Within the 1950s Southern Korea had an underdeveloped, agrarian economy that depended greatly on international help.
The army leadership that emerged during the early 1960s and led the country for one fourth century might have been autocratic and, often times, repressive, but its pragmatic and flexible dedication to economic development led to exactly what became referred to as “miracle in the Han River.” The south Korean economy grew at an average annual rate of nearly 9 percent, and per capita income increased more than a hundredfold during the next three decades. Southern Korea ended up being changed into a commercial powerhouse having a labour force that is highly skilled. Within the belated twentieth century, however, economic development slowed down, plus in 1997 Southern Korea had been obligated to accept a $57 billion bailout through the International Monetary Fund (IMF)—then the biggest such rescue in IMF history. The country additionally wrestled with reforming the chaebŏl and liberalizing its economy. However, its economy enjoyed a data recovery in subsequent years, additionally the nation entered the twenty-first century on a comparatively firm footing that is economic.
South society that is korean an equally quick change following the Korean War.
The populace a lot more than doubled involving the end for the war additionally the change regarding the century that is 21st. Simultaneously, contemporary education developed quickly, once again with considerable federal government involvement but additionally due to the resurgence associated with Korean people’s old-fashioned zeal for training after years of repression throughout the Japanese career duration (1910–45). The rise of academic institutions and of commercial and industrial enterprises close to Southern Korea’s major towns attracted a number that is increasing of visitors to cities. Seoul, in specific, expanded some 10-fold to about 10 million individuals amongst the end of World War II and also the very early twenty-first century. There is a corresponding development in communications media, particularly magazine and mag publishing. a program that is ambitious additionally undertaken to enhance and modernize the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
Probably the most conspicuous social improvement in Southern Korea, nevertheless, ended up being the emergence of the class that is middle. Land reform carried call at the first 1950s, together with the spread of contemporary training therefore the expansion regarding the economy, caused the disappearance for the once-privileged yangban (landholding) course, and a unique elite emerged through the ranks associated with previous commoners. Another significant change that is social the decrease associated with the extended-family system: rural-to-urban migration broke conventional household residing plans, as metropolitan dwellers tended to reside in apartments as nuclear families and, through household preparation, to own less kids. In addition, women strenuously campaigned for complete appropriate equality and won improved home ownership liberties. Females additionally won the ability to join up being a mind of family members in a brand new family register system that took impact in 2008. Beneath the system that is old males could register as household minds; therefore, kids had been lawfully the main father’s household register, maybe not the mother’s. The system that is new women’s legal standing in, among other activities, divorce proceedings and child-custody instances. This method additionally awarded used and stepchildren rights which were corresponding to those of biological children—for example, in things of inheritance.
Fast 
urbanization, the nuclear family members system, the rise in women’s active participation throughout the economy, and lengthening life expectancies intended that by the early twenty-first century Southern Korea had decreasing birth prices and a population that is aging. The general populace had been likely to decrease on the next years aswell. The federal government was concerned that fewer young ones and an aging society would slow financial growth and destabilize the social safety system in the foreseeable future.