KCI Journals

Publisher: International Development and Cooperation Review

Date Written: 2020

Abstract. 

The virus pandemic created a serious global health crisis, leaving a great number of people to deal with infection and death, but it also exposed significant social and economic problems that the world created in the process of globalization. This article aims to explore policy options for international development cooperation in response to the corona virus pandemic. Before presenting policy options, this paper will, first, identify policy failures of different governments and international agencies and global economic vulnerabilities that led a corona virus epidemic to the global pandemic. It will, secondly, examine policy constraints that will face global communities. Lastly, the paper will suggest policy options to the international development community to support developing countries to deal with policy challenges.

Publisher: The Korean Association for Public Administration

Date Written: 2020

Abstract. 

This study analyzes the cause of the low level of work-family reconciliation policies in Korea in terms of policy consistency. For this, the consistency of individual policy instruments, the consistency between policy instruments, and the factors influencing consistency between policy instruments were reviewed. Although individual policy instruments strengthened the consistency with the sub-goals of preventing a career break for married women, institutionalizing child care, and supporting work continuity, inconsistency among the instruments deepened due to disconnection and incomplete linkage of those sub-goals. In particular, the integration of low fertility and economic issues of married women, rapid policy changes before and after elections, and the different interests of the target groups have deepened the complex nature and mismatch of policies. Therefore, the government needs to come up with a strategy to converge policy issues that are difficult to reconcile and to strengthen the policy glue so that interactions among policy actors can be linked to discourse formation and decision making.

Publisher: The Korean Journal of Policy Studies

Date Written: 2020.12

Abstract. 

This paper criticizes the view of the K-quarantine, which deifies Korea's state-led quarantine. To this end, major issues (border lockdown, intensive social distancing policy, expansion of public health and medical institution, and 3T [tracking, testing, transparency]) that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic were derived through LDA topic modeling. Focusing on the major issues, this paper raised the argument in the perspective of complex adaptive system and network governance that the self-organization process of various participants, including citizens, civil experts, private enterprises, NGOs, local governments, and central government, was able to respond to the COVID-19 effectively. Various data such as Korea epdemiological survey, OECD data on medical institutions, COVID-19 confirmed cases, and mobility data were used to show that the success of K-quarantine was not due to the state's preemptive action but to the social interaction of the government and civil participants. In particular, it was pointed out that the myth of the state's preemptive response in a disaster with high uncertainty may reduce the flexibility and responsiveness of civil participants in a future disaster. 

Publisher: The Korean Journal of Policy Studies

Date Written: 2020.09

Abstract. 

This article explores normative rationales for a relationship between political control and bureaucratic autonomy by drawing on theories of democracy and republicanism. It is based on the premise that it is necessary for the Korean government to establish a new relationship between political power and bureaucracy, moving beyond the hierarchical relationship of the developmental state. The paper argues that the president should control bureaucracy through accountability based on the democratic mandate. Drawing on the republican ethics of undominated liberty and limited government, this article argues that bureaucracy should maintain autonomy from elected officials in order to exercise professional expertise and maintain political neutrality. With such political control and bureaucratic autonomy, it is possible for the Korean government to establish complementary internal relationships.

Publisher: The Korean Journal of Policy Studies

Date Written: 2020

Abstract. 

COVID-19 is an unexpected and unprecedented disaster that is significantly affecting the daily life of South Koreans. Although the memory of SARS, H1N1, and MERS is painful for South Koreas, the high infection rate, the high fatality rate, the shortage of medical facilities to cope with it, border closings on a global scale, a plunging economy, and the need for massive emergency relief make COVID-19 different. Despite these hardships and challenges, South Korea has been praised as an exemplar for its effective responses. As of early December, South Korea has 732 infection cases per million and 11 deaths per million, which is almost 80 times lower than that of the US. And as figure 1 shows, the largest daily increase in new cases in late Februarywas below 1,000, and the second and third waves of infections had lower peaks, which implies effective control of COVID19. 

Publisher: Korean Journal of Policy Analysis and Evaluation

Date Published: 2019.03

Abstract.

