The ROK economy has experienced rapid growth in the last 30 years. Analyzing the important issues which have been raised by this growth is of interest to other developing areas of the world. The contributors to this work are well placed specialists in Korean studies in Korea and the United States. The ROK economy is located in the midst of the Pacific Basin, the most promising part of the developing world. Recently, the economy has moved into more highly sophisticated markets, as well as into the global financial markets. However, an increasing number of concerns have been raised, charging that the progress has been too rapid, too materialistic, and too inequitable. These criticisms have been compounded by the problems of political dissent and instability in the region.