I was in South Korea pitching a new media plan to a client that we really enjoy working with. The meetings were successful with some major wins for all parties involved.
South Koreans are so much like the Chinese. They are smart, curious and want to move forward. Not saying that the Japanese aren’t but the Koreans are aggressive and fast to react. Korea is like Japan was in the 1960’s when it had a hunger for progress and change. I like that. Perhaps the Koreans just seem to match up with my style of doing business as well. They are decisive, responsive and they know what they want.
Ah Kim Chee. Wow I love this stuff. The Koreans are generous and kind hosts who know how to put flair and adventure into their food. If you like spicy then this menu is for you. In America we know of maybe 4-5 different Kim Chee’s. In Korea I discovered there were dozens. All of it was delicious. Korean business people are no strangers to hard work and long hours. But at night it was time to stop talking business and time to have fun, lots of it.
Being Japanese American I am aware of past tensions between the Koreans and the Japanese. I did not sense even once from anyone an unkind feeling. This is a new generation that wisely let go of old hatreds and is embracing co operation and progress. They have their eyes to the future and from what I have seen it is a bright one.
Yet just across the river is North Korea. An angry and cruel dictatorship that has the most savage of intentions toward their own brothers to the south. Daily there are skirmishes, gun fire and traps set off by the North. But as North Korea starves South Korea enjoys the benefits of a free enterprise. The contrast is startling.
Just looking to the north through the barbed wire I was reminded of just how far these people have come and sadly just how far into the stone ages North Korea continues to plunge.