It has been emphasized to evaluate official development assistance(ODA) not only at the project level but also at the country level by considering how it has contributed to the development of the partner country. In this context, this study conducted a meta-evaluation of the existing 15 country program evaluation in order to analyze the current status and to suggest policy implications. We constructed a meta-evaluation model with four components, such as evaluation environment, evaluation input, evaluation process, evaluation result, and utilization. As a result, evaluation input and evaluation result, and utilization was assessed to be improved further than the other two components. Based on this, we suggest clarifying the goal of the country program evaluation,  preparing a manual for the evaluation period, expertise, and budget, developing a standard methodology and establishing procedures for sharing results with the recipient country.

Publisher: International Development and Cooperation Review

Date Published: 2019.09

Abstract.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine and develop effective policies for development cooperation in North Korea. Specifically, this study aims to understand the view and attitude of the North Korean government concerning foreign aid.

Originality: In this study, we view North Korea from the perspective of a general social science theory, namely international development cooperation. This is mainly to contribute to developing effective policies for North Korea based on the regime and rule of the international society.

Methodology: This study analyzes Rodong newspaper published in North Korea. We utilize the research method of content analysis and examine newspaper content about ‘foreign aid’ during the period between 1949 and 2018.

Result: This study highlights that various factors including changes in an international environment and domestic political and economic factors affect the view of the North Korean government on foreign aid. Specifically, this study traces historical changes in North Korea’s perspective on foreign aid.

Conclusion and Implication: Based mainly on the content analysis of Rodong newspaper is study highlights both limitations and possibilities in building an effective partnership with the North Korean government in the field of international development cooperation.

Publisher: Korea Association International Development and Cooperation

Date Published: 2019.11

Abstract.

Purpose: In anticipation of the settlement of the Korean Peninsula issues, this study examines the possibility and the priority of joint projects between the Two Koreas in the field of maritime affairs. It focuses on the joint development of three areas: fishery, shipping, and offshore oil fields.

Originality: The inter-Korean cooperation in maritime issue areas will provide a cornerstone not only for the peace in the Korean Peninsula but also for the stability in the Northeast Asian seas. The exchange and cooperation between the Two Koreas will be an important starting point for the unification of the Korean Peninsula in the future.

Methodology: This study analyzes the contents of the laws and policies related to maritime issues in both South and North Koreas while conducting interviews and examining the secondary sources including news articles, policy memos, and academic papers.

Result: North Korea has a keen interest in developing its fishery industry, which is likely to be jointly developed with ease. The shipping sector faces greater uncertainties because of its security implications. Nevertheless, it is equally important and relevant for mutual collaboration. Finally, the joint development of the offshore oil fields near the North Korean coasts attracts global attention. South Korea must make sure that it participates in the international consortium for joint development in the future.

Conclusion and Implication: Inter-Korean maritime cooperation is necessary not only for gaining economic benefits but also for facilitating the peaceful settlement of the nuclear issues and the inter-Korean issues.

Publisher: Korea Association International Development and Cooperation

Date Published: 2019.11

Abstract.

Purpose: This study sets out to investigate the existing dilemma of humanitarian assistance to North Korea, which converges on Pyongyang’s tight control over humanitarian activities, by arguing that there would be another dilemma caused by the lack of coordination processes between humanitarian agencies.

Originality: The new finding of ‘double dilemma’ explaining the current situation of humanitarian assistance towards North Korea supports the need for peace conditionality for better delivery of humanitarian and development assistance in the era of ‘new normal’ embedded in peace processes on the Korean Peninsula.

Methodology: As primary sources, this study collected official documents published by the UN, resident international NGOs in North Korea, and also used the secondary sources of scholarly researches for the analysis of peace conditionality.

Result: This study not only verifies a new assumption that most of the humanitarian agencies involved in North Korea are lacking in information sharing and policy coordination but also suggests a new way for enhancing the aid effectiveness by introducing peace conditionality which could be attached to all agencies.

Conclusion and Implication: New policy suggestion of peace conditionality can be undertaken in order to institutionalize better aid coordination and the peace-development nexus in the new normal of peace processes on the Korean Peninsula.

