The men's coxed four competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics took place at Misari Regatta, South Korea.

[2] East Germany was dominant in the men's coxed four, winning 7 of the last 9 World Championships (and placing second and third in the other two) as well as winning the 1980 Olympics; a boycott was seemingly the only way to keep the East Germans off the podium, as had happened at the 1984 Games.

Great Britain, the defending Olympic champion from a reduced field, was a potential challenger.

The Soviet Union, New Zealand, Italy, and the United States had medaled at the last two World Championships and were also outside contenders.

[3] The competition consisted of three main rounds (quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals) as well as a repechage.