I’ve written often about my fondness for Korea – mostly the more peaceful aspects of it. I love the history of the place. I love being able to poke around and find hidden treasures just about every time I go out, whether I’m riding or driving. I’ve certainly taken my share of country back-roads They’re one of the things that adds to the charm of Korea, even here within this densely-populated area.
But Korea’s got some issues, and maybe it’s a matter of my own perspective, but it seems now that it’s a concern of their government too.
I wrote fairly recently about the burgeoning population of the province in which I live. Now I see this article in the Korea Times pointing to some of the same things, along with the associated problems their population imbalance is causing. Rural communities are dying, and even with the negative birth rate in Seoul, the population of the capital city is still climbing. Maybe this is a side effect of Korea’s rapid economic growth. Where large areas of the province were quite rural as recently as 30 years ago (Pyeongtaek, where I live, is still considered “country,” even with its population of over half a million), the big cities are now far outpacing rural areas in infrastructure and amenities. And in a country of such small area, word gets out. It’s not a big move really, considering the country is similar in size to the state of Indiana (but with a population about 12 million more than California). Everyone wants to go to Seoul. I personally can’t understand it, although I suppose there’s something to be said for the convenience of being able to get what you need just about any time.
But, like I said, I’m a man who loves a little peace. I suppose there comes a time in some people’s lives when they reach that tipping point – where they no longer have the energy for the all of the bustle and so they decide that hey, maybe it’s alright to go to bed by nine every night. When you realize it’s not about the stuff. And maybe you have too much stuff. Stuff you haven’t touched in more than a decade. So what could be wrong with waking up in the morning to silence? Getting out and working in a garden? Going for a nice long walk without being overrun by people and traffic?
I suppose it’s about your tolerance for what’s an acceptable level of comfort and convenience in life. It’s an unfortunate catch that the older you get, the more you need those things. I’d love to move to a smaller town, pick up a couple of acres, and kind of wind down. But as the years pass, your mind starts going more to things like how far it is to the nearest hospital.
There’s got to be a balance, and in Korea it might not be too hard. I’ve written about infrastructure around here – you’re connected, both on-line and through an excellent public transportation system — so I would think that the country favors those who want the quiet life. You don’t have to live in the big city to be connected anymore. And besides, it’s a sad fact of life that Seoul has some of the highest real estate prices in the world, while in the meantime (and especially by comparison), rural land has got to be a steal. Problem is, rural sellers might be looking to bankroll a move to Seoul, so they’re trying to get a “moving to Seoul” price for their land.
My dreams of a little piece of land in the hills where I can build a cabin and live off the grid on weekends could very well be drifting away, but it’s still a nice thought to while away the time – especially on those long rides through the very places I’d like to settle down. If there ever was a time for “maybe someday,” this is as good as any…