Korea faces two challenges in the 21st century: unification and globalization. Both entail problems of economic, political and cultural integration. This book addresses various aspects of Korea's integration into the global community.

South Korea's pursuit of a Nobel Prize in Literature is put in perspective when one considers Korean contribution to the pre- modern Sinitic literary world. South Korea may owe its existence to the United Nations, but since entering the UN in 1991, it has taken to heart the altruistic urge of global peacekeeping. The collection presents scholars from 4 continents, and precludes the dominance of any particular regional perspective or narrow national concern. Most of the contributors are little known in English but are prominent in their respective countries. The collection is multi-disciplinary. It seeks to explain Korea in holistic terms, as a people with history, culture, politics and economic concerns in the contemporary world. It should appeal to anyone who is interested in contemporary East Asia and Korea in particular.