These two symposium papers provide: (1) a profile of rural adolescents in Malaysia, by Chiam Heng Keng; and (2) report the findings of a study of the psychology and life of Korean children and adolescents, by Joon Hee Park. In the former report, 521 boys and 550 girls completed a checklist consisting of 195 problems and indicated problems which troubled them to some extent or troubled them greatly. Subjects ranged in age from 13 to 17 years, attended schools in three rural areas in Johor, and were predominantly from low income families. They were also enrolled in Form I through Form V of secondary school, and different in academic ability. Discussion focuses on physical and health conditions, personality, mental health, social relations, relations with the opposite sex, relations with parents, and problems related to school and studies. The study of Korean youth followed up a nationwide study suggesting that the psychology and life of Korean children and adolescents had been influenced by traditional Confucian philosophy. Findings indicated that Korean youth's psychology and life had changed between 1979 and 1984--in both desirable and undesirable directions. Discussion centers on elementary school students' life patterns and psychological experiences and on junior and senior high school students' views of the state, ethics, the home, and schooling. (RH)