Understanding Of Korea Research Articles

중국인의 한국에 대한 우호도, 교역, 국력의 인식에 관한 연구

This study investigated and studied Chinese perceptions of Korea. It is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the sample, which has a high proportion of Chinese living in Korea and many in their 20s and 30s. The correlation between impressions, trust, national power, Korea-China relations, and perception of trade according to the period of Chinese residence in Korea was analyzed. All of the analysis results were correlated. It was confirmed that the longer the period of residence in Korea, the more positive there was a correlation between increase, trust, trade, and Korea-China relations, and there was a negative correlation with national power. As a result of the study, the longer Chinese live in Korea, the better their understanding of Korea and hope to improve friendly relations and trade between the two countries. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a long-term strategy for public relations through the attraction and systematic management of Chinese international students.

‘Why Korea Failed?’: The American Discourse of Korea’s Historical Failure at the Turn of the 20th Century

Abstract The discourse of Korea’s failed history has been mostly a production of Japanese colonial scholarship, but the early texts that American authors produced were what guided the Western understanding of Korean history during the long 20th Century. Despite the importance of these texts that left significant imprints on later academic works and policy decisions, scholars have not as yet examined properly the American discourse of failure in Korean history. This article analyzes the representative American books on Korean history of authors William E. Griffis and Homer B. Hulbert to describe the emergence of the American discourse of Korea’s failed history in the late 19th and the early 20th centuries. It argues that early American authors of accounts of Korean history wrote them in a specific narrative structure that depicted Korea’s past as a story of gradual decline that ended with failure. These works identify three major themes – isolation, victimization, and dependency – as explanations for why Korea failed. Then, the article examines the doctoral dissertations of Harold J. Noble and George M. McCune to show how this early narrative framework during the 1930s and the 1940s continued thereafter to shape U.S. understanding of Korea even into the 1950s, informing both policymakers and scholars.

The Images of Children Seen through the Lens: Korean Children of the 20th century and Visual History

Since the introduction of moving image technology from the Western world in the early 20th century, many moving images depicting children have been produced in and outside Korea by various subjects with various perspectives. Although many of them had not survived into the 21st century for various reasons, various archives and institutions, including the Korean Film Archive (KOFA), have steadily preserved and digitized these early moving images since the 1990s. However, there has been little academic consensus on the methodologies and techniques on how to contextualize these materials from a historical perspective and use them as historical sources.BRBased on the surviving moving images of Korea made during the era of “Analog” media (films, videotapes, etc.) produced over a century, this paper will initially give general discussions and descriptions on the surviving moving images of Korea and Korean children, which reveal changes, continuity, competition, and connection of perspectives and understanding of Korea and Korean children with the changing sociopolitical and sociocultural aspects in the 20th century Korea.

Korea's trade policy and performance in turbulent times

AbstractThis paper is a complementary study to gain a better understanding of Korea's recent trade performance in the context of the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) 2021 Trade Policy Review (TPR) on Korea. The TPR noted that Korea's external economic activities performed relatively well because Korea was able to limit the negative impact of recent turbulence in the global trade environment through enhanced regional cooperation and integration and reform since the East Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. In addition, Korea's advanced information and communication technology has helped to mitigate external influences emanating from the global turmoil in the era of digitalisation. Evaluating Korea's recent trade performance, we found export's declining contribution to output growth and increasing vulnerability to external influences. Continuous efforts to widen and deepen regional cooperation together with efforts to rebalance value‐creation activities are required.

Study on the consciousness of university students of the Russian Federation about your understanding of the Republic of Korea

The purpose of this study is to investigate the opinions of Russian university students on the understanding of Korea, to find out the degrees and errors of understanding Korea, and to derive the contents and methods for notifying Korea immediately to Russia. Accordingly, this paper surveyed the opinions of Korean geographic knowledge, Korean cultural and economic situation knowledge by surveying “consciousness about the understanding of Korea” of Korean learners and non-Korean learners of Kazan Federal University in Russia. Through this, Korean governments, institutions, and social organizations must teach Russian university students general knowledge about geography, history, economy, and society of Korea. It is necessary to promote Korea's accurate situation through the media. Active and continuous efforts to enhance the image of Korea are needed. It is necessary to expand the contents of Russian secondary school textbooks about Korea and to train teachers.

