LBCE No. 5: The Role of West Germany in the Economic Development of South Korea

The presentation was attended by guest professors from abroad such as Professor Colm Ross (Ireland), Professor Norifumi Namatame (Japan), Professor Marc Young (USA), and Professor Becky Strauss (USA).

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong's research focuses on reflecting the needs and development goals of South Korea in the difficult context of the early 1960s, explaining and demonstrating the important role of West Germany in South Korea's economic development during that period. Accordingly, the foreign currency South Korea received from West Germany through loans and remittances from Korean workers in West Germany were crucial startup capital, contributing to the successful implementation of the first Five-Year Economic Development Plan and paving the way for the "Miracle on the Han River" in the late 1970s.

The author received a great deal of attention and discussion from LBCE members. Professor Pham Quang Minh (the Rector of the university) considered it a good research idea that needed further development. The Rector also asked questions to clarify the scope and subject of the research. Professor Ross commented that the presenter had a very unique and interesting research idea and offered to support the presenter in their research.

Guests and LBCE members raised questions revolving around topics such as: Why Germany and not the United States or other countries? Did South Korea send a large number of nurses to West Germany during the research phase affect the South Korean healthcare system? Besides West Germany, does South Korea export labor to other countries? What is the experience of exporting labor to Vietnam? After three years of working under contract in West Germany, do South Korean miners and nurses continue to participate in similar activities in South Korea?

This lunch started later than usual, and the discussions continued until the very end. In addition to hearing presentations of their individual research findings, LBCE members also learned how to present a concise and easily understandable scientific study in English.