The Rise of Seoul

“When I began studying the sociology of the political and economic development of nations forty years ago, my most thoughtful professor told me that every country follows a unique path into the future, and if you really want to understand that path, then find a thinker who lived with one foot in that nation and one in country that is markedly different. Je Woo Kim has lived such a life, and he has a story to tell about the remarkable growth of South Korea. His insights are worth reading, and I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants a fascinating and timely understanding of why and how the miracle on the Han River happened.”
— Sam Richards, PhD, HPS
Teaching Professor of Sociology, College of the Liberal Arts, Pennsylvania State University

“This book vividly chronicles South Korea’s dramatic journey—rising from the ruins of war through the Miracle on the Han River to become one of the world’s top 10 economies and a pivotal middle power today. As a longtime friend of the author since our high school days and an eyewitness of the Korean miracle, I am sure that this fascinating book will deeply resonate with global readers.”
— Duckjoon Chang, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Department of Russian-Eurasian Studies, Kookmin University, South Korea

“The Rise of Seoul is uniquely realistic and a common sensical approach to embracing and understanding South Korea’s dynamic transformation, not only national development (or nation-building) but everyday life.”
— Henry Chung
CEO, KAIST Venture Investment Holdings

“Dr. Je Woo Kim’s The Rise of Seoul: South Korea’s Journey from Rags to Riches is an illuminating and deeply engaging account of how South Korea transformed from post-war hardship into a global economic and cultural powerhouse; a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and insight into one of the most remarkable development stories of the modern era.”
— Madihally Sim Narasimha, PhD
Former Adjunct Professor, Stanford University; Life Fellow, IEEE

“This book is a vivid historical record, capturing Korea’s journey from a developing nation to an advanced global power through the author’s own experience. As a lifelong friend who shared the journey from undergraduate and graduate studies to the front lines of the IT industry, I find this narrative especially vibrant. It is a must-read that offers a clear, comprehensive look at the facets of Korea’s development.”
— Hoi-Jun Yoo, PhD
Member, National Academy of Sciences in Korea; Dean, AI Semiconductor Graduate School; ICT Chair Professor, School of Electrical Engineering of KAIST; IEEE Fellow

“In The Rise of Seoul, Dr Kim offers deeply insightful social, political and economic development successes of post-war Korea. The book explores how a war-torn country can transform by rebuilding its foundation based on the culture and centuries-old tradition of its people, while simultaneously shedding old societal structures and incorporating new democratic ideas. It is a brilliant, historic perspective as well as a prescription for a nation or a startup—a how-to guide to build economic success. I was particularly struck by an honest first-hand account of the challenges Korea faced in its early days post-independence, the relevance of different leadership at different times, and the country’s focus on education and hard work in its incredible economic success in a relatively short time. I highly recommend Rise of Seoul, as it offers invaluable guidance for developing nation leaders, business leaders and entrepreneurs building a startup.”
— Shri Dodani
Founder, GHOVC Venture Capital; seasoned executive and serial entrepreneur in the computer and communications industries

Dr. JE WOO KIM earned his BS in Electronics from Seoul National University and his MS and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from KAIST. He worked at Samsung Electronics and Samsung Thales for fifteen years before founding TeleCIS Wireless in Silicon Valley, serving as CEO and CTO until 2007. He then joined Qualcomm as Vice President until 2016 and later became an Invited Professor at KAIST’s Institute of Startup KAIST, fostering KAIST’s startup ecosystem. He cofounded WiPowerOne, a wireless EV charging firm, and was its CEO from 2018 to 2020. Since 2012, he has been Director of the KAIST U.S. Foundation. With over forty-five years of experience, he has published more than forty papers and holds over 150 patents, including eighty US patents.

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