Although they are both plutocratic countries, the Korean plutocrats are different from the Japanese plutocrats in many ways. In fact, the Japanese zaibatsu is more properly described as a consortium. To put it simply, the Korean zaibatsu is basically a single entity; the Japanese zaibatsu is multiple companies that own shares in each other.
Why do Korean zaibatsu control Korea?
1: Take Samsung as an example. Samsung is involved in a wide range of industries, and accounts for a disproportionately large share of Korea’s total GDP.
It has more than 420,000 employees, and is not only involved in machinery, real estate, insurance, chemicals, aviation, finance, construction, textiles, medical, amusement parks, advertising, automobiles and other fields. As long as it is needed in life, Samsung has it all. According to statistics, Samsung’s annual GDP accounts for 20% of Korea’s total GDP.
2: Inside the Zaibatsu is a family business with a very deep culture of foolishness.
The Samsung Group is controlled by the Lee Kin-hee family, the LG Group is controlled by the Guubenmo family, and the SK Group is in the hands of the Choi Tae-won family. The chairman has absolute control over the group, and all important positions within the group or its subsidiaries are held by himself, his children, siblings, relatives or other trusted family members, so it is easy for him to dominate. Korea is also a very loyal country, where the relationship between superiors and subordinates and between elders and children is very strict.
3: Zaibatsu and the bureaucracy are married to each other and control the political scene.
According to statistics, of the 310 family members of Korea’s top 10 zaibatsu, 46 are married to government officials and 14 are married to politicians’ families, which is why they are able to dominate the political arena.
It is for these reasons that South Korea is controlled by the zaibatsu, because the country is so powerful. But the consequence of this is that it is easy to stimulate social conflicts and breed corruption.
Why Japan’s Zaibatsu is different
1: They focus more on brand than bloodline
For example, Japan’s largest zaibatsu, Mitsui, has changed its chairman for an unknown number of families, because once the family descendants don’t make it, they change sons-in-law or recruit adopted children, and the purpose of doing so is to ensure that Mitsui can be passed on.
2: Japanese Zaibatsu has an aristocratic temperament
While the hierarchy in Japan is also obvious, they are more humane than Korea. In addition to having more power, superiors have the obligation to take care of and love their subordinates. Plus, Japan has always had a high level of education system, so the Zaibatsu has a higher level of civilized manners.
3: Japanese Zaibatsu is not alone.
The innovation of the Japanese zaibatsu was simply a combination of domestic forces to expand externally, rather than a top-down elimination of other forces, and their ownership was not concentrated in one, but rather cross-shareholdings in several companies, so they were easier to monitor and check each other internally.
In summary: South Korea can be controlled by the zaibatsu mainly because the zaibatsu are so powerful that they are in charge of economic monopolies and political control. Whereas Japan’s zaibatsu is more of a loose federation and they are much less involved politically.
Recent Comments