Au contraire, it's the _ability_ to make changes and build new things in an existing society that is so impressive. The US (let's say NYC specifically) cannot build a lot of new core infrastructure like fast subways because it's expensive and difficult to get the home owners and community on board.
Seoul the city and metro area are both more populous than NYC. And yet you see them rapidly pivoting to fast new lines like this Bundang line. You see them demolishing old buildings and building new ones. You see them switching their entire payment system to digital-first.
On reflection I think this is mostly enabled because 50M is still a small-ish population and the country is fairly culturally homogenous. Combine that with a desire to compete with their bigger neighbors (Japan, China, the US, etc.).
I think Korea (like smaller countries in Europe) has a pretty unique ability to pivot existing society into new technology.
Seoul the city and metro area are both more populous than NYC. And yet you see them rapidly pivoting to fast new lines like this Bundang line. You see them demolishing old buildings and building new ones. You see them switching their entire payment system to digital-first.
On reflection I think this is mostly enabled because 50M is still a small-ish population and the country is fairly culturally homogenous. Combine that with a desire to compete with their bigger neighbors (Japan, China, the US, etc.).
I think Korea (like smaller countries in Europe) has a pretty unique ability to pivot existing society into new technology.