Source: Journal of The Korean Association for Public Administration

Publisher: The Korean Association for Public Administration

Date Written: 2019.12

Source: Journal of The Korean Association for Public Administration

Publisher: The Korean Association for Public Administration

Date Written: 2019.12

Publisher: Korea Technology Innovation Society

Date Written: 2019.5

Abstract. 

This paper explored the characteristics of firms that participate in the government R&D programs and analyzed the effect of government R&D subsidies on private R&D investments. First, we studied the difference between the firms that participate in the government R&D program and those that do not by using Heckman selection model. Then we examined whether the government R&D subsidies complement or substitute private R&D investments. Our findings suggest that small firms compared to large firms and companies with greater revenues and lower debt are likely to participate in the government R&D programs. Second, there was a strong positive relationship between firm’s R&D intensity and private R&D investments. In contrast, firm size, industry, and R&D stage (basic, applied and developmental) had a mediocre impact on the companies’ R&D investments. Also, our results show that the firms’ financial characteristics such as revenues and debt have positive and significant effect on their R&D investments. Furthermore, they are robust compared to the firms’ R&D characteristics, indicating that the firms’ financial status has a greater impact on their R&D investments than their R&D characteristics. Finally, direct government R&D subsidies show a positive effect on private R&D investment in the short and midium term. 

Publisher: Journal of International and Area Studies

Date Written: 2018.12

Abstract.

South Korea's incumbent Moon Jae-in administration announced its ambitious policy goals of increasing renewable energy and cultivating the related domestic industry. The 20% target for renewable energy's share by 2030 marks a clear departure from the conservative position of previous administrations. The proposed policy tools—including large-scale project-based aid, favorable loan terms, the RPS system with weighted REC, and the Korean-style FIT model—involve some elements of prohibited and actionable subsidies under the ASCM. This study concludes that the direction of South Korea's energy policy is right, but it needs to be depoliticized and its speed readjusted.

Source: Korean policy sciences review

Publisher: Korean Association For Policy Science

Date Written: 2018.06.

Publisher: Institute of East and West Studies Yonsei University 

Date Written: 2018.09.30.

Abstract.

For decades, the European Union (EU) has claimed to be a global champion of human rights and made many efforts accordingly both inside and outside the region. For many Europeans, linking human rights issues to internal and international trade has become as natural as linking the environment to trade. The death penalty is also a prominent human rights issue, and the EU calls for its universal abolishment. This study examines why and how the EU has connected the death penalty issue to its trade policy. Building upon the literature on issue linkages, this study categorizes the historical development of the linkage between the death penalty and trade in four different phases: recognition, integration, institutionalization, and expansion. It is argued that the linkage has been strengthened in terms of its “coerciveness” and “directness” over the past few decades. This study uses Graham Allison’s (1971) bureaucratic politics model to explain how and to what extent the internal politics among European institutions, particularly between the European Parliament and the European Commission, have determined the ways in which the two otherwise separate issues have been linked. The European Parliament is the main advocate of such a linkage and has successfully induced the European Commission to promote the abolishment of the death penalty through its commercial power despite its earlier objection. This study claims that the consequence of the death penalty-trade linkage is the empowerment of the European Parliament vis-à-vis the European Commission. In each phase of the linkage development, the European Parliament has made explicit efforts to expand its formal and normative power by voicing strong opinions about the internal and external trade of which the European Commission is in charge. This study concludes that the European Parliament, which stands as an advocate and defender of human rights, has successfully engaged itself in the trade issue area by linking the death penalty to trade and thus increased its influence at the expense of the European Commission.

The Full Title:

  Socioeconomic Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa with Reference to Southeast Asia: Natural  Resources or Institutions?​

Source: Korean Journal of Policy Studies​

Publisher: KSI (Hanguk Haksul Chungbo) ​

Date Written: 2017.12.31

Abstract.

