This book explores two contradictory aspects of the Korean culture: competitiveness and collectivism. These two major concepts describe the dynamics of Korean public organizations, which explain the Hangang River Economic Miracle and political democratization. However, not many studies have focused on how competition within the central government, that is, competition among different agencies, has led to an overall competitive government. This book attempts to do so and explains how competition contributed to the rapid economic growth of Korea.

Public Organizations in Asia introduces students to the fundamental theories of organizations and teaches them how to analyze different types of public organizations in East and Southeast Asia. Moving away from traditional Western theory and examples, this textbook provides numerous case studies of Asian organizations where different ideologies, administrative tradition, and social circumstances prevail. Key pedagogical features of Public Organizations in Asia include: Learning objectives for each chapter End of chapter discussion questions Short student exercises Concise case studies throughout the chapters Training students to be future leaders of Asian public organizations, this book is an essential text for undergraduate and graduate courses on public administration in Asia. It will also be a useful supplementary text for courses on comparative public administration.

South Korea is renowned as one of the success stories of fast economic development. The Korean developmental state was a highly efficient, meritocratic, and fully monopolized coercive force. These resources were skilfully leveraged to shape the direction of private sector actors towards strategic initiatives. However, these very same resources could have resulted in the bureaucracy retaining its power indefinitely. Instead, step-by-step, the resources of the bureaucracy, which serviced the authoritarian leadership in the developmental period, were exercised towards democratization. What were the conditions that made this transformation possible? The Experience of Democracy and Bureaucracy in South Korea addresses this question, filling the existing gap in the academic literature and presenting political implications. It explores the ways in which bureaucracy may not only be compatible with democracy but, more ambitiously, the conditions under which it can enhance it. The chapters examine the unique systems and institutions of the Korean bureaucracy including the National Election Commission, the police force, local government, the ceiling recruitment strategy, and procurement policy. This timely collection will be of interest to researchers, graduate and undergraduate students in public administration and policy. It will also be a useful reference for bureaucrats in developing countries who seek to design policy for bureaucracy in concurrence with democratization.

This book explores two contradictory aspects of the Korean culture: competitiveness and collectivism. These two major concepts describe the dynamics of Korean public organizations, which explain the Hangang River Economic Miracle and political democratization. However, not many studies have focused on how competition within the central government, that is, competition among different agencies, has led to an overall competitive government. This book attempts to do so and explains how competition contributed to the rapid economic growth of Korea.

South Korea is renowned as one of the success stories of fast economic development. The Korean developmental state was a highly efficient, meritocratic, and fully monopolized coercive force. These resources were skilfully leveraged to shape the direction of private sector actors towards strategic initiatives. However, these very same resources could have resulted in the bureaucracy retaining its power indefinitely. Instead, step-by-step, the resources of the bureaucracy, which serviced the authoritarian leadership in the developmental period, were exercised towards democratization. What were the conditions that made this transformation possible? The Experience of Democracy and Bureaucracy in South Korea addresses this question, filling the existing gap in the academic literature and presenting political implications. It explores the ways in which bureaucracy may not only be compatible with democracy but, more ambitiously, the conditions under which it can enhance it. The chapters examine the unique systems and institutions of the Korean bureaucracy including the National Election Commission, the police force, local government, the ceiling recruitment strategy, and procurement policy. This timely collection will be of interest to researchers, graduate and undergraduate students in public administration and policy. It will also be a useful reference for bureaucrats in developing countries who seek to design policy for bureaucracy in concurrence with democratization.

Public Organizations in Asia introduces students to the fundamental theories of organizations and teaches them how to analyze different types of public organizations in East and Southeast Asia. Moving away from traditional Western theory and examples, this textbook provides numerous case studies of Asian organizations where different ideologies, administrative tradition, and social circumstances prevail. Key pedagogical features of Public Organizations in Asia include: Learning objectives for each chapter End of chapter discussion questions Short student exercises Concise case studies throughout the chapters Training students to be future leaders of Asian public organizations, this book is an essential text for undergraduate and graduate courses on public administration in Asia. It will also be a useful supplementary text for courses on comparative public administration.

Transformation of Korean Politics and Administration: A 30 Year Retrospective retraces critical junctures that were turning points in Korean history as seen from the historical path dependence theory. The 13 chapters explain the significant changes that have occurred in the major pillars of the Korean politics and administration system, helping readers understand the processes of how a 'premodern' society characterized by simplicity became a modern or even post-modern society characterized by multiple and complex operations. This volume gives rich insights to those who are eager to learn lessons from Korea's experiences, provide an additional understanding about temporal dimension of the described events and explore monarchic presidential power, the shifting of power to the legislative branch, the changing role of judiciary branch, government reform strategies, decentralization reform. The Public Policy and Governance series brings together the best in international research on policy and governance issues. Books within the series are authored and edited by experts in the field and present new and insightful research on a range of policy and governance issues across the globe.