A Qualitative Case Study on the Experience of Vietnamese College Students Participated in the Multicultural Education in Vietnam: Focused on the "Korean Multicultural Society" Class at the Department of Korean Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City

이 연구의 목적은 베트남에서 한국학(어)을 전공하고 있는 베트남 대학생들이 한국인 교수자가 진행하는 다문화교육 수업에 참여하여 무엇을 경험하였는지를 이해하려는 것이다. 이러한 목적을 달성하기 위하여, 이 연구에서는 호치민에 위치한 베트남국립대학 인문사회대학 한국학부 학생들을 대상으로 진행된 ‘한국 다문화 사회’ 수업을 사례로 규정하였다. 수업에 참여한 30명의 베트남 대학생들로부터 성찰저널, 발표자료, 면담자료, 관찰, 수업 일지 등 다양한 형태의 자료를 수집하고, 수집된 자료를 질적사례연구 방법을 통해 분석하였다. 수업 참여자들의 경험을 통합하여 분석한 결과 한국에 대한 이해, 문화적 역량, 수업방식의 3가지 영역에서 학생들의 경험이 드러났다. 한국에 대한 이해 영역은 코리안 드림, 한국에 대한 현실 인식, 한국(인)과 관련된 미래 전망 3개의 주제와 7개의 하위 주제, 문화적 역량 영역은 이주자와 한국인에 대한 공감, 한국 문화에 대한 이해, 문화 다양성에 대한 이해, 변화를 위한 노력 4개의 주제와 15개의 하위 주제, 수업방식 영역은 언어적/비언어적 의사소통, 수업 활동 2개의 주제가 나타났다. 이러한 연구 결과에 기반하여 언어와 문화적 배경이 다른 학습자에게 다문화교육을 어떻게 효과적으로 설계하고 진행할 것인가에 대한 교육적, 실천적 함의를 제시하였다.The purpose of this study is to understand the experience of Vietnamese college students participated in the multicultural education class taught by Korean teacher. The case of this study was set as the “Korean multicultural society” class which was conducted at the Department of Korean Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City. From the 30 Vietnamese college students who participated in the class, various types of data such as reflection papers, presentations, interviews, and observations were collected and analyzed through the qualitative case study approach. As a result of analyzing the experiences of the participants, Vietnamese college students experiences were revealed in three areas: understanding of Korea, cultural competence, and teaching method. The understanding of Korea is composed of 3 themes and 7 subthemes, cultural competence 4 themes and 15 subthemes, and teaching method 2 themes. Based on the results of this study, the implications for the multicultural education for learners with different language and cultural backgrounds were suggested.

한국어 교육에서 역사 문화 내용 구성에 관한 연구

This paper examines historical and cultural contents that are or should be dealt with in teaching Korean as a second or foreign language (L2). Many teachers and researchers have pointed out that in the field of teaching Korean as an L2, culture has often been dealt with in only superficial or fragmentary ways. This paper discusses ways to systematically organize the content around Korean history and culture to enable nonnative learners of Korean to broaden their understanding of Korea and enhance their intercultural communicative competence. Section 2 of the paper presents factors and methods of constructing contents for teaching history and culture that have been extracted from relevant prior studies. Section 3 examines the conventional syllabus and approach to constructing contents for teaching Korean history and culture to foreign students and overseas heritage learners. This study explored the possibility of basing the content of Korean language courses on the concepts of history and culture to provide a starting point for more effective and engaging syllabus design. Therefore, section 4 of the paper proposes alternative methods for constructing the contents of history and culture that can be applied in teaching Korean as an L2.