This paper explores the relationship between institutional quality, dependence on natural resources, and socioeconomic performance in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Southeast Asia (SEA) in the period from 1995 to 2015. It uses three measures—per capita GDP growth; foreign direct investment inflows (FDI); and infant mortality rate—to capture socioeconomic performance. The World Bank’s Regulatory Quality (RQ) indicator and the share of natural resource exports in percentage of total merchandise exports are used to capture institutional quality and resource dependence, respectively. Using Pooled OLS with robust estimators that control for temporal and spatial dependence, the paper finds that (1) higher levels of natural resource exports in SSA were significantly associated with larger FDI flows, but had no significant correlation with per capita GDP growth and infant mortality rate. Additionally, (2) in both SSA and SEA, a higher RQ score was significantly associated with increased per capita GDP growth and decreased infant mortality. The paper concludes by highlighting a few key areas that need serious consideration for further research on institutions and development in SSA. 

Full Title:  Critical review of welfare dependency in active labor market programs in Korea:  existence, causes, and interpretations​

Source: The Korean Association for Public Administration 

Date Written: 2017.09.01.

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes the effectiveness of employment protection for regular jobs, vocational education, and active labor market policies by using panel data of 22 OECD countries. The research findings show that loosening employment protection for regular workers has limited effects on youth employment, while firms’ involvement in vocational education has positive effects on youth employment. Among the active labor market policies, job training programs and re-entry facilitation policies have positive effects on youth employment, whereas direct job creation policies show negative effects. Based on these research findings, this study suggests policies to strengthen vocational education by facilitating firms’ involvement and expanding government investment in job training and re-entry facilitation.

The Full Title: The Effectiveness of the Vocational Education and Training for Youth and the School-to-work Transition in South Korea

Publisher: KSI (Hanguk Haksul Chungbo)​

Date Written: 2017.09.01.

Language: Korean 

Abstract.

This paper assesses the impacts of Vocational Education and Training(VET) for youth on the school-to-work transition in South Korea. The result of the empirical analysis shows youths with vocational training experiences are more likely to be employed when all other factors are equal. However, the training experiences do not increase the chances to obtain stable or higher-paying jobs. Based on these findings, this paper concludes with policy recommendations to expand and strengthen the public-sponsored VET programs for youth in order to meet the demand of the market and increase the credibility of the public VET system. 

Publisher: Korean Social Science Research Council​

Date Written: 2017.06.09

Abstract.

Abstract Given the essentially divisive and zero-sum nature of territorial issues, revisionist countries are often tempted to achieve their goals by the use of force rather than by peaceful negotiations. Fueled by identity politics, the aversion of some disputant countries to negotiatedsettlements is truly worrisome in East Asia. At the regional/structural level, the rise of Chinaposes substantial challenges to U.S. hegemony. China is too big and too proud to complywithout reservations with the Western-shaped norms and rules. As to Japan, it is certainly an important agent in the emerging regional order and yet its influence is mixed: On the one hand, it serves as a linchpin of a rules-based co-evolution of regional order; on the other hand, the resurgence of its maritime identity is making the already daunting task of stabilizing the new regional balance of power much more difficult. The combination of Trump and Abe risks mayprove to be particularly troublesome. With U.S. President Donald Trump’s rise as an unpredictable security partner and China’s rise as an unforeseen security challenge, the resurgence of Japan as a sea power under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s leadership causes big uncertainties to a region already in trouble.

Full Title: The Origin and Evolution of the Crisis in Offshore Plant Industry in South Korea: Goal Ambiguity and Governmental Politics  

Publisher: Korean Journal of Policy Studies

Date Published: 2017.04.01.

Abstract.

The once-promising offshore plant industry in South Korea is on the verge of collapse. There are both internal and external reasons for the sudden rise and fall of this now troubled industry. This study focuses on what went wrong within the South Korean government. It examines how the offshore-plant industrial policy has been implemented since its inception in 2012. Using a modified versing of Mat land`s Ambiguity-Conflict matrix, this study explains the way in which the combination of policy goal ambiguity and organizational conflict between and within government agencies has caused the policy drift and failure. This study finds that the offshore-plant industrial policy has undergone three different but related stages from symbolic to experimental to political implementation over the past five years. Varying degrees of goal ambiguity and organizational conflicts have resulted in such shifts, which in turn have made the government miss the opportunities to correct earlier policy errors in the next stages. This study explains the unique problems inherent in the offshore-plant industrial policy. At the same time, it reveals the common problems prevalent in South Korea`s government-led industrial policy: the lack of planning, deliberation, coordination, and collaboration within the government, let alone outside of it. 

