I just ran into an old man at the park.  first thing I thought was we (koreans and foreigners living in korea) need to be less critical of the cultural things in this country.

the old man with a shot wound in his hand asked me my story.  he was filled up with pride (in a good way) for this country and for my choice to come learn in this land.  he kept saying, your doing a great thing, and then along the lines of rise up, take places of influence, get the noble peace prize!  haha.  he explained that he wanted to raise his kids in the military, but his sons approached him and said, in this culture of ours, we are going to take these places of influence and be the best we can be in this one life we have.  The old man blessed them to do that.

the older generation pushed education so hard because that is all they had for hope to be successful in life.  And look where it has brought Korea in the last 50-60 years!   the development that has happened so quickly is incredible.

but now is another time and another cultural shift.  our generation is rising up and many of them are jaded by the education system and the pressures of success that are being placed upon this youth.  but with this heart there can be reformation!

I think the education system and the cultural pressures of success is about to be forever changed... again!
Good bye war time korea, hello creativity, peace, development, leisure, and hopefully more green spaces in the city of seoul!