Korea's Globalization

South Korea has cast its lot with globalization arguably to a greater extent than any other Asian country in the post-Cold War era. This book, edited by Samuel Kim, presents the first, sustained analysis of Korea’s globalization and its ramifications for all aspects of the Korean state and society. The authors critically probe the promise and performance and the myths and realities of Korea’s globalization drive. Each chapter is a case study designed to explain how globalization works and what its positive or negative consequences are for the Korean state and society. They examine the effects of internationalization on business conglomerates, workers and labor unions, women, foreign migrant workers, the military, politicians, and government officials. More broadly, they examine how Korea, as a newly industrialized and newly democratizing country, is coping with the twin challenges of democratic consolidation from below and within and globalization from above and without.