Publisher: Korean Association of Governmental Studies

Date Written: September 2016

Full Title: The New Rivalry between the United States and China: Competing Strategies for the Points, Lines, and Planes at Sea  

Publisher: Journal of International and Area Studies

Date Written: September 2016

Abstract.

Departing from a purely regional concern, East Asian maritime security has evolved into a global issue as the hegemonic competition between the United States and China for control over maritime space has intensified. The emerging Sino-U.S.rivalry at sea is essentially different from the one between the United States and the Soviet Union in the Pacific Ocean during the Cold War period. Unlike the Soviet strategy, China’s new maritime strategy has expanded beyond scattered choke points in the East and South China Seas. China’s ambition is best illustrated by its controversial construction of artificial islands and military facilities in the South China Sea. Against this backdrop, this study analyzes the competing strategies of the United States and China for points, lines, and planes in the South and EastChina Seas. It also draws normative and geopolitical implications of the emerging hegemonic competition for South Korea’s naval strategy.​  

Publisher: 행정논총

Date Written: June 30, 2016

Abstract.

Korean society has made a successful transition from a poor to an affluent society and from an authoritarian to a democratic polity. Nevertheless, Korean society has witnessed a sharp rise in social conflict in recent years and Koreans find it difficult to make a social consensus about how society can manage such conflicts. This paper looks into the social basis of such conflicts in Korea in order to understand the nature of social conflict and to find desirable and feasible paths to social integration. The social basis of conflicts is divided in the paper into three main components: social norms, social needs, and economic interest. Such a social basis influences stakeholders to take positions on public issues, and the competing positions of different stakeholders often lead to social conflicts. The paper examines the social basis of conflicts within this framework. This paper first examines social norms and structural and demographic changes including the dual labor market. The paper secondly discusses labor market reform and the universal provision of welfare that has been proposed to tackle social conflict. The paper argues that those policy proposals need to be revised in order to achieve fair and equitable compromises. Thirdly, the paper argues that Korean society should strive for a political community that allows differences to co-exist, a community in which individuals can collaborate together with trust.  

Publisher: Asian Journal of Education 

Date Written: May 2016

Abstract.

This studyaims to analyze global citizenship education (GCED) content programming offered by civil society organizations(CSOs) in South Korea. Drawing fromAndreotti’s (2006) two strands of proposed concept onGCED, the paper identifies the current status and limitations of the GCEDprograms offered in Korea; thus, drawsrecommendation for the future GCED program development. The study finds thatmany GCED programs are heavily focused on humanistic towards a justice-orientedperspective or ‘soft’ approach ratherthan balancing the fundamental structures that enable learners to recognize global powerimbalances, or critical approach. The study argues that providing a well-balancedprogram that integrates two strands of GCED is imperative as CSOs to play a keyrole through non-formaland informal education that complements formal education’s provision. The study thus suggests that a complex web ofcultural and material local/global contextsneeds to be examined during the GCED program design in order to further foster ‘critical’ practice of GCED that wasidentified by Andreotti. ​ 

Full Title: Revisiting Policy Tools and Effects of Public Income Transfer in Korea: An Integrated Approach with Welfare Expenditure and Social Tax Expenditure 

Publisher: Korean Public Administration Review 

Date Written: December 25, 2015

Abstract.

This study analyzes the literature on maritime piracy and armed robbery, maritime terrorism, search and rescue at sea, and boat migrants and refugees that have been conducted during the period of 2013 and 2014. This study consists as follows. Section 2 focuses on the maritime piracy and armed robbery issues, which have become global issues beyond national boundaries. Section 3 examines maritime terrorism that has been taking place across the world, especially in Africa, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Indonesia. Section 4 explores the issue of search and rescue at sea. Section 5 focuses on boat migrants and refugees which have recently caught attention in Europe as well as in other parts of the world. Section 6 summarizes the findings of the study and suggests policy implications. 

Full Title: Special Issue: A Study on the Maritime Policy Research in 2013-2014: Maritime Piracy, Maritime Terrorism, Search and Rescue at Sea, and Boat Migrants and Refugees 

Publisher: East and West Studies 

Date Written: June 2015

Abstract.

