The major purpose of this paper is to review cross-border alliances ad catalysts for Korean firms in globalizing their business operations, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, and as strategies for their technology development and technology sharing. In this context, this paper tries to provide a perspective from a small country outside of the Triad powers. The three central questions raised in this paper are: One, I ask what implications the dynamically changing global environment have for the Korean management system and for the trade and industrial policy of the Korean government in the future. Two, an attempt is made to examine the role of the Korean government in facilitation the formation of technology alliances by asking how it has participated in enhancing competitiveness of the firm, and whether it has liberalized Korea's investment climate and properly protected intellectual property rights to a sufficient degree. Finally, due to the increasingly global nature of business activities, I question whether the rules of international trade manifested in the WTO are effective and objective in coping with bilateral trade disputed occurring in high-technology trade.

Contents

Section I. Introduction

Section II. Growing Asia-Pacific Markets in the World Economy

Section III. Globalization and Technology Alliance in Korea's Semiconductor Industry

Section IV. Semiconductors and Trade Disputes Search for a Multilateral Resolution

Section V. Conclusions and Policy Implications

REFERENCES