This edition of Korea Briefing, the fourth in the series, is issued in conjunction with The Asia Society's Festival of Korea, a yearlong, nationwide celebration of Korean history, culture, and contemporary life.

Reviewing the domestic politics, foreign relations, and economies of North and South Korea, this book covers South Korea's security ties with the United States, the history of the South Korean press over the past 30 years, and the difficulties Korean women face in a traditional society.

Published in conjunction with The Asia Society's Festival of Korea, this expanded issue of Korea Briefing provides historical insight into Korea, with retrospective chapters on politics and economics, and illuminates Korea's cultural heritage through chapters on music, dance, and literature. In addition, the political and economic chapters treat events of the past year, outlining the challenges and possibilities facing Kim Young-sam, the newly elected South Korean president. Another chapter examines the implications for U.S. policy toward Korea of Bill Clinton's election to the U.S. presidency. A chapter by the editor describing the U.S. outlook toward Korea is balanced by a chapter on the changes in Korean perspectives on the United States since the Korean War. The Korean American community's struggles in the United States are explored in a chapter that addresses the aftereffects of the Los Angeles riots in the broader context of issues facing the Korean American community.

Culture and Customs of Korea is an excellent introduction to the Korean people and their religion, arts and literature, daily life, and customs. It presents the most important experiences that have shaped life in both North and South Korea today. These include the migration of the people from farms in the countryside to crowded city apartments, the effects of rapid industrialization, and the continuing trauma of the country's division. Accessible and highly authoritative, Culture and Customs of Korea will be the ultimate source for students and other interested readers to learn about an important Asian society and the homeland of the many Korean Americans. For centuries, although strongly influenced by the Chinese, Koreans have maintained a unique civilization with their own language, social organization, food, national costume, political institutions, and customs. The disruptions of the 20th century have included a long and difficult period of foreign rule and a devastating civil war. However, Koreans continue to prize their traditional culture, and the younger generations have embraced "Koreanness" with a determination to assert Korea's place in the world. Culture and Customs of Korea artfully depicts the past and present in North and South Korea with chapters on the story of the Korean people, thought and religion, arts and literature, performing arts, daily life and folkways, life in a Korean village, life in urban Korean, and gender, marriage, and the lives of Korean women. A chronology and glossary supplement the text.

In this third annual volume in the Korea Briefing series, experts analyze key aspects of contemporary Korean society. Included this year is an in-depth assessment of North Korea as well as chapters on politics, economics, women's issues, security on the Korean peninsula, and the development of the Korean press.

'Clark's sharp-eyed update on Korean Christianity is the best-balanced, best-informed and most lucid contemporary analysis of an astonishing phenomenon) the emergence in non-Christian Asia of the church in Korea from persecuted sect to national recognition and power in less than a hundred years. The book is short but convincing.'--CHOICE

This compelling text explores the development of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam from their traditions and commonalties in 1600, through industrialization and state building, to each country's response to modernization in a global environment. This author team combines strong research with extensive classroom teaching experience to offer a clear, consistent, and highly readable text that is accessible to students with no previous knowledge of the history of East Asia.

Culture and Customs of Korea is an excellent introduction to the Korean people and their religion, arts and literature, daily life, and customs. It presents the most important experiences that have shaped life in both North and South Korea today. These include the migration of the people from farms in the countryside to crowded city apartments, the effects of rapid industrialization, and the continuing trauma of the country's division. Accessible and highly authoritative, Culture and Customs of Korea will be the ultimate source for students and other interested readers to learn about an important Asian society and the homeland of the many Korean Americans. For centuries, although strongly influenced by the Chinese, Koreans have maintained a unique civilization with their own language, social organization, food, national costume, political institutions, and customs. The disruptions of the 20th century have included a long and difficult period of foreign rule and a devastating civil war. However, Koreans continue to prize their traditional culture, and the younger generations have embraced "Koreanness" with a determination to assert Korea's place in the world. Culture and Customs of Korea artfully depicts the past and present in North and South Korea with chapters on the story of the Korean people, thought and religion, arts and literature, performing arts, daily life and folkways, life in a Korean village, life in urban Korean, and gender, marriage, and the lives of Korean women. A chronology and glossary supplement the text.