The Korean Government and Public Policies in a Development Nexus: Sustaining Development and Tackling Policy Changes – Volume 2 (The Political Economy of the Asia Pacific)

This volume chronicles the policy challenges and adaptations faced and made by the South Korean government during the post-industrialization and democratization period. Following the model set by the first volume in the series, which covered the economic and social development during the developmental period from the 1960s to the 1980s, this volume examines how and to what extent the South Korean government has adapted to a variety of political, economic and social transformations since the 1990s. The book is divided in two parts. Part I reviews the changing policy environments and government policy paradigms in the wake of industrialization and democratization, focusing on the reorganization and coordination of government ministries and agencies. Part II explores key public policy areas, such as economics, social welfare, and foreign relations, where the South Korean government has successfully adapted to new policy challenges and environments. Drawing policy implications for the future actions of the South Korean government as well as for those countries wishing to replicate South Korea’s success and avoid its errors, this book of interest to both scholars and policy-makers concerned with development in the Asia-Pacific.

Jongwon Choi is Professor of the Graduate School of Public Administration and Director of the Asia Development Institute at Seoul National University. He graduated from Seoul National University (B.A. in Economics in 1982 and MPA in 1984) and obtained Ph. D. in public policy from University of Michigan in 1989. He was the Dean of Graduate School of Public Administration (2008-2010). Previously he worked for Economic Planning Board (EPB) and Korea Development Institute (KDI). He was a non-standing commissioner of Korean Fair Trade Commission, the Republic of Korea (2008-2011). He also was the chairman of Korean Public Enterprise Evaluation Committee (2012-2013). He is the President of the Korean Society of Public Enterprises since 2009. He was the editor of the Korean Public Administration Review. His research interest is on policy-making and policy implementation theories and empirical studies. His publications include: “James G. March and Policy Studies in Korea” (

Huck-ju Kwon is Professor of the Graduate School of Public Administration and Deputy Director of the Asia Development Institute at Seoul National University. He is also the Editor of the Korean Public Administration Review and Co-editor of Global Social Policy (Sage). His research interest is on comparative social policy in East Asia, international development policy and global governance. He was Director of the Global Research Network on Social Protection in East Asia, funded by the Korea Research Council(2010-