Seoul: If its only Psy’s
‘Gangam Style’ that makes you think of Korea, you are mistaken. Though
the K Pop culture set the young population grooving feverishly on the
streets and in discos across the globe snatching Guinness World Record
for the most liked YouTube video, Korea has a lot more to its credit
that puts it in the category of world leaders.

Technologically advanced to the hilt, Korea’s story of resurgence and development is unparalleled in the world.

South
Korea, a nation that rose like the mythical phoenix after 1945
surprisingly shares a similar history with India. Feudalistic society,
foreign invasions, a country raised totally and abysmally 60 years back
is now an example of the most modern, industrially advanced countries of
the world. The entire Korean peninsula one fifteenth the size of India,
almost the size of United Kingdom, with sheer grit, nationalism and the
will to become a developed country its people planned and worked hard
to bring their nation to a point of becoming a country that can showcase
itself to the world at par with the most developed countries on this
globe. With a rich culture and history behind them South Korea is an
exemplary mix of modernity and traditional ethics. The food, the
mannerisms, the language and culture has kept their originality alive
and kicking.

Words go amiss as I describe the city of Seoul. Colorfully lit up market places, glassy vertiginous skyscrapers, glitzy
malls, amusements parks, I had heard a lot about South Korea. My
journey from Incheon international airport, a newly built structure
covering miles, to Seoul city was something of a dream come true.

‘Anneyeong
Haseyo,’ meaning ‘Halo’, I was greeted by my guide Viven, a beautiful
Korean girl as she and her friend Su received me at the Incheon
airport.  I sensed the warmth in the air and felt assured of a
comfortable stay for the next few days that I would be spending in
Seoul, the capital. It took us about an hour to reach our destination
‘Shilla Stay’, an upend property in the heart of the capital, cruising
by the most luxurious of coaches that criss cross the city. Meticulously
clean and smooth roads laced with brown leafless trees as it was winter
in early March seemed warmly welcoming in their unique grandeur.
Landscaped beauty of the symmetrical withered trees as if  come out
straight from some Hollywood flick. We crossed the big Hangang river, on
a kilometer and a half long bridge. ‘Gamsa Hamnida’, (Thank you in
Korean) I said as they departed for the day leaving me at the hotel to
be with me next morning.

South Korea is a country that is glass
and granite. Capitalist economy, consumerism speaks aloud. Korea is synonymous to Samsung, LG and Hyundai. How we take pride in flaunting a
latest version of a Samsung  or LG mobile phone. Their TVs and range of
home appliances can be spotted in every home in India. Every second
home has a Hyundai brand of car. POSCO is Korea’s steel major that is
making inroads into India. In 2018 Korea is going to host a sporting
extravaganza, the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Korean currency ‘won’ is 1170 a dollar (rates keep changing) and driving is right.

Cosmetic
industry of this far eastern state is a million dollar turnaround.
Every woman’s dream to look beautiful needs a Korea makeover. The
upscale market of Insadong and Dongdaemun among others are flooded with
all types of skin treatment and glow enhancing creams, packs, masks,
lotions and what not. No wonder Korean girls look like dolls, the phrase
‘dolled up’ seems to come straight from here. The glass like skins tell
all. Cosmetic is a big industry here and Korean products are hugely
coveted and used the world over.

Koreans have a lot to be the
first ones in the world. They proudly boost of reviving the Cheongechon
river, quite akin to Delhi’s Yamuna, a unique project to make a dead
river come alive, then hosting the 2002 Korea Japan FIFA World Cup
Soccer Game and a one of its kind, a Landfill resource project.

Though
their major success stories are those of their resurgence from a
totally destroyed state in 1910 and a Japanese rule till 1945 to a one
that is a most modern society, and now still living under the shadow of
constant threats from neighbor North Korea (striking similarity with
India), the country has the most heavily militarized and volatile
borders in the world.

Hangong river, a river that was once dead
with slums around it and filled with dirt and garbage is now a clean
stream flowing through the city of Seoul with designed boulevards on both
side and walking ramps. Way back in 1988 when Seoul hosted the Olympic
games the river sides were made as paths for athletes and visitors for practice sessions.  Cheonggyecheon, now a thriving landscaped stream is a
great tourist attraction. Its called the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project. There’s a whole museum dedicated to it. 

Something that makes you sit back and watch is the World Cup Park
which is also called the Sky Park. It is an artificially created land
to make a landfill stable rather than letting it be a ecological
disaster. We would call it a landfill site. Can you think of a landfill
park as a stadium of National Sports venue! Koreans have done it. A
whole landfill site was conceptualized as their FIFA World Cup venue and
with precision planning and hard work made it a showcase of Korean
development to the world.

As South Korea has capitalist economy
business houses contribute towards the upkeep and building up of city
infrastructure, business centers, commercial centers along with
entertainment parks for people. Lotte Amusement park
just took off my breath. It made me wish my childhood back. It would
give the Disney world a run for its money. You call it is an amusement
park or an Urban Theme Park, it is composed of Asia’s biggest indoor
theme park and outdoor park magic island. Merry go rounds, hot air
balloon rides, mask pageant, animated fairy tales, joy rides and other
endless entertainment. Lotte World Park has Asia’s largest Ice Rink for
ice skaters. 

A Buddhist monastery called Jinkwasa monastery
was a one time experience. It is unique as it is a monastery run by
women monks. Visited by world leaders in look out for peace and
tranquillity it teaches you meditation practiced by Buddhists as a way
of life. It follows the Jogye order of Korean Buddhism.  

Not to miss the Korean food
with its myriad flavors. Its a healthy blend of taste and tradition.
Its not just the noodle country, the cuisine springs surprise made of
rice, fresh vegetables soaked in sauces and vinegar. Kimchi, Bulgogi,
Makgeolli are the most common dishes that accompany your lunches and
dinner, more akin to our Indian ‘acchar’. Koreans street food is
something that is to be experienced.

Something that came across
very unique about their society as I talked to Viven, my guide, was
about their faith. In Korean society other than the four religious
beliefs of Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, the fourth category
gives you the liberty of ‘no religion’. A lot of Koreans follow no
religion. Cheondogyo is a homegrown religion.

Interestingly there is an ages old Korea India connection
too. Historically, around 2000 years ago, Indian princess, Suriratna
from Ayodhya travelled to South Korea and married a Korean King Kim
Suro. Suriratna known as Queen Huh from the Gaya dynasty, traveled for
three months by sea, following a divine signal by her father, to marry
the founder of Karak kingdom.At present, six million Koreans with
surnames Kim and Huh from Gimhae, and Lee from Incheon, trace their
ancestry back to the royal Indo-Korean couple.

Talk to a Koreans
and they believe that their tomorrow is into today. Their vision and
will to make a star of their nation has really made their today an image
of tomorrow.