Despite its relatively small size and historical ruling by Japan, South Korea is home to some of the greatest tech wonders of the world as well as famous brands, sports, and popular culture.
South Korea’s economy has seen huge growth over the years with industries such as automotive, technology, and communications dominating the nation’s trade. Interestingly, semiconductor manufacturing is, in fact, one of the country’s main industries, with exports equalling approximately 129 billion US dollars in 2022.
While the range of innovation opportunities is, in part, due to the robust infrastructure, including some of the best WiFi and internet connections on the planet, it’s also likely to be down to the country’s leading .
However, many more aspects of Korean culture have proved popular across the globe:
Taekwondo
One of the oldest forms of martial arts, taekwondo was developed in the 1940s and 1950s with the main focus on kicking and punching. However, as well as an excellent way to increase physical strength, it’s also a great method to harness concentration and focus the mind.
The sport is practised worldwide and is even taught to the military in both North and South Korea.
Kia
Those in the market for a new vehicle might be surprised to learn that South Korea is the birthplace of Kia. Seoul is the headquarters of the corporation, with the brand having been established in 1944. One of the more popular vehicles here in the UK from the Korean automobile brand is the Kia Sportage.
Kimchi
A classic Korean cuisine featuring fermented vegetables, including carrots and cabbage, and a seasoned sauce, Kimchi is a versatile dish and can be eaten on its own or with accompaniments such as tofu, noodles, dumplings or eggs.
Samsung
One of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers, Samsung was initially started as a grocery store in Taegu. After branching out into textiles and then acquiring a variety of other companies, Samsung soon expanded into technology.
Fast forward half a century and the company became known for producing some of the best-selling smartphones along with microprocessors for Apple. Smart televisions, watches and tablets also helped propel Samsung to the top of its game, where it remains today.
Hallyu
The Korean wave (or Hallyu) is the term used to describe the boom in popularity of Korean TV, music and fashion. Examples include Squid Game, Winter Sonata and K-beauty.
Whether South Korea’s unique cultural concepts and innovations continue to be successful remains to be seen, however, there’s no doubt that some of the most famous and leading innovators have originated in this forward-thinking Asian country.
