Lee Kuan Yew and Park Jung Hee: Creators of Economic Booms
Article: Hannah Kim
Editor: Grace Oh
Designer: Sarah Cho
Editor: Grace Oh
Designer: Sarah Cho
“If you are a troublemaker... it’s our job to politically destroy you... Everybody knows that in my bag I have a hatchet, and a very sharp one. You take me on, I take my hatchet, we meet in the cul-de-sac.”
Indeed, Lee Kuan Yew made pretty good use of his hatchet. Perhaps, even killed a few with it. Yet he replaced justice with his hatchet, to take a leap forward.
Lee Kuan Yew was arguably one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. Serving as the prime minister of Singapore for nearly thirty years, Lee had completely changed the impoverished city of Singapore into one of the most industrialized and prosperous nations in Southeast Asia. Before Lee came into power, Singapore was one of the poorest nations in the world, with a GDP per capita of $450. However, by the end of his political career, Lee raised this to $12,800 by attracting foreign capital, centralizing the government and taking a stranglehold of the nation. In doing so, political freedom and free assembly was breached. People were not allowed to speak against the government’s policies and he also imprisoned many opposing party leaders. Still, many mourn for his recent death on March 23rd -- and they remember him as a pragmatic, unforgiving leader, and savior of their country.
Indeed, Lee Kuan Yew made pretty good use of his hatchet. Perhaps, even killed a few with it. Yet he replaced justice with his hatchet, to take a leap forward.
Lee Kuan Yew was arguably one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. Serving as the prime minister of Singapore for nearly thirty years, Lee had completely changed the impoverished city of Singapore into one of the most industrialized and prosperous nations in Southeast Asia. Before Lee came into power, Singapore was one of the poorest nations in the world, with a GDP per capita of $450. However, by the end of his political career, Lee raised this to $12,800 by attracting foreign capital, centralizing the government and taking a stranglehold of the nation. In doing so, political freedom and free assembly was breached. People were not allowed to speak against the government’s policies and he also imprisoned many opposing party leaders. Still, many mourn for his recent death on March 23rd -- and they remember him as a pragmatic, unforgiving leader, and savior of their country.
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Yet, another person to take into consideration within Lee’s political calculations is president Park Jung Hee of South Korea. Park took control of Korea at an economically difficult time. Korea was one of the poorest nations in the world along with Singapore -- and in many ways Park led the country in a way that was very similar to how Singapore developed. The rightdoing of Park is often brought to question and his governance is a very controversial issue even within Korea up to this day. Militarily taking control of the country, President Park built infrastructure to interconnect the country’s economy, fortified manufacturing businesses in Korea, and strengthened Korea’s position as a major exporter. Singaporeans are afraid to let go of any traces of Lee Kuan Yew. A recent law was passed allowing Lee Kuan Yew’s house to be maintained. |