19 h 30, the feast in full swing at the Opera Gallery in the trendy chic Cheongdam, Seoul. Artists, businessmen, bankers are scrambling in the art gallery. "The Korean miracle? But there is no miracle. Since 1997, the country is simply vaccinated against the economic and financial crises, slips between two small kilns the boss of a large hotel chain. With growth of 2.9% in the third quarter compared with the previous quarter, South Korea appears as the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) who is recovering quickly. But for Lee Dong-keun, Deputy Director, Department of Trade performance is nothing magical. "The efforts to restructure our business and our financial institutions during the 1997 financial crisis provided a solid foundation to our economy.And this crisis has taught us that with a solid foundation can overcome the difficulties very quickly, "says he.
Weak Won
Twelve years ago, the "minor IMF (International Monetary Fund), that is to say cheap, flourished in windows of restaurants in Seoul. They symbolize a country to tighten their belts under the yoke of the international institution. Today, Bentley and Equus, the top model of Hyundai, the sparkle of luxury car. In truth, what makes the difference with the 1997 financial crisis is that the government has reacted very quickly.Between 2008 and late 2009, he has injected 88 400 billion won (50.8 billion euros) in the economy, including 26.8 billion in the form of tax reductions and lowered its interest rate of 5.25% to 2%.
"We come out faster because the initial conditions were not the same as those of Europe or the United States," said Hur Kyung-wook, Vice Minister of Finance. "The financial sector was not in the same situation as twelve years ago. The banks had money and had very little exposure to subprime loans. "
If the government failed to arrest the fall in exports, down from 20.7% in the first nine months of the year, it has saved its trade balance with the weakness of the won and the reduction imports."Our discussions have been penalized less than other Asian countries due to the diversification of our markets and our products," welcomes Yoon Jong-won, director general of the Office of Economic Policy at the Department of Strategy and Finance. Behind China (21.7% of exports), Europe (13.9%), North America (11%) and countries of ASEAN (Association of the South-Eastern Asia ) are in fact almost on a par. It remains to convert the try.
"Green Growth"
Unlike Japan, South Korea has no plans to ease its measures to support the economy. "The recovery is driven by the public and until the private sector recovers, emergency measures are necessary as well as fiscal stimulus.Exit plan would be entirely premature, "says Hur Kyung-wook.
The government relies on the vast field of "green growth", driven directly by President Lee Myung-bak to restart the machine. This project, which should raise some 60 billion euros of public and private spending in the next five years and create 1.8 million jobs, will own the car in the management of large rivers of the country, through the eco-towns. From the largest to smallest, all companies are required to participate. "They give us very positive signs," says Yoo Beom-sik, director of the Presidential Program Green Growth. Korea, which is 97% dependent on foreign countries for its oil and gas, is facing an energy bill of more than 93 billion dollars per year.As she turns to renewable energy, it is hoped that these will enable rapid development of new technologies.
It is also necessary now that the provinces play the game and also invest. The controversy has erupted in recent days, even within the ruling party, on the project to move 9 departments and 4 government agencies to Seoul Sejong City, 150 kilometers south of the capital, shows that the N is not won. It might even, in the eyes of some Koreans, delay or jeopardize the reform agenda of President Lee Myung-bak.
"South Korea: strongest growth in seven years
