[Opinion] Vitality, the Resource for Korea`s Leap

The sun has dawned on the Year of the Horse. Even though the sun rising today is no different than the sun that rose yesterday, it is human nature to feel a difference between them and to resolve to change. This Im-O year must be different from the Year of the Snake. We must escape from the slippery twists and turns that confronted us at the end of a straight path last year. This year, which has two elections and two internationally important events, is an opportunity for Korea to ride the waves of revival from the shock of IMF measures.

The opportunity for transformation comes around once or twice in a lifetime. It is often said that failure is a stepping stone to success, but he person who fails much naturally falls further away from success. The failure to capture a golden opportunity will make recovery difficult.

It is conventional wisdom to regard human consciousness as steadily evolving to old age, but the sense in the present times is that human consciousness grows suddenly in the 20s and then maintains that state for the most part until old age. It is the same with wisdom and understanding of others. One cannot advance in self-development if one misses the opportunity for realization.

Society is no different. Korean society has had several opportunities to undergo decisive transformations. One was the fall of authoritarian rule in 1987, the end of the honeymoon with the civilian government in 1998 after its start in 1993 was another.

Through these opportunities, we have come to discover that Korean society has become more sophisticated and orderly. Despite the twists and turns, we sense a deeper maturity.

The rash `can-do` attitude has evolved into a more rational and realistic one, the conformist mobilization system in the development era has dispersed and spread over a diverse public society, and the nation has learned to yield its hold on its own things which was tightly treasured in the face of the wave of global standards.

In the year 2002, such trial and error must come to a stop. 15 years of experimentation and education since 1987 is enough time. If the past is not to become `15 years lost`, we must create a concrete program of transformation.

The Year of the Horse is our opportunity for change and predicts transformations that will raise Korea to the top in the 21st century.

Historically, the cause of accelerated advancement is actually quite simple. Great Britain became the center of the world because of the steam engine and the railroads. Through the steam engine and railroads, Great Britain found new trade partners and secured an extensive market.

The backwaters of the German Juenker, who woke up to the noisy railroad trains, began industrializing late, but it soon found a weapon that could supersede Britain. Theirs was the cultural wisdom that sought to nurture trade by utilizing the languages of their trade partners in contrast to Britain which insisted on the use of English. German officials and civilian specialists entered the trade enterprise together and took over British market with this one innovation.

The U.S., then, took the lead over Germany because of its scientific management. Hitler`s calculation that it would take the U.S. five years to produce the finest quality periscope left out the factor of scientific management. Japan joined the superpowers by utilizing its characteristic systematic talents. But the lack of flexibility in adapting to a new age has shaken Japan.

Smaller European nations do not engage in power struggles. Whether it is horticulture, finances, or medium-sized businesses, these nations concentrated on one industry and quietly took their place among the major powers.

Think about the concept of our nation belonging to an international convention of nations. It is a wonderful concept.

If Britain had technology, Germany knowledge, the U.S. scientific management, and Japan systematization, Korea has vitality. Some may wonder what vitality would provide for advancement, but I want to believe that the special energy needed to make the Im-O year one of transformation is hidden in this vitality.

There are not that many nations that have succeeded like ours after living through the kind of hardships we experienced in the last century.

I would like to call our task this year the `Globalization of Vitality` and hope that the two international events and two national elections will be the occasion for making this a reality.

Song Ho-Kun (Seoul National University, Professor of Sociology)