The Seoul suburb, home to both majestic high-rises and village shacks, is a microcosm of the widening social and economic inequality bedeviling South Korea.
SEOUL — Kim Bok-soon has a million-dollar view from her porch in Gangnam, the upmarket district in southern Seoul that was made internationally famous through K-pop singer Psy’sShe looks out over some of South Korea’s tallest and glitziest buildings, including high-rise apartment towers so luxurious they have their own spas and indoor golf ranges.
While the distance between Kim’s home and her workplace is small, the socio-economic divide is enormous. People “born with a golden spoon” in their mouths can expect to enjoy expensive private education and land cushy jobs thanks to their well-connected families. But those without such privileges — born with “dirt spoons” — say they never have a chance of getting ahead.
When they got married, Kim joined her husband in the property development business. It opened her eyes to the inner workings of Gangnam’s upper class.Now, she preaches that anyone can enter that world with a tireless work ethic and a proactive attitude, an important mind-set to help navigate high-risk, high-return moves like real estate development investments.She carries a Hermes handbag and recently bought a Lamborghini.
“Gangnam is the best place for young professionals to live in,” he said. “It surely is expensive but worth the price tag.”The securities brokerage where Lee works is one of South Korea’s best paying companies — and among its most high-pressure ones, he said. Gangnam has more than 2,400 private “cram schools,” where kids study for hours after their normal day has finished.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
North Korea satellite had 'no military utility' - South KoreaSouth Korea's military said on Wednesday it had retrieved the wreckage of a North Korean spy satellite that plunged into the sea in May after a botched launch and found it had no meaningful military use as a reconnaissance satellite.
Read more »
Crashed North Korea satellite had ‘no military utility,’ South Korea saysSouth Korea’s military said on Wednesday it had retrieved the wreckage of a North Korean spy satellite that plunged into the sea in May after a botched launch and found it had no meaningful military use as a reconnaissance satellite.
Read more »
North Korea’s Failed Spy Satellite Wasn’t Ready for Military Use, Seoul Analysis ShowsNorth Korea’s spy satellite, which exploded midflight and fell into the Yellow Sea, shouldn’t be considered military grade, South Korea’s military said
Read more »
South Korea says retrieves wreckage of North Korean spy satelliteSouth Korea's military said on Wednesday it has retrieved the wreckage of a North Korean spy satellite that plunged into the sea in May after a botched launch and found that it did not appear to be capable of military surveillance.
Read more »
South Korea to issue soon response to Japan's Fukushima discharge planSouth Korea will issue its own response as soon as possible after the U.N. nuclear watchdog approved Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima plant into the ocean, a government official said on Wednesday.
Read more »
Goodbye child care centers, hello elderly homes: South Korea prepares for aging population | CNNThe number of child care facilities in South Korea has shrunk by almost a quarter in just a few years, reflecting authorities’ unsuccessful campaign to encourage couples to have more babies
Read more »