The Politics of the Welfare State in South Korea

Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. Welfare state and globalisation: theoretical context. 3. Political economy of globalisation and the issue of welfare state in Korea. 4. The evolution of the welfare state in Korea. 5. Nature, structure and orientation of the welfare Governance in Korea. 6. The paradox of the welfare state system in Korea. 7. Conclusion. References. Index. 

South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world in the 1950s, but it became an economic giant within a few decades and joined the organization of Economic Co-operation and development in 1996. The developmental state in South Korea played an important role in the economic transformation of the country. However, the “growth first-distribution later” strategy of the state gave low priority to the welfare measures as the focus of the state was on the economic growth. But after the 1997 Asian financial crisis and with the rising socio-economic problems the state in South Korea has started expanding welfare measures. This book examines the politics of the welfare state in South Korea.