Introduction: Themed Section on South Korea: Developing social policy and practice in a changing society

Abstract

The past decade has seen significant change within social policy and society in the Republic of Korea (South Korea – we will usually refer to South Korea simply as Korea in the following papers unless there is a need to distinguish between the North and South Koreas). From an economically driven welfare policy and limited democracy, through the introduction of a democratic state and the economic crisis of 1997, Korea is currently experiencing significant reform within its social policy and within society. This reform has been variously described as ‘productive welfare’, ‘transformational’ and ‘developmental’ (Kwon, 2003). Societal changes, including the increased involvement of women in the labour market and increased participation through democratic processes, challenge the family and the organisational hierarchies of the traditional Confucian society and globalisation and rapid developments in information technology and communications have brought western influences and ideas.