ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the socio-cultural exchanges and multi-level cooperation developments with particular focus on developments during the 1990s. The extent of contacts prior to 1998 will be examined in an effort to present an overview of North-South socio-cultural contacts. The Cold War conditions on the Korean Peninsula had long made socio-cultural exchanges and cooperation virtually impossible. Besides these examples, socio-cultural contacts had taken place in the fields of academia and education, environment, film, literature, sports, religion and through participation in women conferences. In spite of the perceived positive effects of socio-cultural contacts on inter-Korean relations, scholars' evaluations of them differ. Considering the expressed need for more active socio-cultural exchanges and cooperation, it is worth paying attention to the opinion of Cho who advocates active participation of non-governmental organization in cross-border contacts. Socio-cultural exchanges have taken place in academia and education, film, literature, sports, religion and through women's conferences and NGOs involved in humanitarian aid.
