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It helps that socialism is a much dirtier word in Korea, courtesy of history with a certain northern neighbour.
by solveit 7y ago
It helps that socialism is a much dirtier word in Korea, courtesy of history with a certain northern neighbour.
- rchaud 7y agoIs it? "Socialism" and "Communism" are used interchangeably in American politcal discourse as a blunt way to distinguish between democracy and capitalism versus dictatorship and collectivism. South Korea itself was a dictatorship until the late 1980s and received preferential treatment in trade talks in the cold war era with Western economies due to their unique role as a buffer against Communist expansion. This level of privileged access would not be available to less strategically important countries in a 'free market'. Plus SK already provides a level of socialist services that a failed state like North Korea can only dream of.