This study analyzes the literature on maritime piracy and armed robbery, maritime terrorism, search and rescue at sea, and boat migrants and refugees that have been conducted during the period of 2013 and 2014. This study consists as follows. Section 2 focuses on the maritime piracy and armed robbery issues, which have become global issues beyond national boundaries. Section 3 examines maritime terrorism that has been taking place across the world, especially in Africa, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Indonesia. Section 4 explores the issue of search and rescue at sea. Section 5 focuses on boat migrants and refugees which have recently caught attention in Europe as well as in other parts of the world. Section 6 summarizes the findings of the study and suggests policy implications. 

Publisher: The Korean Association for Policy Studies

Date Written: 2015.09

Abstract.

This study analyses aid evaluation systems in Germany, the United Kingdom, and South Korea from the comparative perspective in order to provide policy implications for the Korea’s case. In recent years, aid organizations in many advanced donor countries have admitted the limitations of micro-level evaluation system based on the concept of aid effectiveness. In turn, with the concept of development effectiveness, they have devised new evaluation design to address the extent to which foreign aids have contributed in developing countries’ national development and provide feedback to future policy-making based on the results of evaluation.

Meanwhile, South Korea has received attention from the aid society to suggest new aid model corresponding to developing countries’ needs. This is because that South Korea is the first country which successfully turned into a donor from an aid recipient as joined the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2010.

However, the result shows that, in South Korea, most ODA policies have been evaluated at the project level and aid organizations still focuses on operational effectiveness. In this sense, there is room for South Korea to improve its aid evaluation system, incorporating the concept of development effectiveness into the system.

Source: 

Publisher: The Korean Journal of Policy Studies

Date Written: 2014

Abstract.

This paper provides an overview of the key policy instruments and capacity-building policy tools used in each development phase of science and technology in Korea. In the 1960s and ’70s, the Korean government built an institutional foundation for the development of science and technology. In the later part of the ’60s, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the government-funded research institute became key organizations to implementation of policies intended to foster the advance of science and technology in Korea. The Korean government also focused on learning about and absorbing foreign technologies by licensing and by importing capital goods. From 1980 to 1997, the Korean government shifted its policy direction from technology learning to developing by its own scientific and technological capacity in high-technology sectors, which requires an indigenous R&Dcapability. It launched large-scale R&D programs that targeted certain fields to close what was a large gap between advanced countries and Korea. Korea became a fast follower, making a massive investment in certain fields, such as the semiconductor, electronics, steel, and chemical industries. In the late 1990s, the Korean government developed a plan to build a national science and technology innovation system. Although the relevant infrastructures had been in place for 40 years and an R&D capability for innovation was in the works, those were not perceived to be systematically working together, which is crucial for sustainable innovation. The government's response to this problem was to design a policy that tried to systemize the whole process of science and technology innovation. 

Publisher: The Korean Journal of Policy Studies

Date Written: 2014

Abstract.

Although analysts have explored many facets of the economic growth of Korea over the last decades, infrastructure investment policies have been discussed in terms of a simple developmental state framework that emphasizes the role of bureaucracy. This paper claims that infrastructure investment is a function of interactive processes affected by demand, supply, politics, and administrative reaction. While the Korean government did invest in infrastructure in advance of the growth of demand for it in the 1970s, it has made its major infrastructure investment since the 1980s. Also, while strong political leadership is frequently lauded, the problems with the Gyeongbu expressway and the four-rivers project suggest that political leadership without adequate rational planning and policy analysis can have undesirable effects. Finally, facing budget constraints and pressure to make efficient use of limited resources, the Korean government has sought to institutionalize a systematic process for managing infrastructure investment. Hence, the development and utilization of relevant policy analysis and evaluation methods are necessary.

Publisher: The Korean Journal of Policy Studies

Date Written: 2014

Abstract.

