Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Alongside Japan, South Korea and Taiwan complete the "Four Asian Tigers" (with Hong Kong, Singapore) — economies that achieved rapid industrialization, high growth, and urban primacy from the 1960s onward.
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital / Primate City | Seoul (metro 26M — 50% of national pop) |
| GDP (2023) | $1.7T (12th world) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $56,000 |
| Key Sectors | Semiconductors (Samsung, SK Hynix 60%+ global), shipbuilding, autos (Hyundai/Kia), batteries, biotech, cultural exports (K-pop, K-drama) |
| Urban Primacy | Seoul-Incheon-Gyeonggi = 50% pop, 55% GDP — extreme concentration |
| Development Model | State-guided chaebols, export-oriented, education-heavy, 1960s–90s miracle |
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital / Primate City | Taipei (metro 7.5M — 32% of pop) |
| GDP (2023) | $760B (21st world) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $73,000 |
| Key Sectors | Semiconductors (TSMC = 90% advanced foundry), ICT, precision machinery, biotech, bicycles |
| Urban Primacy | Taipei–New Taipai–Keelung = 1/3 pop, 45% GDP |
| Development Model | SME-driven (vs. chaebols), US tech transfer, Hsinchu Science Park (1980), democracy (1996) |
South Korea and Taiwan: from war-torn poverty to semiconductor superpowers — the tiger playbook, written in Hangul and Traditional Chinese.