as well as its industrial facilities. The first years of independence, under the presidency of Rhee Syng-man, brought no economic development and kept South Korea afloat only due to foreign aid." [0] >“Capitalism” being called as a reason for success sort of also implies that there is something strong and special about Koreans in that they can make it work There may be something strong and special about Koreans, but one half went capitalist, the other half went Communist/Socialist. The proof is in the pudding. >where there are countless other examples of capitalistic societies leading to massive corruption Being capitalist is immaterial to being corrupt. [0] https://www.forbeswoman.ge/en/post/southkorea |
I guess explain China vs Taiwan, which are both doing well, although that is certainly glossing over some horrible decades with the cultural revolution.