This study onConfucianism and Korean business groupsis designed to examine Confucianism as a belief system and way of life in Korea in history and today,and how it influenced the birth,development and sustained growth of business groups.Confucianism is seen as a contiguous culture amongst the industrialisedEastAsian nations,namely,Korea,Japan and GreaterChina.The study explores how common or similar intellectual and cultural grounding influences for societal and economic ethics.The study also examines Confucian humanism and its ethical implications for business groups in Korea.Comparative examinations are also made,where possible and necessary,with the conglomerates of other East Asian nations,in particular those of Japan.