This paper analyzes regional and decentralization policy in Korea since the 1970s. Each administration in the last40 years has taken a distinctive approach to regional and decentralization policy. The 1970s and 1980s featured a highly centralized system that local administrations contributed to by following central directives and mandates, and the policies that emerged as a result of the Saemaeul movement were important in addressing rural poverty under the Park administration. During the 1990s under the Kim Young-sam and the Kim Daejung administrations, regional policy amounted to regional even-development, and decentralization policy came to underpin regional policy. The Noh administration was the most active in developing simultaneous regional even-development and decentralization policies. The Lee administration changed the equity-oriented direction of the regional policy pursued by the Noh administration to an efficiency-oriented one. The regional policies discussed in this paper have been amended over time and in line with different political and economic circumstances in an attempt to generate relationships between the central government and local governments that will enable the country to achieve national goals in an efficient and effective way. 

Publisher: The Korean Journal of Policy Studies

Date Written: 2014

Abstract.

The main purpose of this study is to examine how governmental transparency has improved in Korea. To this end, the author examines the periodic characteristics of governmental transparency while also analyzing the information that each administration in Korea has produced. Also investigated are institutional arrangements for accessing this information and the adoption of ICTs in government. It was not until the democratic transition of 1987 that the transparency of the government began to improve in Korea. The key characteristic of the transparency policy after democratization was the pursuit of the simultaneous progress of institutionalized and ICT-enabled governmental transparency. Citizens’ accessibility to and the disclosure of public information were institutionalized. Furthermore, ICTs enable citizens to access such information more efficiently through nonstop operations and one-click services. In the course of establishing the institutions to improve governmental transparency, however, executive dominance and bureaucrats’ resistance to governmental transparency were the major challenges. 

Publisher: The Korean Journal of Policy Studies

Date Written: 2014

Abstract.

Human resources in government have been recognized as crucial elements Korean civil service system, especially the recruitment system. Especially in the case of economic development, high levels of expertise and experience are required for civil servants. Korea’s economic development provides a good example of the importance of public human resources. The Korean government recruited new civil servants through the civil service exam, a very difficult and competitive test. Most civil servants who pass this exam have a high degree of knowledge of economics, public policy, and public administration. During the period of industrialization in Korea, civil servants used these abilities to design and implement public policies for economic and social development that enabled the country to make surprising progress. As Korea lacks natural resources, the role of civil servants is much more important than that in many other countries. This study reviews historical changes in the Korean civil service system, especially the recruitment system​. 

Publisher: Korean Journal of Public Administration

Date Written: 2014

Abstract.

Exploring the relationship between governance and happiness, this study attempts to analyze the effect of good governance or quality of government on the happiness of the people and draws some meaningful policy implications with regard to global development. It purports to find objective results about the impact of the quality of government on happiness by including other covariates not considered in previous literature. Contrary to the previous literature, the study finds that democracy, rather than technical quality of government, is the only factor contributing to the enhancement of happiness among the indexes composing good governance or quality of government. Moreover, the same results were found in the group of low-income countries, while no statistically-significant findings were found among high-income countries. Thus, this study suggests through empirical analysis the importance of the intrinsic value of democracy as an institution for promoting the happiness of the people in the developing countries. 

Publisher: Korean Journal of Public Administration

Date Written: 2013

Abstract.

The active policy transfer of Saemaul Undong (the New Village Program, or NVP) to developing countries has been observed recently. Current research on the NVP, however, narrowly focuses on the effectiveness of the program without an analysis of the prototype NVP and modifications to it in countries where it is transferred. This paper constructs the prototype NVP and analyzes how it is modified in six projects in Laos and Cambodia. Our analysis suggests huge differences between the prototype and the transferred versions of the NVP. Few programs contain national-level goals that also play a minor role in implementation. Weak participation of community members is also notable. Even more, the sustainability of the programs is questionable due to the absence of systematic management strategy. 

Publisher: ​Journal of East and West Studies

Date Written: 2013

Abstract.

It is increasingly becoming important to set a new maritime policy in accordance with an emerging maritime architecture in East Asia. There are growing needs for comprehensive research that can cover a variety of issue areas ranging from culture, history, industry, energy, environment, science and technology, and maritime jurisdiction. Against this backdrop, this study critically surveys the recent literature on maritime policy conducted by Korean scholars both in and outside Korea during the period of January 2012 and October 2013. A total of 91 dissertations and journal articles have been thoroughly reviewed using the method of meta-analysis