Samsung success a reflection of South Korea
Ronaldo has one. The South Korean president has two in her house. It is Samsung's 110 inch ultra high definition TV, the largest of its kind in the world. You too can have it in your lounge room for a cool $150,000.
Samsung's headquarters showcasing its shiny metal and plastic and glass creations is a tribute to the country's industriousness.
At the macro level, Korea's rise over the past six decades has been nothing short of impressive. It has become an economic and technology powerhouse, fuelled by a relentless focus on education, and made the transition to democracy.
IN SEARCH OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF SOUTH KOREA
WIRED FOR COMMUNICATION, TIED TO AUSTRALIA
EDUCATION DRIVES SOUTH KOREA'S GROWTH
There is a strong dynamic of Western consumerism. American brands are commonplace. Every second store seems to be a coffee shop, and they are not all Starbucks.
According to trade agency KOTRA, Australian companies are also keen to do business in the South Korea.
ANZ has been there since the 1990s, while the toll road linking Seoul and Incheon Airport was built by Macquarie Bank. Australian superannuation funds have expressed their interest in investing in Korea as they hunt for returns.
Down the road from the president's house though a different kind of Korea is on show.
Near where we are staying in downtown Seoul in the city's financial district, a tent city of family members of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster has sprung up.
They are demanding justice for the 300 souls who drowned in April. Amid the fall out, politicians have struggled to set up a proper investigation into the disaster. That has seen legislation grind to a halt in the national assembly, including ratification of the free trade deal with Australia.
But the ramifications go beyond just the typical political blame game. Korean sociologist Myung Woo Nho tells us the tragedy has badly rocked people's faith in government.
The national grief has reinforced what was already a narrow but strong divide between the governing conservatives and opposition liberals. He is not optimistic for the future.
"The distrust will linger forever," Professor Nho says.
'''The reporter is is South Korea for the Walkley Foundation's Australian Korean journalist exchange program, supported by the Australia Korea Foundation and the Korean Press Foundation.
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