text: countries to the situation in developing countries is considered to be an important advantage for the latter in the catching-up process. 2. However, the momentum of a new tide and the pace of change in the world are so fast in comparison with the adaptive capability of developing countries that they leave very little chance to assess fully . the potent1al of a new tool when applied to different social climates and soils. It can be detrimental to the development effort of the third world when a new tool and concept is misunderstood or half-understood. Despite that, a position is taken. There is a general tendency for the position taken by responsible individuals to be favourable, especially when the concept is endorsed by international agencies even when its usefulness and limitations have not been fully assessed. Sometimes, the lack of such an implementable tool is used as an unwarranted excuse by a policy-maker and a planner for his or her mistake or failure. 3. The discussion at hand is on social indicators. The paper begins with an examination of their definitions and purpuses as they previously evolved. Then recent developments concerning social indicators are examined and summarized. A discussion of the development of social indicators could feature many of their different aspects. But we will confine ourselves to the development of the conceptual structure of indicator systems, the development in providing statistical contents * The author is Chief of the Social Development Division, Korea Develop­ ment Institute, Republic of Korea. 35 to an indicator system and to recent developments in the application of social indicators to planning and analysis. 4. In writing this paper, an effort has been made to present con­ trasting views and to synthesize them whenever possible. The only bias 
analysis: The text discusses the challenges and limitations of adopting new concepts and tools in developing countries, specifically in the context of social indicators. It highlights the need for a thorough understanding of these indicators and their application to planning and analysis. The text does not seem to focus on a specific sector or industry, but rather on the broader topic of social development and the role of indicators in that process.