ABSTRACT
Since the outbreak of the East Asian crisis, the necessity for increased internationalization of the Thai corporate sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has been extensively discussed and largely recognized by the ruling coalition in order to explore new ways to meet market globalization challenges. As mentioned in its famous World Bank report on the so-called 'East Asian economic miracle', the internationalization of the East Asian emerging economies, including Thailand, was progressing in rather spectacular terms until 1996. The category of SMEs having linkages with foreign firms operating locally or from overseas includes those SMEs that have developed various forms of business links such as contracting or subcontracting, especially on the supply side. In Korea, a sample survey was conducted with the help of Korea University, Seoul, in collaboration with the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The financial crisis and the specific protective measures taken as a result have affected most enterprises.