Japan and Korea in the mirror of Cinema: Selfness and Otherness between mutual understanding and recurrent nationalisms

The mutual representations and understanding of Korea and Japan can be approached by means of a socio-historical framing of the relationships between the two countries in the last decades, stemming from the tragic turmoil of World War II and the postcolonial heritage, including the comfort women’s issue and the problems of the Korean minority in Japan, to the spreading of Japanese pop culture in South Korea and the “Korean Wave” during the 1980s and the 1990s in Japan. Though nowadays resurgent nationalisms in both countries seem to highlight the limits of soft power in mutual acceptance, popular culture can be used as a privileged resource to investigate reciprocal representations between both societies. This paper aims to retrace the above-mentioned issues in a few selected recent Japanese and Korean movies, whose reception in Japan and Korea is connected to the audience sensitivity to the “Self and Other” representations. The topic of the Korean minority in Japan is addressed through Hiroki Ryūichi’s Sayonara Kabukichō ( Kabukicho Love Hote l, 2014), partially shot on locations in Shin-Ōkubo, Tokyo’s Korea Town. On the other hand, the rediscovery of Korea’s colonial past, linked to the “comfort women” issue, is seen through the lens of Choi Dong-hoon’s Amsal ( Assassination , 2015) and Cho Jung-rae’s Kwihyang ( Spirits’ Homecoming , 2016). Japanese and Korean contemporary filmography seems to reflect people’s present worries about a significant Other, geographically and historically linked to the Self, as well as to portray the ethnic and national identity rebuilding through a retelling of history.

(Determinants of Korea's Import and Its Effects on Firm's Distribution)

(Determinants of Korea's Import and Its Effects on Firm's Distribution)

Korean quality – past, present, and future

The article discusses the key activities in the process of enhancing quality to attain excellence in Korea by investigating the key issues addressed by both government and scholars over the past 60 years. The key quality initiatives were classified by decade and presented customer needs, government policies, and objectives at each of the six decades. A thorough counting process using the research articles published in Korea was also conducted to delineate the main research themes. The current strengths and weaknesses of Korean quality were summarised according to MBQ (Motivation-based Quality), SBQ (System-based Quality), and KBQ (Knowledge-based Quality). Finally, a set of strategic issues were identified and converted into five long-term tasks required to create a new slope for the future of Korean quality. We regard this study as unique in that it summarises Korea’s long-term quality initiatives of the past 60 years and proposes new strategic issues for the future of Korean quality. The results of this study are expected to provide policy-makers and scholars with a new understanding of Korea’s quality movement from the Past to the Present and the Future.

Contextualizing Maurice Courant, Pioneer of Korean Studies in Europe

The main purpose of this article is to identify the role Courant played in early European understanding of Korea by examining his writings of Korea-Japan relations and locating them in the intellectual context in which they were produced. The main body of this article has been divided into three separate parts. The first examines Courant’s writings of ancient Korea-Japan relations focusing on the theory of Mimana that Japan ruled southern Korea roughly from the fourth to the sixth centuries through the intermediary of Mimana. The second part takes a look at Courant’s description of the Korean envoys to Japan and the Japanese settlement in Pusan in the early modern period and his view of the overall relationship between the two countries during this period. The last analyzes Courant’s publications on the contemporary issues and problems of Korea and in doing so tries to trace how his attitude toward Korea and Japan’s advance into the Korean peninsula changed over time. Courant’s importance, this article will argue, is not limited to his bibliography of Korean literature but lies in his disrupting the established epistemic system that produced and circulated knowledge of Korea in late nineteenth-century Europe.

