Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references.

Prelims -- Revisiting bureaucratic dysfunction: the role of bureaucracy in democratization -- Electoral democracy and the role of the electoral management body in South Korea -- Rediscovering Korea's Local bureaucracy: the unsung players in the nation's democratization process -- Bureaucracy, regulatory management, and Korean democracy -- Change and continuity in police organizations: institution, legitimacy, and democratization -- Supreme audit institution and democracy: the function of the board of audit and inspection (BAI) of Korea for democratization -- Public procurement policy in South Korea: Approaches to sustainable development and anti-corruption -- The Olympics, Soft power, and democratization: the role of bureaucracy -- The ceiling strategy as policy: limiting bureaucratic expansion and democratization -- Index.

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.

Print version record