They are controlled successfully.

And perhaps controlled because they are successful. Economic success makes people not want to rock the boat. It breeds passivity in every other aspect of life. Generally, the only people who rebel and overthrow governments, are those who cannot make ends meet. Thus by helping japan and SK succeed, they've trapped generations in to the "hard worker" mentality, which is being heavily exploited by companies for profit. And then the people wonder why their lives feel so hollow and pointless as the rug is pulled out from under them.