Korea as a Comparative Business Marketing System: Review and Prospects

Purpose: South Korea is now considered to be one of the major players in the global business arena. Along with its economic progress, the Korean business market has also been growing steadily for the past 40 years. Despite the prominence of Korean business, research on Korean business and in particular Korean marketing has been less systematic. This is especially true of business-to-business marketing (B2B) in Korea, which is a well-established area of study in most other developed countries. The purpose of this study is to therefore review and categorize the articles published in a broad range of B2B marketing research involving Korea. In so doing, we intend to provide a desirable agenda for the development of B2B marketing in this country.Methodology/approach: This article analyzed 50 Korean B2B marketing articles, which were published in international leading journals during the period 1990–2012. The descriptive data were reported and then a contents analysis was performed. The contents analysis was divided into two frameworks: (1) Intra firm dynamics and (2) inter firm dynamics. Each part was then analyzed more deeply from cultural and relationship perspectives.Findings: This article enables a deeper understanding of Korea’s B2B research situation and provides direction as to what we should study in the future. In the descriptive analysis, Korean B2B articles account for only 4% of marketing-related research, and 70% of the articles used Korean data only, whereas 28% referred to data from abroad. In the contents analysis, the articles mainly addressed the cultural differences between the East and the West as well as the differences in the perception regarding B2B relationships. In particular, Koreans consider the special relationship regarding education (Hakyoen) and region (Jiyeon) as being significant factors.Originality/value: This research addresses a unique phenomenon, Chaebol, in the Korean economy. Chaebols, conglomerates originating from Korea, are defined as business groups consisting of formally independent firms under the single common administrative and financial control of one family. Chaebols have had a tremendous impact on the Korean economy. Chaebols have successfully transformed themselves from being exporters of cheap products to now being major global players. Thus, Chaebols have been regarded as a driving force of the Korean economy. Firms affiliated with Chaebols tend to generate higher profitability than independent firms in some circumstances. However, buyers in group-affiliated companies do not generate positive outcomes because they often support loss-making parts suppliers by paying higher-than-market prices. This research also introduces the most unique phenomenon, the North Korean economy. The fundamental principle of distribution in North Korea is to systematically distribute goods through the national distribution network as established by the state. However, the recent distribution trend in North Korea seems to not be in suppressing commerce itself, but in tightening the regulation of public market activity while absorbing the deviated distribution demands through the state-operated store network. The authorities have also created an organization that integrates company production, distribution, and sales; however, there have not been sufficient resources or time for this model to succeed. To address this challenge, North Korean authorities are actively seeking unprecedented changes in order to deal with their distribution problems and are aggressively reorganizing the entire producer and consumer goods sectors.

Comment on “Korea's Growth Performance: Past and Future”

Korea’s growth track record is truly extraordinary by any measure. It is not easy to explore Korea’s astounding development trajectory amidst the many obstacles that stood in its way or to gaze into the crystal ball for a glimpse of its future, given the numerous challenges and uncertainties that stare in its face. Noland (2012) has skilfully carried out this task. His excellent analysis bears testimony to his deep understanding of Korea’s history, psyche, and growth strategy. Korea’s growth model was by no means seamless. In fact, Korea had its own share of mistakes which resulted in hyperinflation, an overvalued currency, unbridled cronyism, rent seeking, etc. Indeed, developing countries have much to learn from Korea’s failures as much as from its successes. The lack of natural resources was a blessing in disguise for Korea, which ensured that Korea could not slip into complacency or fall into the clutches of the Dutch disease. Korea was good at transforming obstacles into opportunities, turning a resource-scarce economy into a resourceful one. Japan was Korea’s role model, which was also the case for Taiwan and Singapore, given the common denominator of a lack of natural resources, although their growth strategies were markedly different, especially with respect to the role of conglomerates as opposed to small and medium enterprises and the role of foreign direct investment versus homegrown investment. In a sense, Korea’s development model was a carbon copy of Japan’s, withchaebols as its counterparts for Japan’szaibatsus, based on government patronage and driven by domestic investment. The Korean economy grew on the coattails of the USA during the Cold War. Had it not been for the rapid expansion of the US economy with fairly liberal market access, Korea could not have leapfrogged to where it stands today. While Japan was a source of inspiration cum peer pressure for Korea, it is to the USA that Korea owes the most. This observation is highly pertinent not only for explaining the meteoric rise of Korea thus far, but also for understanding its future challenges. Korea’s policy missteps, too, provide valuable lessons for other economies, to avoid costly mistakes, which include such practices as “picking winners,” price distortions, short-term borrowing for long-term investment, high levels of financial leverage, and an unholy trinity among the state, businesses, and banks. All these had arguably led to poor governance which culminated in a major financial crisis in 1997. Be that as it may, credit

