Incredible racism against people of Chinese descent, a STEM research culture that only rewards profitability, and an education system that only helps rich failchildren.

Because the yanks and the koreans are doing two different things. The koreans are developing new missiles to defend their nation. The yanks are developing ways to get more yachts for defence contractor CEO's, preferably also a way to kill brown people with rusty AK's.

Both are good at what they're doing.