Korean Politics: The Quest for Democratization and Economic Development

Extraordinary political and economic changes have rocked the Republic of Korea since the 1950s. John Oh, a Korean-born political scientist, offers an account of government and politics throughout this turbulent period. His chronological and thematic study analyzes both the conflicts between authoritarian forces and populist/democratic elements and the nations’s determined efforts to achieve economic growth. In relating Korea’s transformation to a democratic society and an industrial state, Oh explains how the country’s politics and economy are interrelated. He covers the launching of the first democratic republic, the emergence of military regimes, and the growth of the middle class and the civil society. He also reveals the causes of collusion between political and economic groups which led to corruption, structural anomalies and economic crises. The text draws on original Korean-language sources, including testimonies from the trials of former presidents in its analysis of their military-dominated governments. The book concludes with discussions on the first peaceful transfer of power to an opposition leader, Kim Dae-jung.