A troubling aspect of international schools is their dearth of academic discourse. Mark Bray has observed that two characteristics of international schools contribute to such a lack of research: first, the smallness of the sector; and second, and more important, the fact that such schools lie outside the mainstream local education system, serving mainly "expatriate children or a small number within a minority group in a country who cannot or do not wish to attend local mainstream schools" (Yamato, 2003, p. 22). This article adds to the literature by exploring the complexity of issues surrounding international schools, such as politics, economics, and social dimensions. Drawn from recent public discourse on international schools in the Republic of Korea (henceforth South Korea or Korea), it bridges this gap in literature through analysis of a public debate--a rare occurrence in that country. The author has organized this article into three sections. First, the author links the literature on globalization with its implications for education followed by a discussion of mythology. Then, the international school debate in Korea is examined against the backdrop of the country's striving to become a major player in the globalizing world; and finally the author concludes with suggestions and thoughts about future implications. Where appropriate, the author compares the dilemma of international schools in South Korea to that of educational reform issues in the United States. (Contains 4 tables and 20 notes.)