조선시대 세시음식(歲時飮食)에 대한 문헌적 고찰

This paper reviews 14 studies of the Joseon Dynasty(1392~1909) to examine the traditional Korean foods in Korean festivals. A total of 12 studies mentioned Seollal, Daeboreum, Dongji, Nappyeng as festivals involving. Traditional foods 10, Yudu, 9, Sambok and Junggujeol, 8, Chuseok and Seotdalgeummeum, 7, Samjinnal, Chopail, and Dano, 5, Jungwon, and 4, Hansik. In terms of the types of traditional foods, 13 studies mentioned red bean gruel, 12, Yaksik, 11, Tteokguk, 10, sudan and dog meat, 8, the custom of cracking the outer shell of different types of nuts, 7, Guibagisul(an ear-quickening wine), rice cakes(azalea hwajeon, zelkova rice cake, bean and turnip rice cake), 6, a chrysanthemum cakes, 5, Songpyeon, charunbeung(wagon-wheel rice cake), chrysanthemum wine, and sparrow meat, 4, Gangjeong, red bean grue, wine and snack, Jeonyak, 3, rice cakes, the making of soy sauce, Nabyak, roasted hare meat, foods for guests during, New Year festivities and rice cakes. The most frequently recorded festival foods were rice cakes and wine in various forms. This paper's review of ancient documents from the Joseon Dynasty provides a better understanding of Korea's folk customs, particularly traditional foods. In addition, this paper's findings are expected to help sustain Korea's traditional customs and foods and facilitrate the spread of Korea's food culture worldwide.

A CLIOMETRIC REVOLUTION IN THE ECONOMIC HISTORY OF KOREA: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Cliometric approaches to the economic history of Korea have emerged as a distinctive trend from the mid-1990s. They have quickly made profound changes to our understanding of Korea's economic history from 1700 to 1945. The most remarkable include identifying the long-term decline of agricultural productivity from around 1800, the subsequent upswing in economic development from the late nineteenth century, and the continuing growth during the Japanese colonial era, 1910–45. We survey primarily the Korean language literature that reports the achievements of this cliometric movement and speculate about the future research agenda.

Rethinking the Standardized Test: The Pursuit of Diversity and Standardization

There are growing concerns that the national policy of student assessment may lead to increased competitions between schools and prevent schools from maintaining diverse and creative curriculum for well-rounded education in Korea. The primary purpose of the study is to provide a brief understanding of Korea's national assessment policy and introduce two cases in which schools have successfully pursued both educational goals simultaneously – improving test scores in basic subjects and maintaining diverse and creative curriculums for well-rounded education.

