Misunderstandings about Laos

 

I spent most of my life in the United States, specifically in Los Angeles, home to Hollywood, where most movies are produced. Now that I live in Laos, one of the poorest countries in the world, life in LA feels like a movie.

I have been living in Laos for 11 years. After 11 years, you are bound to become quite comfortable with your surroundings. You come to understand how things work here.

Laos is structurally poor. The cost of living here is not particularly cheap. Not to mention massive dome-shaped mansions, you can witness Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Rolls-Royces rolling around the neighborhoods as if it were nothing. The wealthy here like to show off their riches.

But no one complains about the wealth gap. Not a single person! How beautiful this is!

It takes a long time to understand the expression 'Bopenyang' (meaning 'it's okay/no problem').

One of the reasons the people of Laos are so prosperous is that most of them live in their own homes. They grow vegetables in their yards, raise pigs and chickens, and fish in the Mekong River. Clothing is provided by aid from other countries. Their three basic needs for survival—food, clothing, and shelter—are met. So why would they complain?

Vientiane is an exception. It is a small, bustling capital considered to be the "real Laos." Vientiane is the center where everything happens. It is a place where the rich get richer and the poor leave for other countries. Once you enter Vientiane, you become conscious of money. You learn that everything costs money. The reality of life naturally permeates Vientiane.

However, labor costs are low.

Because one cannot live in the capital without money, people leave for countries where labor is valued more highly. After saving enough money, they return and build their own homes. They become smarter by observing how people in other countries live. However, this is a very slow process.

There are many speculations that Laos will eventually be taken over by the Chinese. Although there are 300,000 Chinese people in Laos, two-thirds of them are somewhat suspicious. They simply raise prices and sell tasteless Chinese food.

Chinese electric vehicles of various brands are taking over the roads of Laos because they have flooded in at rock-bottom prices. While most of their designs are copies of famous brands like Porsche, they look quite decent. Once you actually drive them, there is nothing to complain about. China has changed. It is no longer the cheap junk of the past. It is no wonder that the United States is getting angry and wary of China.

The charm of Laos lies in a strange sense of déjà vu—familiarity. Although the once-popular group tours have ceased, people continue to visit despite the high airfares. I cannot help but compare this to the feelings I experienced when I first arrived here. It was déjà vu. I had seen all of this before. And so, I stayed for 11 years! Me, who came from the wealthiest country in the world to the poorest!

Laos is situated in the center of five countries, giving it the potential to become a hub of Southeast Asia. However, the reality is that it is merely a haven for criminals. As criminals flee to Laos, the country has acquired an unfair stigma of being poor and dangerous. If it were truly that dangerous, how could a Korean American like me have lived here for 11 years?

Then I realize the foolishness of the public. I mean the behavior of the media, which misleads the ignorant by reporting even minor incidents sensationally for the sake of profit. It is pitiful to see the ignorance of those who mistakenly believe they can know the sweetness inside just by licking the surface of a watermelon.

There are many projects here that could make you a millionaire or more. However, people assume that Laos is poor and dangerous. Don't judge a book by its cover. Laos is a hidden gem.

Laos is rich in deposits of high-quality rare earth minerals. Hyundai is aware of this and is quietly proceeding with large-scale investments.

Most importantly, the people here are exceptionally generous and love joy. Their standard of living may not meet global standards, but their happiness index is among the highest. This is a value that everyone desires but has been forgotten amidst the competition to be better than their neighbors.

Sometimes I feel as though I have wasted 11 years of my life because of Laos's "bo pen yang" (no problem) attitude. However, upon looking deeply, I realized how and why I exist. It is something I have wanted to know my entire life. Laos has given me the wisdom of life simply by staying here.

Laos will develop at its own pace. Since the people do not rush, this development cannot be hastened. The Lao People's Democratic Republic. Abbreviated as Lao PDR. This is what I would like to call it. Laos, Please Don't Rush.