Selim Colume                                                               CJ Kim/CEO & Rep. CTA

Travel to Laos

By the merest chance I had a chance to visit Laos and have been to there half filled with anticipation and half filled with curiosity. I've never had any interest and therefor do not have any travel plan right now however it's very good opportunity to know the unknown county of Laos. 

Say 'Laos', I can recall that at first, I can imagine an exhausted condition from the long and boresome civil war in the 1970th. The second, after World War II, Laos became the commentarialism country which was prevailed in the Indochina penannular at the early stage of Independence country. Third, still they are under-developing country with 1st industrial product and lowest GDP per capita.

Now I'd like to say what I hear and see in Laos and add what I search the information after visiting. Because my trip was a little bit short and visited only Vientien, I'd like to write down a few word but my opinion of Laos is quite limited however whatever we can see in a glance with importance and can hit the mark. 

Geographically the size of country is a little bit bigger than Korean penannular and the number of population are approx. 7 million. The dispersion of population is composed of the majority of 20th's ~ 30th's and they do not worry about the aged country judt like Korea at the moment. It can be said a quite young aged country. By the way the reason why the population is lower vs. the size of country can think due to the lower income however it come from the long-term civil war. 

The next day I visited, at first I've been to the river side of Mekong River in Vientien and had a glass of Mao beer in the outside cafe. The same as Han River in Korea, Mekong River is the most importance of living base at the Vientian in Laos. In fact Mekong River is spanned 4,200 Kilometers in length and it's pass through Laos with 1,800 Kilometers. Therefore I think Laos have absolutely joys and sorrows with Mekong River. 

Most of Laos's people are a Buddhist("Hinayana Buddhism") and the national religion is Buddhism. Therefore in every morning the monk can be easily seen to go around the religious mendicancy. As the impact of Buddhism, the Laos people generally looks like meek and gentle but do not feel the harsh image. The overall people emotion are positive, self-satisfied and no greedy. Even though the majority of people are still absolutely poor condition, they do not much feel higher of the relative deprivation. 

In politically Laos is adopted the Socialism but economically they are now under- going the road of Capitalism. Still the ruing party of Laos' Patriotic Front(Pathet Lao) is one-party dictatorship system and economically in line with the world trend, they managed steadily the road of the reformation open. The recent economic growth rates is reached and kept approx. 8 %. The national emotion is generally gentle and apart from the national income, the overall country situation is relatively stable conditions. 

The GDP of Laos is not reached USD 10 Billion ( USD 9.4 Billion in 2012 ) and GDP per capita is USD 1,200 in 2010. Still Laos is highly relied on the Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the international institution. To Korea, Laos is the 4th trading country and the trading volume is USD 140 million and the Laos 's currency is 1/8 of Korean Won. Laos is highly relied on the economic structure and the developing stage is still behind the Vietnam and Cambodia. 

As I felt in the plane to Laos and the impact of recent televised backpack trip program, the number of Korean visitor are quite active. 

To come in the beginning stage, some people had a quite good success and get theie name in Laos. Now I feel a sense that Korean take a step to get an opportunity in advance. No only the manufactory production base but the investment of real estate, small size of construction, etc can be interested the business category and now many Korean want to invest as a frontier. If you study and think over one more time rather than joining without the deep consideration, you will have more success possibility whatever you do. 

In a short time I felt the worm and mild people of Laos and took a plane. During my staying Laos, I'd like to express my deepest thanks to my friend that provide the delicious dishes and comfortful stayings.

Cheers for LAOS !!!  

Chang-Jin Kim