Internationalisation of Korean performing arts

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to focus on the internationalisation process and experiences of Korean theatre companies. Factors investigated include cultural issues impinging on production values and the roles of entrepreneurial thinking and creativity. An analysis of impacting barriers on performing arts internationalisation is also carried out.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach was used to investigate the performance and internationalisation activities of five Korean theatre companies that participated in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.FindingsThe exporting of Korean cultural products contributes markedly to the perception and understanding of Korea. Small theatre companies with a tolerance of risk‐taking, together with competencies in creativity and entrepreneurial thinking, can help to minimise the effect of unforeseen problems experienced during the internationalisation of theatre productions.Research limitations/implicationsThe in‐depth case study approach adopted here has resulted in the uncovering of data that would not have been unveiled through questionnaire analysis alone. The findings can, however, contribute to future large‐scale surveys of the arts industry.Practical implicationsThe issues identified in this study are also relevant for other forms of internationalising artistic productions. The successful combination of artistic ability and the implementation of entrepreneurial competencies, together with the creative use of limited resources, serve as competitive advantages for the arts organisation.Originality/valueThis research promotes a cross‐disciplinary approach to arts marketing in general by encouraging the interrogation of fields such as entrepreneurship, small business marketing and internationalisation research.

명대 지식인의 조선 인식과 양국의 防北정책

명대 지식인의 조선 인식과 양국의 防北정책

Eye on Korea: An Insider Account of Korean-American Relations (review)

Reviewed by: Eye on Korea: An Insider Account of Korean-American Relations James I. Matray (bio) Eye on Korea: An Insider Account of Korean-American Relations, by James V. Young. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2003. 188 pp., notes, index. $39.95 cloth. Korea remains at the center of security concerns in Northeast Asia more than a decade after the Cold War ended. Since October 2002, President George W. Bush's provocative attempts to compel North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program have revived international concern about this divided nation. James T. Young's account has value in helping readers understand the current crisis because of his personal involvement in recent Korean-American relations. His memoir provides insights from someone who advised top U.S. policymakers during the 1970s and 1980s about events in the Republic of Korea (ROK) at a transitional point in its history. Though unstated, Young's main thesis contends that after the Korean War, the United States "put stability ahead of democracy and became a hostage of [its] own Korea policy" (p. 112). He points specifically to Washington's obsession with the threat from North Korea following the 1979 assassination of Park Chung Hee as a major factor leaving it unprepared to take steps that might have averted Chun Du-hwan's coup later that year. Editorial advice from William Stueck, a respected Korean War historian, adds authority to this study. In his introduction, he accurately commends Young for showing "a keen appreciation of the importance of personalities, bureaucratic [End Page 157] politics, and country expertise (or the absence thereof) in influencing outcomes" (p. x). Young's recollections have special significance because he was "the U.S. Army's first fully trained and experienced Korea specialist" (p. vii). Much more impressive, however, is the depth of his familiarity with and understanding of Korea and its people. In 1963, Young was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and his first assignment was a two-year stint in Korea. Service followed in the United States and briefly in the Vietnam War before he decided to enter an experimental army program to train "officers for duty that required close and continuous contact with foreign countries and their military" (p. 8). Learning the "nightmare" (p. 9) of the Korean language prepared him for his remarkable personal one-year trek through South Korea's countryside. He gained a clear understanding of Korean regionalism and conveys the powerful impact of this critical factor on the rok's recent history. Young also developed sensitivity regarding the interests of the Korean people that is uncommon in first-hand American accounts about Korea. A good example is his acknowledgement that it would be reasonable to perceive U.S. actions to persuade Park not to develop nuclear weapons as "unfair and bullying" (p. 21). His honesty deserves praise, admitting, for example, that North Korea had a legitimate complaint when a U.S. helicopter entered its airspace in 1976 after the axe-murder incident. Eye on Korea presents revealing descriptions of the U.S. policymaking process in Korea. For example, Young shows how subordinates implemented a strategy of "delay and further study" (p. 48) to scuttle President Jimmy Carter's plans for withdrawal of U.S. troops from the rok. He also complains that his superiors at times ignored his advice to the detriment of U.S. policy objectives, such as not establishing contacts with General Chung Sung-hwa, the martial law commander late in 1979, to deter Chun from seizing power in the "12/12" coup. Another strength is Young's insightful discussion of the South Korean military, especially how differences in age and regional connections influenced political alignments. Furthermore, he explains the importance of membership in different graduation classes of the Korean Military Academy. Like other fine memoirs, this one contains unique and interesting anecdotal information. In a terrific example, Young relates how General Richard Stilwell physically resisted Ambassador Richard Sneider's effort to take a telephone from him during the 1976 axe-murder crisis. Another is Young's comment that widespread disdain for No Tae-u motivated rok officers to refer to him as "'Sergeant' Rho" (p. 64). Readers...

