Liberation Day—lets go shopping!

Monday was Liberation Day here in Korea, a national holiday that marked the 60th anniversary of independence from Japanese colonial rule. The holiday is celebrated on both sides of the DMZ, and this year a delegation from North Korea actually came to Seoul for official celebrations.


I like this picture because I think it sums up the South Korean miracle quite nicely. South Korea's economic growth over the past 35 years has been spectacular. Per capita GNP, only $100 in 1963, exceeded $9,800 in 2002. Emerging from economic ruin at the end of the Second World War, South Korea is now the world's eleventh largest economy.

Buildings all over the city have been adorned with national flags to coincide with Liberation Day, such as this one on the Shinsegae Department Store at Central City. Equally prominent is a very large Prada billboard. This temple of consumerism is located less than 70 km from the North Korean border. I often wonder what the average North Korean would think if they could walk down one of Seoul's streets.