Nationalism as a balancing act

There are many things to admire about South Korea but the most relevant to the Philippines is its struggle to keep balance between tradition and modernity. That is also my understanding of its nationalism. Its nationalism is open-minded and enables it to take on the world. Paradoxical as it may seem, South Korea was able to become industrialized because it preserved its self identity. It was apt that we saw both sides of this paradox in a single trip which took us to Ulsan, the site of Hyundai Motor Company and the Hyundai Heavy Industries and to Kyongju, the capital of ancient Silla Kingdom (57 BC -935 AD) over one thousand years. Although it was pelting with rain we saw through the mist the magnitude of Saro, one of twelve tribes which unified the entire Korean peninsula. It did so by taking up the cultures of its enemy kingdoms as well as the developed culture of Tang China. During this golden era, "temples were set up like myriad stars in the sky and the pagodas were in line like a flock of wild geese flying." It was listed in 1979 as one of the ten biggest historic sites in the world by UNESCO.

Before Kyongju we visited Hyundai Motor Company and Hyundai Heavy Industries which typify Korea’s industrialization. We saw factories geared with robots to produce Made in Korea cars. At the entrance of the plant it said ‘this is an environment friendly company.’ I could not understand how making cars could be environmentally friendly until I found out that its research and development department is dedicated how to make environmentally friendly cars. One such way is to use what it called ‘magic metals’ instead of steel. With the growing demand for safer, more fuel efficient cars, they have discovered aluminium and magnesium which are superior to steel for their lightness, rigidity and formability properties. They launched the all-aluminium Hyundai sports coupe in the 1997 Seoul Motor show. This all-aluminium concept of a car will not be limited to their own cars but I understand will also be used by selected DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi sedans.

Next door was the world’s largest shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries which has delivered 80 million deadweight tons of ships (51 million gross tons) since it began 30 years ago. Indeed as our Hyundai guide told us, it has no competitor as far as the making of huge bulk carriers are concerned. HHI has set a new world record surpassing Japanese and European shipbuilding, some of whom have been around for 100 years by the sheer volume of ships they have produced. Call it luck but in 1972 when the shipyard was still to be made George S. Livanos of the Greek shipping fortune ordered two 260,00 dwt VLCCs (very large crude oil carriers). Work on both the making of the factory and the ships proceeded simultaneously. By 1974 they had completed both ships and the shipyard. No wonder the world called it the ‘Hyundai Shipyard Myth."

Since then it has surpassed its mentor and founding partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as world leader in annual new building orders and tonnage of ships built. The lesson to learn is that nationalism, true nationalism, at least as far as the Korean model is concerned, is a balancing act, not a demagogic rejection of outside influence.

* * *

If Koreans are good nationalists, they are also good internationalists. It shows in the way they approach the North Korean problem. As Deputy Assistant Minister for Unification Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Park Chan-Bong puts it "they are one with the international community in persuading the North to desist from their nuclear project, but they continue to prepare for eventual unification. The unification team at the ministry continues economic and humanitarian assistance to North Korea. Although in harmony with the US they are aware that there will always be a difference in perspective, because Korea belongs to Koreans whether they are in the north or in the south. He said ASEAN is an important vehicle for taking up substantial issues with less confrontation. When asked if he expected Korea to be united he said it could take a very long time or happen any time soon. On the other hand, other Koreans I interviewed said the situation can change if and when the present Korean leader Kim Jong-Il is out of the political scene.

* * *

Letter. I can understand the Benedictos of <[email protected] who rebuke Filipinos unable to distinguish between reel and real life. "Poe may have played heroic roles in the movies but could he provide a better life for poor Filipinos? The Filipino people elected a movie star, former President Joseph Estrada, with disastrous results. What’s the assurance that Poe, a high school dropout would be any better? What does he know of governance? Does he possess the vision to make the Philippines a prosperous nation? Those who believe that he is the savior of the nation are deluding themselves and are engaged in wishful thinking." That may be so but ignorant poor are not to blame for the sorry state of our elections. It is wealthy and educated elite, a part of it who are to blame. They use the actor’s popularity to gain power. When the first actor who could have been president – Rogelio de la Rosa – was poised to run for president, he was dissuaded by more enlightened leaders, among them the President’s father. ‘Roger’ was given an ambassadorial post instead.

* * *

Thank you to all who responded to my column: Wanted: Chief Executive, an ad sent to me by Edwin Lee. Ofelia Mananquil Bakker mailed it around the world through the many OFW e-mail groups. For the sake of those who were unable to read it, here it is again especially for would-be applicants: Medium-sized republic with a population of 80 million is looking for a Chief Executive Officer to manage a bureaucracy with an annual budget of 800 billion pesos. Prospective candidates must have a strong political, financial, operational, philosophical and psychological background. A track record in restructuring and re-engineering oversized organizations will be an advantage. Must have the ability to analyze problems and look beyond the obvious in the search for root causes. An innovative leader, he or she should always be looking for ways to motivate subordinates and to pre-empt potential problems before they can occur. Must be a student of human nature, in order to understand why subordinates make mistakes–not in order to rebuke them, but to find ways to change the environment that has led to previous failures. Prospective candidates must be eccentric, fastidious about personal appearances, tireless in the search for and pursuit of excellence, and as demanding of himself/herself as he or she is of others. Every candidate must be rated in terms of his or her moral and financial integrity. Actors and actresses need not apply.

E-mail: [email protected]