In 1953, South Korea emerged from war with 60–70% living in extreme poverty. 71 years later, life expectancy reached 83.7 years with highest education levels anywhere in the planet

In 1953, South Korea was a country devastated by war, facing widespread poverty, food shortages and destroyed infrastructure. Much of the population lived in extreme poverty, while foreign aid supported most of the government budget. Seven decades later, South Korea had become one of the world’s most highly educated societies, with life expectancy reaching about 83.6 years in 2024. Among young adults, 71% had completed tertiary education, the highest share among OECD countries.

The transformation was not the result of one sudden change. Education, public investment, industrial development, health care and economic growth built on one another over several generations.