Editorial

South Korea: A Model On Discipline And Accountability

by Ernesto T. Solidum

            The recent Kapihan forum is privileged to have as guests 26 college students from Sonkmyung Women’s University. The topic is “Enhancing Global Understanding” held at NVC Carmen Hotel, Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan. The guests are led by Soyoung Kim taking up Global Cooperation, Hunji Chot – Economy, Hunjie Kim and Seou Hong both taking up Entrepreneurship. The local guests are Ma. Luisa F. Tolentino - Pook Day Care Worker, and Rustom L.  Llanera – Pres., Supreme Student Council, Northwestern Visayan Colleges (NVC).

            Atty. Allen S. Quimpo said that the student exchange program between NVC and Sonkmyung Women’s University started four (4)  years ago as a private initiative to develop cooperation and understanding between two institutions of higher learning on common areas of concern as education, business, tourism and culture. As a developing country, we will be most benefited by technological advances of South Korea in science and technology, business, finance and agricultural modernization, the former Aklanon solon pointed out.

            Ms. Tolentino reported the visit of Korean students to their Day Care Center where they gave lecture demo on personal grooming and hygiene. This includes proper washing of hands before and after meals, daily bathing and brushing of teeth. All the kids present were provided toothbrush, toothpaste and school supplies as token of their advocacy.

            Ms. Soyoung Kim disclosed that their sojourn in Aklan is good only for 10 days, thanks to the South Korean government. The night before, they were treated to a sumptuous dinner party hosted by NVC Supreme Student Council and NVC Faculty. Here, we got a glimpse for the first time of superb entertainment of songs and dances and taste of Filipino cuisine.

            Ms. Hunji Chot stated that Sonkmyung Women’s University was founded in 1903 purposely to enhance women’s education. It is the first University in Seoul to offer the course in Entrepreneurship. The graduates of the course are financially assisted by the University or the government based on the feasibility study and uniqueness of the project proposed.

            “In the Philippines, you have a lot of mangoes that are delicious and yet we don’t have them in supermarkets in Seoul. We noted franchise companies of McDonald, Jollibee, and Chowking that are crammed with patrons. It is probable more franchising companies are needed here to meet consumers’ demand,” observed Ms. Chot.

            The following is a culled extract from the 1967 Caxton Encyclopedia about South Korea. “The country was invaded in modern times by the North in 1950. However, the UN intervened led by the US and allied powers effectively dividing the Korean peninsula at latitude 36 degrees North.

            In the 19^th century when the nation was basically agricultural, a farmer and his wife with baby on backpack have to toil the land for 12 hours each day just to tide over poverty and misery. Of the 38,450 square miles land area, only 20 percent is arable and planted to rice, barely, wheat, cotton and sugar.

            The country was annexed by Japan in 1910 and lasted for 35 gruesome years marked by torture, execution, and exploitation. Fortunately in 1945, South Korea became independent when Japan was defeated in the second World War.

            The forerunner of South Korea’s economy is manufacturing chiefly cotton and silk textiles, steel, pottery and ceramics, canned sardines and mackerel. The country has abundant mineral deposits of coal, iron ore, copper, graphite, and tungsten which serve as raw materials for power generation and industrialization.

            The population is homogeneous and quite distinct from Chinese or Japanese. This is due to the two mainstream immigrations namely: a) Tinguistic stock (Mandarin and Eastern Siberia) and b) Southern China.

            The feudal lords who were Paikehe and Koyenge once ruled Korea but were conquered buy China under the Tang Dynasty. However, in the 12^th century, Korea and China were overwhelmed by Mongol conquest led by Kublai Khan. Many Koreans were conscripted to fight the Japanese but Mongolian expedition was no matched for Japanese superiority in naval battles.

The influence of Chinese philosophy through orthodox Confucianism became predominant in Korean life. Confucian literature remained the means of entry into the civil service until the end of the 19^th century. Christianity was introduced in 1777 by early Chinese converts.

The language of South Korea is more related to the Japanese Niponggo, a member of the Altaic branch of the Ural. Few additions came from Chinese Mandarin.”

There is disbelief and admiration over South Korea’s economic miracle steadily rising from the ashes of war of 1953. Now, the past is a blurred memory. It is replaced by unprecedented growth, power and influence. Presently, it rivals Japan and China as industrial hub of Asia.

The engine of industrialization lies in a strong education base and emphasis on research and development. This is the reason why electronics industry led by Samsung and LG became successful in their global business outreach said Ms. Chot. Presently, the Philippines has purchase order of 12 FA fighter jets to bolster her defense capability. In banking, South Korea will finance half of the P11.2 billion Jaluar River Multipurpose Project in Calinog, Iloilo.

It has been 69 years since the Philippines was devastated by the second World War and yet her economy and political system had not stabilized or prospered compared to other ASEAN countries. In this 21^st century, the nation must work to become globally competitive by turning out quality products and services. Filipinos have not developed their basic industries be it in agriculture, mining, clothing, food. Instead, the Philippines rely on imported finished products.

The Philippines is ascribed to as the “sick man of Asia” because of her inability to lower poverty incidence recorded at 27.8 percent. Every year, the Philippine colleges and universities turn out 200, 000 graduates but only 20 percent of them find employment. Probably, it’s time to evaluate our basic education curriculum to favor entrepreneurship or self employment. Worse, the government bureaucracy is riddled by graft and corruption eating up to at least 30 percent of the annual budget.

South Korea has jailed three presidents, one of them committed suicide. Its first President Syngman Rhee was corrupt and later deposed in 1960. However, it was Pres. Park who successfully managed to secure financial assistance from Germany to jumpstart her industrialization program. Such is the culture of discipline and accountability that must be inculcated in the Filipino psyche. Absolutely, there must be no compromise.

South Korea is a model on discipline and accountability the Philippines must emulate. /MP