Systemic Changes in North Korea and Social Policy Challenges (in Korean)

Seoul National University New Unification Studies – 4

Authors: Jeong Young-chul, Lim Hyun-Jin

About the Authors

Lim Hyun-jin : Professor of Sociology in the College of Social Sciences at Seoul National University

Jeong Young-Chul : Senior Researcher at the Seoul National University Graduate School of International Studies (SNU GSIS)

Book Introduction

Currently, North Korea is facing a whirlwind of change. North Korea has been pursuing change in its own way for more than six decades, with results that can be evaluated both successes and failures. However, the latest change is the prioritization of for survival and recovery, which is different from the changes of the past. Changes in labor, health care and education, in particular, are the most important areas of predicting the future of North Korea. Considering that past changes in Soviet and Eastern-European Socialist countries’ social policy had enormous influence on the people of the region and its vicinity, the North’s regime change (a possible China-style “Reform and Opening”) and social policy changes should also be seen as an important issue for both Koreas, not just for the North. Therefore, this book aims to prepare for future unification by analyzing the direction and characteristics of changes in North Korea’s social policy and considering desirable policy alternatives

Published: 2009.01.22