Maybe when he was there, but South Korea is now one of the most technologically advanced and prosperous countries on Earth. I left for the last time 34 years ago and they were already on track to success.
He was there in the early 60s.
So yes, S.Korea is such a huge success in contrast to those poor souls in N.Korea who don’t have anything we’d consider as a decent life. We wouldn’t treat our dogs like that.