South Korea: 2010-2012


South Korea is a fascinating development tale and a tribute to the importance of education. Unfortunately it is another country with which I feel little affinity but which I feel must be included in the key economies for completeness, especially as it is currently chair of the G20.

Another Cancer ascendant nation, SK has a pretty powerful Jupiter Pluto conjunction in Cancer, despite its 12th house placement (of which more soon) trining its sun- strong leaders are a feature of the nation ( North and South) and the potential for huge success in a chosen endeavour stands out in the chart. The country has a Mars close to the MC ( which really shows in the people- in my experience they like to work) and a Uranus Moon opposite Saturn- SK even the women are seriously tough cookies in my experience. With its strong manufacturing base it differs from many countries we have considered, and its technology focus leads the world

After a rather tricky Mars Uranus progressed square in 2005-8, at present there are not too many close progressed aspects other than an approaching Sun/Sun square which may prove interesting. There is one long standing progression though – Jupiter to the country’s ascendant which is within orb all decade and will perfect in 2013.

However when it comes to transits the matter is different. Pluto is opposing the country’s Pluto Jupiter conjunction at present, and Saturn is square. This means that some of the industrial success is being undermined by world events. GDP growth fell from over 5% in 2007 to approx zero (est) in 2009. Although SK suffered in 2008-2009 from the world recession it still grew, this aspect suggests it should be careful about over production and focus on transformation and improvement until Pluto moves on in a couple of years.

And as mentioned elsewhere Pluto can be a very dark force. However contrast the SK Pluto transit of the 6th house of work and environment with that of Turkey’s 7th. Korea needs to focus on its internal matters, Turkey cannot help but be affected by the external ones.

2010
Neptune which was aspecting the Moon Saturn opposition is now moving on to conjoin Uranus, which though unsettling is less so than the previous few years might have suggested.

Uranus is transiting the SK Mars which could mean more advances in engineering, although it might also cause some dissent.

Positive aspects from Jupiter to the SK Sun and Jupiter in March will bring good news though .

By April the picture evolves a little: Saturn and Uranus make an opposition across the progressed ASc/Des axis and square the progressed MC. Uranus was square this point when NK separated so its an important point for the nation politically. But this is also good old hard economic stuff, where it is important to balance the old with the new else your economic model comes apart later. Saturn on the IC starts a new cycle while Uranus is completely overthrowing the old. Technical problems might surface and apparent breakthroughs turn out to have side effects. The combination together with Pluto is rather ripe for industrial disasters or environmental scandals.

There is a lot going on here – and I want to keep this short, but with the progressed Moon crossing Pluto and Jupiter in May we have a very important time for the Korean industrial powerhouse from April through the summer’s cardinal cross.

Jupiter joins Uranus in June on the MC – this is all really dramatic stuff – perhaps it is partly due to SK holding the G20 chair and the need for extra key meetings on global economic matters during 2010. Suddenly it seems SK is in the limelight during this cardinal cross for even as Uranus and Jupiter move from the MC they will conjoin the SK Venus and the effect will continue through into September when Saturn squares the Jupiter Pluto conjunction.

A brief holiday in October when the Moon and Sun form a progressed trine doesn’t last as Saturn is squaring that moon and Uranus and Jupiter oppose Mars. I don’t know what the SK inclination towards strikes is but in other nations this would be a likely outcome of this aspect.

The year ends with Saturn squaring the progressed Jupiter /Ascendant conjunction, definitely a time of challenge to growth.

2011
We still have the background unsettling but low key Neptune transiting Uranus during this year but this is not the main worry.

The Saturn aspect continues into the first part of 2011, with Saturn stationed square the Ascendant – this is indeed hard re-evaluation and consolidation and restructuring time.

Pluto also continues to oppose the Pluto Jupiter conjunction, requiring continuing re-evaluation of the impact of SK’s growth. It’s double whammy time too with Jupiter squaring the conjunction in February. A look at whether too much investment has been made too quickly may be in order. So also might take-overs and big debt issues. Although SK is hardly the world leader in debt problems !!!

Really the situation is more or less fixed for the first five months of the year.

Some positive aspects from Jupiter to the SK Uranus, the Pluto conjunction and then to the Sun lighten up the summer a little but Uranus now moves into square the Jupiter Pluto conjunction. This really is a tough time for the industrial powerhouse of SK. September sees the last transit of Pluto but there is still more Uranus to come.

That key period of October 2011 sees Saturn move on from its square too, perhaps the conditions are lifting a bit?

But I’m still not convinced that the country will really see a complete lifting of the overhanging problems until 2012 at least. Trouble is- when you start off with such a powerful conjunction and get all the benefits of the upside, when you get the downsides they are equally powerful.

2012
Does look better though. Uranus transiting Venus might bring some pleasant surprises and the continuing Jupiter sextile Jupiter suggests a pick up in demand and optimism. Saturn trine Uranus balances the new with the old rather than bringing them into conflict and at least for the first three months of the year economy and government look strong; Pluto and Jupiter sextile the Sun in March- that can only be a good thing for the country’s growth.

Positive Jupiter aspects continue, to the Ascendant, to progressed Venus. Mercury and the Sun throughout the whole of the last part of the year. However we still have the Uranus square Pluto Jupiter to content with throughout the year and is will throw some unexpected events into the mix – perhaps in the form of competition from elsewhere or again technical faults which cause problems.

Still it looks as if the worst is over by the end of 2012 – well at least for a couple of years until the Pluto Uranus square hits the ascendant anyway.


Chart
Start of Independence Movement
1 March 1919 14.00 local time Seoul SK
Source : Book of World Horoscopes. N Campion.
Generally people use the 15 August 1948 chart for SK. But after reflection I could see no reason
For not using this earlier one. This is the chart that best indicates Korean national feeling. The chart for NK describes the separation of part of the nation- rather like the Indian and Pakistan situation.
Note on art: No it doesn't completely break the rules, this design is Korean.

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