JFC. How dumb are people? I just learned that South Korea does not allow private citizens to own or build 3D printers, because that would enable them to build weapons.
@valued-customer, I made a little mistake because my English is poor.
In Korea, individuals can purchase 3D printers with permission from the Korean government. Before the individual purchases, the 3D printer is reported to the government.
However, it is forbidden for individuals to produce and sell 3D printers. Individuals can purchase a $ 100 3D printer made in China. Low-performance 3D printers made in China are mainly purchased by individuals.
High-performance 3D printers that cost over $ 1,000 are government-approved and purchased by businesses and government offices.
This is my personal opinion, I hope you don't get me wrong.
Most Koreans are not rich enough to buy a 3D printer, and there is still no market in Korea to produce and consume 3D printers.
Korean companies are importing American 3D printer manufacturing technology and producing imitation.
You understand Korea as an advanced country, but Korea is better than China or Southeast Asia. Japan is also a Western developed country in appearance, but lacks resources, food, and territory compared to the population.
Korea, China, and Japan all had economic development, but they had common limitations among countries that depended on the US economy.
Korea imports and produces American 3D printer technology, but Koreans have no money to make and purchase 3D printers. In short, the 3D printer was made by the Korean government and Korean companies for export.
Americans are richer than Koreans, so they use 3D printers for personal production and consumption, but Koreans are not rich enough to use 3D printers.
Because Koreans are not rich enough to use 3D printers for personal production and consumption, 3D printers are produced and consumed by the Korean government and corporations.
The United States is the world's richest, so Americans can use 3D printers for personal production and consumption.
However, most Koreans are poor, so they import a small amount of 3D printers made in China for $ 100.
The Korean government and corporations produce 3D printers for national benefit. Korean companies also produce 3D printers to counter the behavior of Chinese and Japanese companies producing and exporting 3D printers.
South Korea, China, and Japan are competing with each other to earn more dollars through the production and sale of 3D printers.
After all, the Korean government and corporations are making and selling 3D printers to earn dollars, not for the interests of Koreans.
@valued-customer, Please understand the mistake I made because of my poor English.
Thank you very much for clarifying this to me. I better understand now, and reckon Koreans less different than I had supposed from my misunderstanding.
Honorable senior, I admire your wisdom and insight.
I agree with your argument that 3D printers will make individuals the subject of production and consumption.
3D printers will make individuals into corporations, eventually distributing decentralization to the world.
However, Korea is an environment where individuals cannot create their own business by owning 3D printers. Most Koreans are poor, and there is no market in Korea to produce and consume 3D printers.
So, the Korean government and corporations rely on US capital and technology to produce 3D printers. 3D printers produced by Korean companies are for overseas export.
On the other hand, a handful of Koreans use 3D printers made in China for $ 130.
The $ 2000 Korean-made 3D printer is consumed by Korean government agencies and companies.
On the other hand, Korean folks rarely use 3D printers.
The Korean government and corporations have produced 3D printers to earn dollars, so Koreans' interests have been ignored.
The situation is similar for Korea, China and Japan.
They are sacrificing their own people for internationalization and globalization.
In East Asia, 3D printers have become a tool for centralization of national governments and businesses.
Tech advances. When it does, it advances more quickly.
Today the situation seems hopeless, but tomorrow will come victory. I watched a video of a guy in Australia who made a cruise missile (without an explosive payload) in his garage. Cruise missiles cost the government ~$1M. He made his for ~$5k.
DIY is the common cure for being priced out of markets.
wow, It's amazing that an Australian man made a missile for $ 5,000. Probably Koreans will also make their own weapons in warehouses. Warlords around the world may be afraid of the terrorism of the lower classes.
As you point out, the Korean government restricts high quality 3D printers out of fear Korean people will make weapons with them.
He didn't have a 3D printer though. Just a good shop full of good tools, and the skill to use them well.
Koreans who are dissatisfied with the Korean government secretly make weapons and bombs to commit crimes.
They sneak make guns and bombs without a 3D printer. As you pointed out, Koreans who resist the dictatorship of the ruling classes have begun terrorism.
IMHO they should make solar panels, machine tools, and aquaponics instead of bombs.
I'm glad some Koreans are rebels. It may make life more difficult for some Korean people, but it is essential that people with the courage to say no to overlords resist.
Some day the empires will collapse. We will all need that spirit of independence then.