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Social Policy in South Korea: Cultural and Structural Factors in the Emergence of Welfare
Author(s) -
Shin Changsik,
Shaw Ian
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
social policy and administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1467-9515
pISSN - 0144-5596
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9515.00343
Subject(s) - social policy , urbanization , welfare , welfare state , state (computer science) , social change , politics , sociology , social welfare , relation (database) , political economy , political science , development economics , economic growth , economics , law , algorithm , database , computer science
Abstract There are a number of features that make South Korea an interesting place to study social policy. First, it has experienced rapid economic development with the associated changes in urbanization and demography. This change has created social problems, which the state has had to address. Second, the country retains a strong cultural tradition and repeated affirmation of the values and practices of Confucianism. In this paper, these two features are considered in relation to the way social policy has been addressed. The thrust of the paper will be on the policy responses to perceived social problems and the way in which other social problems are individualized within families. These policies are informed and shaped by Korean politics and culture.