If You’re So Rich, How Come You’re So Miserable?

July 24 (Bloomberg) -- The best economic indicator SouthKorea produces is the energy on the streets of Seoul, whetheryou’re navigating the throngs of young hipsters in Myeongdong,the glitzy boutiques in Apgujeong or the nightclubs full offoreign tourists in Itaewon.

Korea’s per-capita income now rivals New Zealand’s,Israel’s and Greece’s, and the economy is growing about 3percent a year even as Europe crashes. South Korean companiesare chipping away at Apple Inc.’s global smartphone domination;the nation is a world power in automobiles, shipbuilding andsteel; and its soft power is being advanced by “K-pop” bands,movies and television dramas as the population nears the 50million mark.