Discover the Quirky Side of Politics: Top 10 Fun Facts About South Korea's Government

1. From Presidential House to Public Park

When the president's digs were more like a K-drama set than the West Wing: South Korea's former presidential residence, the Blue House, was recently transformed into a public park, allowing visitors to stroll through 250,000 square metres of history – from the Joseon Dynasty's royal garden to the modern executive office it housed from 1948 to 2022.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Hyper-Tube Train Magic Carpet Ride

Forget long road trips and boring plane rides, South Korea is preparing to launch their magic carpet ride, vacuum style: Breaking the speed record previously set by Korail, South Korea's government successfully tested a hyper-tube train prototype that zips through a vacuum at 1,019km/h, and aims to launch a hyperloop network by 2024, cutting the Seoul to Busan travel time from three hours to a mere 30-minute joyride!
Source => independent.co.uk

Did you know that giving a clock as a gift in South Korea is considered bad luck for the elderly? Discover why and find out alternative gift options! 🇰🇷🕰️🚫

=> Fun Facts about South-Korea

3. Yellow Bag Composting Heroes

In South Korea, the phrase "one man's trash is another man's treasure" takes on a whole new meaning as an army of conscientious citizens wage a vigorous battle against food scraps--armed with nothing but designated yellow bags!: Since 2013, the country has implemented a mandatory composting regime, requiring residents to separate their food waste into these bags which are then collected, with an impressive 100% rate, and converted daily into useful commodities like biogas, animal feed, and fertilizers. As a delightful bonus, the revenue generated from sales of these bags goes toward covering transportation and processing costs, making residents' dedication to the cause all the more worthwhile!
Source => theguardian.com

4. Chaebol Corruption Challenges

In South Korea, it seems the bigger they are, the harder they... evade taxes and corruption! Chaebols, or large conglomerates, continue to keep their white collars slightly smudged: Despite steps taken by the government to fight corruption, such as the Act on the Protection of Public Interest Whistle-Blowers and digitalizing public services, these chaebols challenge corruption investigations and contribute to the low confidence in the government, with almost 70% of South Koreans distrusting their government as reported by a 2015 OECD study.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Opposition's Epic Sit-In Protest

When the going gets tough, the tough stage a sit-in: South Korea's opposition lawmakers took determination to new heights with a whopping 193-day sit-in protest in parliament, refusing to budge until then-president Park Geun-hye faced the consequences of her corruption scandal, which ultimately led to her impeachment and removal from office.
Source => bbc.com

6. Green Light for Electric Two-Wheelers

Rev your eco-engines, because South Korea's government is gearing up to kick hybrid cars to the curb – faster than you can say "gas-guzzler who?": In a green move that'll have Mother Nature breathing easier, they plan to axe tax benefits and purchase bonuses for low-emission hybrids, and instead shower electric two-wheelers with subsidies to promote a cleaner, greener future on the streets of South Korea.
Source => electrive.com

7. Wave-Inspired City Hall Design

South Korea's new City Hall looks like it went to the School for Liquid and Graceful Architecture and graduated with flying colors as the class Con Wave-nsational: Designed by Yoo Kerl of iArc, Seoul's new City Hall draws inspiration from Korea's traditional Hanok house and features cleverly curving and distorted elements reminiscent of a soaring wave, while incorporating the historical allure of the old City Hall, now transformed into the Seoul Metropolitan Library. Completed in August 2012, this modern masterpiece even boasts an art fence to keep its secrets hidden from prying eyes!
Source => architecturerevived.com

8. President Turned Chaebol Criminal

From constructing highways to clogging up courtrooms, South Korea's very own Lee Myung-bak has done it all: Former President Lee was once the chairman of Hyundai Construction at just 47 years old and served as Seoul's mayor from 2002 to 2006, but in 2018 he gained fresh notoriety with arrests for bribery, embezzlement, and tax evasion.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Cutting-Edge Digital Bureaucracy

In a land where even your toaster might have a degree in computer science, South Korea reigns supreme in matters of digital bureaucracy: Ranking high on the UN's e-government readiness index, South Korea has been cutting out analogue red tape since 2001, consistently delivering the most efficient and advanced electronic government services in the world, using integrated portals and communication centers to reduce digital divides and obstacles.
Source => centreforpublicimpact.org

10. South Korea's Startup Super Squad

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... Korea's Startup Super Squad! Brace yourselves for the ultimate collection of business-boosting badasses: South Korea's government has established numerous agencies and programs, such as the Ministry of Science and ICT, Korea Venture Investment Corporation, Pangyo Techno Valley, and many more, all dedicated to supporting and skyrocketing the growth of startups and small businesses. Now that's a power move!
Source => seoulz.com