[/quote] Didn't Korea manage it as well, quite recently too, by making high quality a matter of national pride?[/quote]

In the case or Kor, I'd say that their improvements have been in a few industries but not necessarily accross the industrial board and certainly not in the same vain as in Japan.

Or is it that I have lived in Kor for toooo long and have a similar cynical attitude toward their mind set as what a lot of Thai expats have toward the Thai mindset?

Nope, the Kors are not even in the same league as their island neighbors.