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Window to Korea’s Development Experiences

Development Overview/ Overview of Korea's development experience

Growth of the Manufacturing Sector// Is the 1960’s, the manufactufacturing sector started to play a leading role in Korea’s economic growth,
and between 1960 and 1970, Korea enjoyed an annual growth rate of 17 percent.

Vocational Training and Education// Vocational training and education programs produced skilled manpower
required for industrialization.

Promoting Heavy and Chemical Industry// In the 1970s, the HCI (heavy and chemical industry) drive contributed
to forming the foundation of key industries that currently support the Korean economy.

Building Infrastructure// The successful completion of the first three Five-Year Plans (1962-1976)
led to the development of alternative transportation means, including expressways.

International Sports Events// Holding the Olympic Games stimulated 7 billion US dollars of production
and 2.7 billion US dollars of national income from 1981 to 1988.

Financial Sector Reform// Financial sector reform normalized the financial system and
rebuilt the financial safety net to prevent future crisis.

Technology Development// From the early 2000s, technological development was made possible by domestic R&D
activities and imports of capital goods that embody advanced technologies.

Themes/ One stop reference

Public Diplomacy Project

This section introduces KDI School's public diplomacy projects with overseas educational institutions and posts the relevant research results and knowledge sharing events to K-Developedia (related research reports and event videos). This will be updated periodically to reflect any new research and events that are announced.
COVID-19 Information and Policy Responses

The Korean government is responding to the spread of COVID-19 by promptly disclosing essential and significant data on its website (KOR/ENG). Research institutes are disclosing trends and research materials related to COVID-19 (KOR). Please find the related information on these websites and the information provided by international organizations and foreign agencies on K-Developedia
The Development of Korea’s Electronics Industry During Its Formative Years (1966-1979)

Korea’s electronics industry is perhaps its best-known industry around the world. In terms of industry share of Korea’s exports in 2015, electronics (including semiconductors, wireless communications devices, flat-panel displays, computers, and consumer electronics) came in first at 27.6%, with world-class competitiveness in each of the product categories, followed distantly by automobiles and auto parts at 13.5%.
The Green Revolution in Korea: Development and Dissemination of Tongil-type Rice Varieties

Korea has a history that spans 5,000 years, overcoming invasions and threats by foreign countries. Despite these dire challenges, it was able to nurture a rich culture but the threat of food shortages is entrenched in its deep history. For Korea to increase the volume of food production was a long cherished-wish. Starting from the early 1960s, Korea set out the National Economic Development Plan, which pursued a national economic strategy that was grounded in achieving self-sufficiency in food.
Analysis on Development and Achievement of Compulsory Elementary Education after the Korean War

Korea has achieved remarkable development in education since the establishment of the modern Korean government seven decades ago. The main driving forces behind Korean education lie in quantitative growth and qualitative improvement. What is noteworthy of the quantitative development of Korean education is not just the size and speed of the growth, but also its remarkable achievements.

Statistics/ Key development data for Korea

Population projection

Statistics from 1960 to 2018

Population projection Statistics from 1960 to 2018
Infant mortality rate

Statistics from 2005 to 2016

Infant mortality rate Statistics from 2005 to 2016
Index of manufacturing ICT production

Statistics from 2000 to 2018

Index of manufacturing ICT production(Original index) Statistics from 1990 to 2015

Featured/ Featured Korea's development experience content

KSP/ Knowledge Sharing Program

KSP Slide Image

Capacity Building Workshops

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Consulting Program

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Impact Evaluation

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Development Cases

Events