Why there is more to Korea than Gangnam Style

Korea

South Koreans love the singer Psy. This is in no small measure because - or perhaps in spite - of his enormously popular dance video Gangnam Style. On a recent trip to Seoul I found the pride was palpable whenever the song was played.

The massive popularity within Korea of Psy’s cheesiest of acts belies a highly-sophisticated population. The sophistication translates into large pockets of business excellence. One only has to look at world-beating companies such as Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motors which have continued to grow through the global recession. Inefficient oddity One area that has struck me as a curiosity, however, is the inefficient instruments that some Korean companies issue. And how persistently inefficiently these instruments continue to be priced after issue. I am talking about participati...