In his inaugural speech in 1961, John F. Kennedy fascinated the audience with a monumental line: “And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you ― ask what you can do for your country.” Perhaps the Korean people should consider what Kennedy said as well, since Koreans tend to expect their country to do everything for them.

When the taxi business is slow, for example, Korean taxi companies expect, and sometimes even demand, that the government help them financially. And the Korean government tries to meet their expectations. Foreigners might find such demands inscrutable since taxi companies are privately owned and the government is not responsible for them. 

In Korea, private universities, as well as many businesses in the private sector, receive financial aid from the government. Farmers, too, always demand compensation from the government whenever they suffer meager harvests due to droughts or floods. Of course, the government almost always complies with their demands.

Some Koreans also do not hesitate to call 119 whenever they encounter minor problems at home or need a ride to the hospital since they assume the government should serve them whenever necessary. The national emergency unit is frequently called upon even to remove icicles or beehives from people’s homes. When there is a workers’ strike, we also assume that the government should intervene and settle the problem. As soon as a strike begins, therefore, riot police arrive and almost always physically clash with workers. In many other countries, the police do not interfere with a company’s problem; they step in only when demonstrators violate the law during a protest. Indeed, we expect too much from our government.

The same goes for our small and medium businesses. According to the new policy of President-elect Park, the government will foster and support small businesses from this year on. Thus, all small and medium business owners are looking forward to receiving massive financial support from the government. It would not suit the true spirit of the policy, however, if the government simply passed out money to small businesses based on the notion of economic democracy. Few people would deny the fact that small companies must survive and thrive by themselves, without the help of the government. In addition, they must strive to compete with world-class merchandise.

Recently, television channels have been airing programs with titles like “Germany, a Nation of Small and Medium Businesses” and “Sweden, a Kingdom of Small Business.” However, the so-called small companies in Germany and Sweden introduced by these programs are much bigger and more renowned than Korean ones. Indeed, they are world-class companies whose products rival those produced by the likes of Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. Besides, the German and Swedish companies proudly manufacture merchandise with high craftsmanship and an artisan spirit. Unfortunately, no Korean small business can match German or Swedish ones such as BMW or Saab.

Instead, we have gigantic “chaebol” corporations such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai that stretch their tentacles like an octopus into all areas of the economy. Hyundai, for example, not only produces cars, but also operates companies in the construction, heavy metal, shipbuilding, securities, investment, and insurance industries. Samsung and LG are just as gigantic and diverse. On the contrary, BMW and Saab spend their energy mostly on automobiles, not on electronics, shipbuilding or construction. Toyota and Honda, too, chiefly manufacture automobiles, not home appliances or electronics, even though their brand name is already internationally renowned. Likewise, SONY and Panasonic focus on manufacturing electronics, not automobiles or construction.

Under the circumstances, Korean small businesses undoubtedly need a boost from the government. Nevertheless, they should strive to focus on creative innovation and thus become world-class companies that manufacture internationally acclaimed merchandise. Experts say that since the South Korean economy heavily depends on export and trade, Korea needs big business corporations. That is very true. Nevertheless, the importance of fostering internationally renowned small and medium companies cannot be stressed too much. For that purpose, Korean small and medium companies should actively emulate the small and medium companies of Germany, Sweden and Japan, instead of passively waiting for financial assistance from the government.

If we depend on the government excessively, the government will permeate all aspects of our lives, eventually regulating us and depriving us of our autonomy and freedom. And that is the last thing we want to see. Thoreau once said, “That government is best which governs least.” Nevertheless, we tend to invite the government’s interference by depending on it even when it is not necessary.

Politicians often take our loyalty and services to the nation for granted, and so there are times when we must ask political leaders, “Ask not what your people can do for you ― ask what you can do for your people.” Other times, however, we should constantly ask ourselves: “Ask not what your country can do for you ― ask what you can do for your country.” 

By Kim Seong-kon

Kim Seong-kon is a professor of English at Seoul National University and president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. ― Ed.