Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/65713

Newly industrialized economies (NIEs) such as South Korea experienced rapid economic growth in the 1970s and 80s through strong state controlled economic policies. This was coined as the East Asian model of economic development, however, many began to question this model after the Asian financial crisis in 1997. Ironically, this financial crisis became the catalyst to the birth of the progressive government under the late President Kim Dae-Jung in 1998, in which South Korea experienced extensive development in social welfare. This paper explores the relationship between the East Asian development model with the development of social welfare in South Korea during the 10 years of the progressive government in Korea—from the Kim Dae-Jung administration (1998-2002) to the end of the Roh Mu-Hyun administration (2003-2008).