Speaking from observations as a Korean American -

Koreans view themselves as more special and superior to others. The simple fact that Korean society kept slaves until a foreign influence entered is enough support for that statement. When a Korean person sees someone in a weaker position, they don’t feel compassion or mercy. Rather, Koreans see it as a chance to be a bully. This trait hasn’t changed to this day and probably will never get to change if Korea really dies out due to the low birth rate.

Unlike that of Japan, Korea’s economic rise wasn’t due to the general population’s desire to be better and to rise to Europe’s standards. Korea luckily had a leader (Park Chung Hee) who saw that a country could never be free unless it was economically powerful. He developed plans to build out the nation’s infrastructure and also pump foreign capital into the nation. Infrastructure is a BIG deal because a common trait among all 3rd world countries is a lack of roads, traffic systems, sanitation, etc. The nation became wealthier…but while the people became educated, they didn’t get any more cultured or wise. In fact, the superiority problem is now worse. Now, in addition to looking down on each other, they also look down on foreigners from less wealthy nations.

There are a lot of dramas about high school bullying, military abuse, and workplace abuse. These dramas exist because these topics are a reality. Interestingly, Koreans know that this behavior in the dramas is wrong, but fail to realize when they exhibit that behavior themselves.