Study On Delopment Of Agricultural Modernization In South Korea

The North of Korean Peninsula is rich in industrial resources, but South Korea is relatively short of any industrial resources. During colonial Korea, most of heavy industries were in north part of Korea Peninsula, only part of light industry was in South Korea. South Korean is agriculture region which has good condition for planting rice. After the formation of South and North Korea, the industrial foundation in South Korea (south of north longitude 38°) was very weak, South Korea became a typical agriculture country. Furthermore, South Korea is a country with many mountains, high population density, deficient resources, so South Korea became one of countries with highest population density, shortest in resources in the world.South Korea is located in Eastern Asia, and shares similar cultural background and agricultural situation with China. Because of colonial domination and Korea War, South Korea became one of poorest countries in the world in 1950s. Began from colonial domination, South Korea experienced stagnation and damage caused by Korean War, and take_off in 1960s, South Korea realized agricultural modernization successfully. It is valuable for China to learn the practice of Saemaul Unodong, balanced development of urban and rural areas,narrowing the increasing disparity between urban and rural areas, the rich and the poor in South Korea.Colonial Korea is the beginning of Korean agricultural modernization. Even though, Janpan's colonial domination was predatory,but some modern agricultural technologies was introduced into South Korea.For the purpose of Colonist, the land census,rice reproduction programs, infrastructure in agricultural land and establishment of agricultural education and research institutions, extension of western agricultural technology etc. Colonial domination synchronized with beginning of modern agriculture, this is a sensitive topic of political and national feeling in the worldwide, but academic study of agricultural history must be done based on the reality.The role of Korean land reform in the Korean agricultural modernization. After the founding of Republic of Korea, South Korea followed the route chart designed by American authority; the vested land was sold and began its land reform. After land reform, Korean people realized the"land to the tillers", the grand land lards declined, but they became the newly industrial capitalists, and laid the foundation for industry development and the Saemaul Undong in 1970s.The role of adjustment of agricultural policy,labour force migration from rural areas and U.S. aid to South Korea.Because of damage of Korean War, Korean economy had been in the fringe of collapse, food shortage became the most important problem to been solved. South Korean Government carried out very positive agricultural policy, the US government also gave strong assistance to South Korea, so South Korea passed the severest stage of short of food and stabilized domestics situation. National enterprises supported by foreign loans developed rapidly. At this period, Korea made most use of the opportunity of industrial development, and used strategy of unbalanced development to give priority to developing industries of labour intensive, heavy and chemical industries. Under the strategy of unbalanced development, South Korea laid foundation of national industry. The development of industry provided many jobs for people, so this made the extra labour force to migrate to urban area smoothly.The effect of Saemaul Undong, Green Revolution and agricultural mechanization on Korean agricultural modernization. At the beginning of South Korean industrialization, the dual structure in Korea was severe, the gaps between urban and rural areas, citizen and farmers, industry and agriculture were increasing. Even though, Korean government is not so rich at that time, but Korea Government launched campaign of Saemaul Unodong early in 1970s. South Korean Government carried out food policy of double prices, inputed much funds, positive loan and land policies, the infrastructure and living standard in rural areas was improved greatly; meanwhile, industry developed fast, the labour force in rural area was migrated to urban areas successfully, Korea solved the problem of dual structure, and stepped into the road to agricultural modernization.With the fast migration of labour force to urban areas in 1970s, Korea began to promote agricultural mechanization, and realized agricultural mechanization in 1980s.Pushed by development of agricultural mechanization and Green Revolution, Korea was self-sufficient in grain at the end of 1970s. After 1980s.On the basis of strong industry foundation,South Korea carried out serials of agricultural support policies and development programs for improving rural and fishery villages, Korean agriculture developed smoothly, farmers'living standard was increased greatly.For increasing agricultural competition in the world after entering WTO, the change of agricultural policies. With admission to WTO, South Korea had to face pression of opening its agricultural markets to the outside world,South Korea adjusted its agricultural policies, advocated the development of environment-friendly agriculture, quickened its steps for agricultural information, used multi-function of agriculture, made use of the role of agricultural cooperatives, so as to increase its competition of agriculture in the world.After the above study, the following innovative conclusion was came into.the dissertation objectively descried the synchronization of colonial domination with agricultural modernization;analysed the promotion role of land reform and American aid in Korean agricultural development; studied the processing of Saemaul Undong, Saemaul Undong pushed the agricultural development, improved rural environment, narrowed the income disparage of urban and rural areas, relieved social contradiction, the most important thing was farmers'minds were changed. The history of Korean agricultural modernization told us that it is not must for industry to nurture agriculture while cities support rural areas when the industry has strong foundation. At the beginning of South Korean industry, South Korea paid attention to the problem of industry nursing agriculture while cities supporting rural area, decreased rural population and realized industrialization, they solved the contradiction of agricultural mechanization with labour force in rural area migrated to urban , realized industry and agriculture developed and supported each other.Large agricultural population had not became the constraint for economic development, it provided more labour force for industrial development,agricultural organization is the guarantee of farmers interests, the role of Korean Agricultural Cooperative in agricultural production, farmers'life and guarantee for farmers interests should be very useful reference to our country. But in the processing of Korean agricultural modernization, there were many problems and contradictions.Land reform caused the formation of petite peasant economy, it limited scale production in agriculture,historically,land reform had some fault and negative influence; agricultural and industrial policies carried out in 1960s, PL480 aid program and other foreign aid programs guaranteed the food safety, and helped Korea to pass its hardest period, but the foreign aid injured farmers'interests, dampened farmers'enthusiasm for growing grain crops; Saemaul Undong improved rural environment, but Saemaul Undong was contradictory to urbanization, it caused the appearance of Empty Villages, much of funds inputed in rural areas was wasted;Generally,Korean model of agricultural modernization has regarded as the most successful model for many countries with high population density and insufficient resources, however, we cannot copy it, different county should take its road with characteristics of their countries.