[LETTERS to the editor]Cultural entrepreneurship

No country in recent memory has developed as rapidly as Korea. Because the country has no energy resources in its territory and did not have much capital to start with, few would have predicted that South Korea would one day become one of the world’s economic powers.

Of course, during the process of economic development and democratization, there were also dark chapters, but the results in Korean society today are indeed a miracle. Korea, against all expectations, has prevailed.

Korea’s future is still very bright if the country follows what Peter Drucker and Alvin Toffler have anticipated. However, whether or not Korea can become an international superpower in information technology or entrepreneurship in the future, the country will have to recognize the value of its culture.

Korea can not be a truly global power unless it has strong roots in its culture. We need to preserve and develop our culture.

Korea’s busiest streets are crowded with countless Western coffee shops, Krispy Kreme, McDonalds, Outback Steakhouse and many other foreign brands. Even in Daechi-dong [in southern Seoul], the education hot zone for many students, we could mistakenly think that we are in another part of the world.

Diversity is good and it is an essential quality of globalization but diversity is meaningless without strong roots in our culture.

Kimchi ... [and] bibimpap are praised by many people around the world. We should take pride in our traditions and take steps toward spreading our culture. We should not limit this to just small Korean restaurants. Instead we should make use of our entrepreneurship to take the lead in promoting our proud culture.

Korea can be the home of the next Eastern McDonalds.

Kang Jae-yeon,Sookmyung Girls’ High School

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