Korea 'Missing' From the Asian Era
After the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland recently, Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria, summed up this year's event by saying America was “missing” from the forum. He meant there was no obvious American star at the forum, despite the attendance of many American businessmen, activists and intellectuals as panelists or audiences in the meetings.
In the past, the Davos Forum saw American luminaries like former secretary of state Colin Powell, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Whether the big shots were attending was a matter of great interest to organizers and the participants alike. Americans also played a leading role in many seminars during the forum.
This year, nobody noticed that there were no prominent Americans, Zakaria reports in his Newsweek column. “For the first time in my memory, America was somewhat peripheral,” he adds.
Instead, the star players came from Asia, especially China and India. On Jan. 31, Japan’s leading economic daily the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, carried a headline story titled "Japanese Cars Produced More in Asia than in America." Japanese car production in China and India increased drastically last year, for the first time outdistancing its production in the U.S., the world's largest auto market and production base. Twelve Japanese carmakers produced a combined total of 4.27 million units in Asia, and 3.92 million units in North America in 2006. The statistics show where the sun is setting and where it is rising.
Last week, this reporter went to Beijing. At a glance, it seemed difficult to tell Koreans and Chinese apart. It never used to be. What was the difference? The answer is that Chinese people are starting to get the hayseed out of their hair; they have become fair-complexioned and gained flesh on the cheeks; their hairstyle and appearance is being "globalized": gone are the days when they were recognizable by their crew cuts, suntanned face, and dull clothes.
A few days before, the writer was in India's economic capital Bombay. "Look at that building,” the driver said. “It’s 65 stories tall. It is the tallest building in India. Perhaps it is the tallest building in all Asia." Most of the buildings in Bombay are dilapidated and low-rise. It may not be the tallest building in Asia, but it was still impressively tall. India is renowned for its high growth. But once inside India, it used to be difficult to feel the growth rate of some 8 percent. Now it can be felt. Later, it emerged that the Indian business leader Anil Ambani met the president of a leading Korean construction company to discuss constructing a landmark building in Bombay -- more evidence of how fast India is gaining momentum.
Where does Korea stand? Its prospects looks cheerless. Many say this is the Asian era, but Korea is “missing” too. It is no longer a topic in the international community. The only questions foreigners are asking are about the North Korean nuclear crisis and Kim Jong-il. Where can we find a future leader who can give us hope once again? Will we find our savior in the presidential election in December?
The column was contributed by Choi Joon-suk, Chosun Ilbo's senior reporter for international affairs.
