Organizer and Chair: Eun Mee Kim, University of Southern California
Discussant: Hagen Koo, University of Hawai'i, Manoa
Since 1987 South Korea has embarked on democratic transition. Causes and paths for its democratic change are well analyzed in recent studies. The implications of this epochal political change for the South Korean society and economy remain unclear, however. This panel proposes to examine various salient aspects of South Korean socio-economic dynamics that democratic change has entailed. In Eastern Europe and Latin America, scholars and policy-makers are befuddled by the timing and sequencing of political and economic liberalization, and the potential cost and benefit of economic liberalization. In East Asia, and in South Korea in particular, the favorable economic condition provided for some stability in the economy, while the political arena was undergoing dramatic change. However, economic liberalization, in which various economic actors and institutions were re-negotiating their space, has proceeded in conjunction with democratization. This panel seeks to explore how various social and economic actors and institutions changed in the process of democratization and economic liberalization. We ask the following questions: How has the state's industrial policies favoring big businesses changed? Are labor better off after democratic transition? How have various social movement groups which played critical roles in the democracy movement changed? How has the balance of power changed amongst the state, business, and labor?
By bringing South Korea's leading younger scholars together with scholars in the U.S., we seek to explore this very important topic from both the South Korean and comparative perspective. We plan to use the AAS panel to form the basis of a cross-national comparative study with Taiwan.
Economic Policy-making in Newly Democratized South Korea and Taiwan
Tun-jen Cheng, College of William and Mary
This paper will focus on how various economic agents interact in democratic settings. It will shed light on the intrinsic nature of problems of economic management in new democracies. Since democracy signifies openness to various interests groups, this paper examines whether "developmental state" in South Korea and Taiwan has been as effective as it has been in the past in terms of directing and regulating the economy.
Democratic Transition and Changes in Social Movements in South Korea
Hee-Yeon Cho, University of Southern California
Pan-social movements were critical in the final breakdown of the authoritarian regime in 1987. This paper examines how various social movement groups and activists have changed in the aftermath of democratic transition. A brief historical overview will be provided about social movements prior to democratic transition, which is the period from the emergence of the military authoritarianism to the beginning of the 'liberalization' and democratic transition. The paper will examine how social movements drive democratic transition, and in turn how social movements are transformed by democratic transition. Changes in social movements entail changes in issues, mobilization patterns, social basis, and relations with political parties and the like. Moreover, this paper will show how social movements have become differentiated in the process of democratic transition. By providing a discussion of South Korean social movements and their changes, this paper sheds light on the broader issue of democratic consolidation in the South Korean society.
Public Finance in South Korea under Democracy
Yeon-Seob Ha, Yonsei University
This paper will explore how South Korea's public financing has changed under the newly installed democracy. Economic liberalization brought changes in state-business relations and the degree and method of state intervention in the economy. This paper focuses in particular on the issue of public financing, and examines how it has changed in the context of a democratic polity.
Continuity and Change in State-Business-Labor Relations
Eun Mee Kim, University of Southern California
Economic liberalization which took place as early as the late 1970s began to change the relations between the state and businesses prior to the democratic transition. This paper will offer insights into the intricate relations between the state, businesses, and labor in light of a society-wide democratization. By examining several key labor disputes since 1987, the author will examine how democratization has helped or undermined the three institutions involved