[Opinion] Shanghai vs. Seoul

“Skyscrapers higher than 18 stories in Shanghai currently amount to 3,700 buildings. This figure exceeds all 18 stories-and-above buildings throughout Japan.” The government official’s face was filled with pride as he explained the economic situation on the bus ride to the downtown area of Shanghai. He had good reasons. For example, Korean reporters were awed after riding the magnetic levitation train connecting the Pudong International Airport to downtown Shanghai. This train, which opened in late December 2002, covers 30km in only seven minutes with a maximum speed of 430km per hour.

Recently, 10 Korean reporters returned from a trip to Jirin, Beijing after being invited by the Chinese Department of Diplomacy. Among the places visited, Shanghai was indeed the place where one could truly experience the changes that have taken place in China. Skyscrapers here and there were a reminder to North Korea’s Chairman of National Defense Kim Jong-il’s statement, “It has become the beginning of the world.” However, one could still strongly feel the element of national control in areas with lights being left on in empty offices for display purposes despite a serious electricity shortage in addition to the “comprehensive character assessment policy” of selecting people who are able to migrate to Shanghai from various parts of the country. In short, Shanghai represents a mixture of the new and the old, capitalism and socialism, as well as market and nation.

Perspectives of assessing the future of Korea and China differ from people to people. The Korean ambassador to China, Kim Ha-joong, whom I had the chance to meet in Beijing stated, “Although it is said that the speed of development in China has been quick, Korea should not be threatened by this.” Considering Korean’s nature of being able to harmonize easily with the Chinese compared to other ethnic groups, the aforementioned statement suggests that we can actually profit from China’s growth. Nevertheless, an official of a Korean conglomerate that entered Shanghai expressed, “When I look at the situation in Korea, I become restless.” This is to say that, the difference in the enterprise condition between two countries become obvious simply by taking into account workers’ wages that reach one-tenth of Korea and the labor market that adjusts labor conditions and firing in a free manner.

It takes at least over one hour to go from the Incheon International Airport to the downtown area in Seoul. Compared to Shanghai’s seven minutes, this is approximately 10 times slower. It is feared that this difference in time could be frequently used as an example to compare the economic development between the two countries in the future. Before that happens, we should all pull ourselves together.

Editorial columnist Song Moon-hong songmh@donga.com