h has been run by a rigid totalitarian government, where the standard of living is low, even in comparison to other countries in Asian, the South has industrialized and prospered vastly since the 1960's, under a series of relatively authoritarian regimes (Hoare, 1988).
Confucianism is the core philosophical belief of South Korea, though a large percentage of the population is nominal ly Christian or non-religious (Handbook of Korea, 1987). The philosophy promotes the idea of consen sus, both group and national, as opposed to the emphasis on individualism in the West, and particularly the US. This mani fests itself in a greater affinity for authoritarianism, as opposed to the conflicts and divisiveness of Western-style de mocracies. It also helps explain the "company unions" where strikes, until the 1980's at least, were relatively rare. In addition Confucianism inculcates reverence for education in general and teachers in particular. Also, a strong work ethic and self-discipline are tenets of the philosophy, which encourages South Koreans to work hard and excel.
The government of South Korea from the 1950's to the 1980's was moderately authoritarian, which is understandable given the constant military threat posed by a hostile regime in North Korea ("Korea-South," 1993). In recent years, however, democracy has taken root, especially as prosperity and a strong middle class have emerged as socioeconomic realities.
After World War II, South Korea was largely agricultural and poor, while the North had most of the industry and mineral wealth, developed largely by Japan in the colonial era (Handbook of Korea, 1987). This disparity continued until the 1960's. when the South Korean economy began to industrialize and expand, at the same time the North's economy began to stagnate. Today, the situation is the reverse of what it was in the 1940's and 1950's; the South is rich and industrialized, and the North is poverty-stricken ...