Miracle on the Han River brief compared to other countries who experienced similar situations. Chaebol refers to corporate groups in South Korea, mainly run by families, that exercise monopolist or oligopolist control over product lines and industries. They can be compared with conglomerates of the United States and the Zaibatsu of Japan. Sometimes the Korean military itself is considered a chaebol. During the industrialization period of South Korea, President Park Chung-hee supported the rise of chaebol groups, facilitating the growth of these groups in order to trigger economic growth. Inside the operations of chaebol groups, there are many branches that family members control and operate.
Propaganda in South Korea of attacks by North Korea including the sinking of the South Korean navy frigate, ROKS "Cheonan". Popular South Korean films often show reunification themes with friendships or family ties across the north and south division. The film "Joint Security Area" (2000) was the highest grossing Korean film up to that time. The movie depicted a friendship between soldiers from the north and south along the DMZ. The popular war movie, "Tae Guk Gi", from 2004 depicted close brothers divided as they are caught in the Korean War. South Korea broadcasts radio messages toward North Korea with news and propaganda themes.