Understanding Korean Politics (Suny Series in Korean Studies) (Suny Series, Korean Studies): An Introduction

Presents an indispensable survey of contemporary Korean politics. Essential reading for anyone interested in contemporary Korea and East Asia, this book provides a comprehensive and balanced introduction to contemporary Korean politics. It explicates the great changes in South Korea, which has gone from being one of the poorest nations to a proud member of the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation while making the transition to democracy. The work focuses on the geopolitical and cultural setting, historical evolution, institutional foundation, dynamics of political leadership, and political and administrative processes of Korean politics. It also features chapters on political determinants of the rise and decline of the Korean economy, foreign and unification policy of South Korea, and political development and decay in North Korea. Soong Hoom Kil is a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and former Professor of Political Science at Seoul National University. He is the author of Contemporary Japanese Politics. Chung-in Moon is Professor of Political Science at Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. He is the author of several books, including Globalization and Democratization in South Korea: Assessments and Projects and Democracy and the Korean Economy. Understanding Korean Politics Contents List of Tables 1. Introduction: Understanding Korean Politics Understanding Korean Politics:Four Legacies Structure of the Book 2. Korean Politics: Setting and Political Culture Geopolitical Setting Economic Setting Social Setting Political Culture Conclusion 3. Development of Korean Politics -- A Historical Profile American Occupation and the First and Second Republics(1945-1960) In the Heart of Darkness: Political History of the Third Through Sixth Republics Broken Promises: Politics and Economy Under the Kim Young Sam Government. Conclusion: Toward a New Political Horizon4. The Institutional Foundations of Korean Politics Institutions and Politics Institutional Foundations of Korean Politics Political Implications for Korean Politics Conclusion 5. Political Leadership in Korean Politics The Political Leaders of the First and Second Republics The Political Leaders of the Third and Fourth Republics The Political Leaders of the Fifth and Sixth Republics Conclusion: Evaluation Political Leadership and the Patterns of Official Recruitment 6. The Political Process in Korea Elections in Korea. The Political Parties of KoreaStudents, the Military, Mass Media, and Interest Groups in Korea Conclusion 7. The Administrative Process in Korea History of Korean Administration: An Overview Democratization of Administration Functions of Administration Administrative Division of Labor and Resource Mobilization Enhancing Bureaucratic Performance: Evaluation and Control Conclusion 8. The Politics of Economic Rise and Decline in South Korea Contending Models of the Political Economy of South Korea: Market, the State, Networks, and the International System. Historical Trajectory of Economic Transformation: An Empirical OverviewAccounting for the Rise and Decline of the Korean Economy Conclusion 9. The Foreign and Unification Politics of the Republic of Korea Themes in South Korea's Foreign Policy Changes in South Korea's Foreign Policy Continuity and Change in South Korea's Unification Policy The Unification Policy of the Sixth Republic The Unification Policy of the Kim Yound Sam Government The ""Sunshine"" Policy of the Kim Dae Jung Government Conclusion 10. Understanding the North Korean Political Framework. Approaches to the Study of North Korean PoliticsCommon Elements: Promise Versus Practice Deviations: Objective Conditions and Subjective Attributes Conclusion Appendices 1. Suggested Reading List 2. Map of Korea 3. Basic Facts on Korea and the Korean Peninsula 4. Korean Constitution 5. Government Structure of the Republic of Korea Contributors Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z. Annotation This introduction to contemporary Korean politics examines the geopolitical and cultural setting, historical evolution, institutional foundation, political leadership, and political and administrative processes of Korean politics. It offers chapters on political determinants of the rise and decline of the Korean economy, foreign and unification policy of South Korea, and political development and decay in North Korea. It can be used as an introductory text on Korean politics, although some chapters go beyond the introductory level. Soong Hoom Kil is a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. Chung-in Moon teaches at Yonsei University, Korea. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR