Transformation of Korean Politics and Administration: A 30 Year Retrospective retraces critical turning points in Korean history as seen from the historical path dependence theory to help explain the significant changes that have occurred in the major pillars of the Korean politics and administration.

Over the past fifteen years, South Korea has transformed itself from an authoritarian government into a new democracy with a vibrant capitalist economy. Modernization, democratization, and globalization have played important roles in this transformation, and have greatly influenced the programs and policies of Korea's Sixth Republic. Covering developments through the 2003 elections, this book shows how the South Korean government and society have been shaped not only by the dynamics of these forces, but also by their interaction with the cultural norms of a post-Confucian society. The author provides a conceptual framework and baseline for examining political developments in Korea, and offers an analysis of the factors that are transforming Korean institutions, society, and politics. He discusses the forces shaping Korea's political economy and the performance of successive ROK governments, and also highlights the challenges faced by the newly elected administration of Roh Moo Huan, the North Korean issue, and more.

Transformation of Korean Politics and Administration: A 30 Year Retrospective retraces critical turning points in Korean history as seen from the historical path dependence theory to help explain the significant changes that have occurred in the major pillars of the Korean politics and administration.

The book takes issue with the changing role of government in devising and applying science, technology and innovation (STI) policies in a late-comer economy. South Korea is presented as a point in case, due to its astonishing ascent from a developing nation in the 1960s, to an emerging market in the 1980s and a high-technology powerhouse of our days. Which incentives have kept the government focused on productivity-enhancing STI policies? And why should Korea's national innovation system be reconfigured to fully prepare for the technological challenges of the 21st century? An institutional economics perspective complemented by expert interviews shows that organizations and institutions concerned with STI policy-making in Korea have co-evolved simultaneously mainly driven by the timing of presidential election cycles. The book contains a summary in Korean.

Political change in Korea is intended to help readers better understand the tremendous changes that have reshaped the Korean political landscape since June 1987. Korea's transition to a vibrant democracy has been hailed by many foreign analysts. Korea is regarded as a model, for it has achieved the twin goals of democratic and rapid economic growth.

Compilation of essays on social change in Korea R - covers family and social structures, traditional moral values in human relations, educational level, standard of living, population structure and growth, urbanization, mass media, public opinion, student attitudes, rural migration, rural cooperatives, the impact of the Protestant Church on cultural change, etc. References and statistical tables.