Poisoned Prosperity: Development, Modernization, and the Environment in South Korea (review)

1 30KOREAN STUDIES, VOL. 21 tions for the difficulties Korea has experienced in its efforts to transform itself into a modern society and nation. Chung argues, in fact, that this transformation has not yet been completed. As he notes, "beneath the surface . . . one can still discern the traditional religious-cultural beliefs and values. But the traditional culture can no longer adequately respond to the challenges of the contemporary world. And Korea has not yet found a new pattern to provide an alternate social order, justice, and meaning of life. Therefore, Korea today finds itself in transition, a stasis of moral disorientation that explains much about it various trials" (229-230). Robert R. Swartout, Jr. Carroll College Poisoned Prosperity: Development, Modernization, and the Environment in South Korea, by Norman Eder. Armonk: M. E. Sharpe. 192 pp. $54.95 cloth, $21.95 paper. This book deals with an interesting and timely topic: the environmental costs of industrialization in Korea. In some ways, the story is well known—following the destruction of the Korean War, the nation embarked on a path of modernization and development, which came at the cost of human rights and the environment. This particular book, a case study of South Korea, comes at an interesting point in time. It is timely in that many Koreans, having reached a relatively high level of prosperity, have become increasingly concerned about the physical environment, public health, and the human costs of industrialization . This book has also come when Korea has embarked on a path of democratization , decentralization, and devolution of government. The time is ripe for discussion of the issues raised in this book. Eder paints his picture with broad strokes, which may seem a bit too gross and overgeneralized for Korean scholars and those familiar with the political economy of Korean development. Like other "case studies," the underlying theoretical assumptions and framework are not altogether clear. It reads as a "factual" recounting of environmental conditions and various events in the modern period, but also contains some analysis, some prescription, and a normative tone, which is captured in text, photographs, and in concluding sections . After describing the "costs of industrialization," Eder proceeds to review environmental administration in Korea (chap. 2), covering environmental law (chap. 3), as well as nongovernmental organizations (chap. 5). He also devotes a chapter to "the forces of change: prosperity, democratization, and internationalization " (chap. 4), and another one to internationalization (chap. 6). His concluding chapter is on "environmental stability and the prospects for progress." BOOK REVIEWS131 The strength of this book lies in its readability and its accessibility to a broad sector of the population. It assumes little or no knowledge or understanding of Korea. It seems to have been written for people interested in environmental issues, but who have little real knowledge of Korea. While it contains limited technical data on environmental conditions, it offers very little analysis of environmental indicators and their relationship to public health. There are few, if any, direct comparisons to technical standards that have been promulgated in the U.S. or elsewhere. From the perspective of environmental science, Eder fails to provide sufficient detail about biophysical or cultural factors associated with environmental quality. He offers little discussion of the unique physical landscape, nor of fauna, flora, wildlife, or other aspects of natural science that might be of interest to environmentalists. The underlying assumption is that industries pollute, that Korea has had much industrial development, and therefore that conditions must be far worse than before. This may be true, but the evidence he cites is not very compelling. Moreover, the data he presents (although somewhat outdated) suggest that, contrary to the main thesis of the book, pollution levels in most cities are on die decline. For example, between 1984 and 1992, the average SO2 in Seoul has dropped from .066 to .035 ppm, and in Pusan from .050 to .033 (7). The same can be said for suspended particulates. As a frequent traveler to Seoul, it is hard for me to believe that the city currently suffers "air pollution levels slightly below those of Mexico City, which has been long known for having the most polluted air of the world's major urban centers...