Tuesday, October 01, 2002
Donned the K Street uniform (looks something like this minus the shades) and attended two Korea-related events today. One was hosted by the ever-active Korea Economic Institute. The other was a more low-key affair at the Korean Cultural Service. A few general conclusions
--One could easily spend all day drifting from event to event, being fed, and, occasionally, enlightened. Some people appear to make a living doing just that.
--South Korea (aka the Republic of Korea) has done a remarkable job of recovering from the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. While problems still loom, particularly the challenge posed by an ailing U.S. economy, the future looks better than it has for some time.
--North Korea (aka the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) has embarked on a course of reform from which there may be no turning back. Whether Kim Jong Il and company can effect change swiftly enough to avoid a complete implosion remains to be seen.
--One could easily spend all day drifting from event to event, being fed, and, occasionally, enlightened. Some people appear to make a living doing just that.
--South Korea (aka the Republic of Korea) has done a remarkable job of recovering from the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. While problems still loom, particularly the challenge posed by an ailing U.S. economy, the future looks better than it has for some time.
--North Korea (aka the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) has embarked on a course of reform from which there may be no turning back. Whether Kim Jong Il and company can effect change swiftly enough to avoid a complete implosion remains to be seen.
