Coyner’s Comment:
Long I’ve argued that S Korea’s political development is on par with its economic achievements. As the article points out, compared to China and Japan, South Korea comes across as a nation worthy of imitation. Korean popular culture in the form of the Korean Wave only reinforces this image abroad. Naturally as one looks into this phenomonae one sees it is all pretty complicated and intereconnected. But the below gives a concise, high-level summary.
South Korea’s influence in Asia
A country on a roll, or rather a wave
The Economist
Feb 18th 2012