ttp://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/10c98f68-21ae-11df-acf4-00144feab49a.html >In a nation used to seeing itself as an underdog, overshadowed by neighbouring China and Japan >and all-but ignored by the rest of the world, sporting victory in an international arena takes on a supercharged significance. >But South Korea's status as an underdog is wearing thin. >Samsung, not long ago considered a poor-man's Sony, overhauled Hewlett-Packard last year to become the world's biggest technology company by sales. >This year, it should make more money than the top 15 Japanese electronics groups combined. >South Korea has had a good crisis. While most other countries fell into recession or staved off collapse by putting themselves in hock, it is already back to robust growth. >After treading water in 2009, the economy is expected to expand this year by 4.7 per cent, with a budget deficit of just 2 per cent of output, positively parsimonious in these Keynesian times. >Urbanised, sophisticated, and with a per capita income in purchasing-power terms of some $28,000 - only $5,000 behind arch-rival Japan - South Korea is >on the verge of long-cherished rich-country status. It even makes Asia's most popular soap operas. >Several companies managed to upgrade their technological prowess even as the recession bit. >A consortium led by state-run Korea Electric Power Corp, for example, beat US, French and Japanese rivals to a $20bn nuclear power contract in the United Arab Emirates. >Seoul predicts it will bag $400bn in nuclear reactor sales over the next 20 years. >Meanwhile, carmaker Hyundai has warmed its corporate hands on Detroit's bonfire. >Now the world's fastest-growing auto-manufacturer, it has increased US market share from 3.7 per cent to 4.4 per cent in just 12 months. >Toyota's problems will only add to its momentum: it is one of the companies offering a $1,000 discount for a Toyota trade-in.