The development of the private security industry in South Korea: history, progress, and critical issues, 1950-2014

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dae Woon Kim
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Synthesis Method ◽  
Private Security ◽  
Third Party ◽  
The South ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Security Industry

Purpose – The literature on the growth and regulations pertaining to private security has been largely confined to western countries, with very little published on other jurisdictions including South Korea. The purpose of this paper is to provide a general account of the development of the South Korean industry and an assessment of regulation, covering the period from 1950 to the present day, and to explore areas of possible improvement in regulation. Design/methodology/approach – A research synthesis method was utilised to identify and integrate qualitative materials on turning points and regulatory changes, with the addition of a gap analysis based on established concepts of best practice in industry regulation. Findings – The security industry in South Korea has grown exponentially, worth over $2.7 billion per annum. Notwithstanding this, regulation evolved through piecemeal rather than comprehensive changes. The problem is similar to those found in many other countries. However, in South Korea, over-reliance on market mechanisms of regulation, combined with the government’s lukewarm stance on stimulating the non-public security sector, means that there are inadequate guarantees of baseline competence and integrity. Practical implications – The study demonstrates the need for governments to be more proactive and consultative in regulating the burgeoning security industry, and move away from ad hoc responses to industry problems. Regulation should be comprehensive in covering all relevant operational aspects of security work that are reflective of a growth profile. Regulatory agencies should actively explore training programmes linked to career path development and professionalisation. Execution of regulatory enforcement should be independent from political or third-party influence. Regulators should be innovative in applying and evaluating research-based regulatory strategies. Originality/value – The study provides a comprehensive overview of the South Korean security industry and regulatory issues, adding to a more international understanding of regulatory challenges in security.

Gloomy sentiment will spur stimulus in South Korea

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Monetary Policy ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Domestic Demand ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Sustained Growth ◽  
Korean Economy

Significance The recent fall in the price of oil was expected to provide a timely boost to the South Korean economy, but its performance in the first quarter of 2015, though rebounding from the previous quarter, has been below expectations. Beset by slowing exports and weak domestic demand, the mood in both the business and household sectors is downbeat. Impacts Absent a sustained growth rebound (or some kind of foreign policy breakthrough), Park's presidency will be seen as a failure. Deflation could threaten South Korea if there is no adjustment to monetary policy. An FTA with China will boost South Korean exports only in the longer term. The sharp depreciation of the euro will make Europe a challenging market for South Korea for now.

The developmental state and social enterprise in South Korea

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bokgyo Jeong
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Developmental State ◽  
The State ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Role Of The State

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the distinctiveness of South Korean social enterprises from a historical institutionalism perspective. From this perspective, the author focuses on the proactive roles played by the government in the process of emergence and formulation of social enterprises in South Korea. The author roots this paper in the concept of the developmental state and examines how this concept applies to newly emerging social enterprises in South Korea. Design/methodology/approach – This paper first introduces the process of South Korean social enterprises’ emergence as an independent phenomenon. The author explains the process with a link to governmental actions, such as the introduction of public programs and government acts. Second, this paper introduces the concept of developmental state which captures the proactive role of the state in social, economic and political development in South Korea. Third, this paper applies the institutional framework proposed by Kerlin (2013) to see how the South Korean social enterprise model can be located from a comparative perspective and how the South Korean model can contribute to the expansion of the existing framework. Findings – This paper finds that the state involvement in South Korea is a reflection of the historical path of the developmental state. The cross-comparison of South Korean social enterprises from a historical institutionalist approach finds that the South Korean case may contribute to the ongoing scholarly debate by suggesting taking a Weberian ideal type of an interventionist state into account for an extension of the proposed framework. This paper also uncovered the strategic approach of the South Korean Government in utilizing this public policy tool by adopting and combining existing social enterprise models. Research limitations/implications – This paper demonstrates the state’s intents to mobilize economic and societal resources as public policy intervention tools, which can be understood from a developmental state context. This role would be distinct when compared to those in Europe and the USA. This paper has a limitation to restrict its analytical scope to formally recognized social enterprises because it focuses on the role of the state in utilizing social enterprises for public policy agenda: social development and social welfare provision. Practical implications – As a practical implication, this study might provide an insightful framework for South Korean public policy makers, outlining the contributions and limitations of state-led public policies associated with social enterprises. As seen in the historical path of governmental interventions, governmental public policies do not necessarily guarantee their sustainable community impacts without the consideration of private or nonprofit actors’ spontaneous involvements. The flip side of state-led interventions requires policy makers to become more cautious, as they address social problems with public policy intents. Originality/value – The majority of current studies on social enterprises in South Korea mainly focus on reporting the quantitative increase in the number of registered social enterprises. Beyond this quantitative description of its achievement, this paper also provides a historical narration and philosophical background of this phenomenon. Additionally, it shows how this artificial government intervention in social enterprises could be accepted from a historical perspective and brought remarkable responses from the private and civil society sectors in South Korea.

South Korea faces growing headwinds at home and abroad

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
The Us ◽  
Foreign Ministers ◽  
At Home

Significance Professing fury at the exercises, Pyongyang insulted South Korean President Moon Jae-in and says it will no longer talk to Seoul. The South Korean and Japanese foreign ministers met today in Beijing, amid worsening bilateral relations. South Korea’s presidential office said today that it will review “until the last moment” whether or not to renew the bilateral General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Tokyo, set to expire on August 24. Impacts With 'face' at stake and populist passions aroused, palpable economic pain may be necessary before Japan and South Korea de-escalate. Pyongyang’s recent flurry of missile tests indicates impatience; longer-range missiles might dent the US president’s professed indifference. A recent top-level North Korean military visit to China signifies a new field of cooperation. North Korea’s army may be regaining political heft in Pyongyang.

Confidence in the police among immigrants in South Korea

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 767-784
Author(s):  
Hyunseok Jang ◽  
Songyon Shin ◽  
Myonggi Hong ◽  
Young-Shin Choi
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Asian Country ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The South ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South Korean ◽  
The Difference

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test the dual frames of reference theory. For the test, the reference point hypothesis examines whether the difference in the quality of social conditions between the home and host countries determines the variations of immigrants’ trust in the institutions of their host country. Design/methodology/approach By using hierarchical linear modeling analysis, the current study examines whether “difference of homicide rate from South Korea” or “difference of level of democracy from South Korea” influences immigrants’ confidence in the police. Using data collected from nine different immigrant groups in South Korea, the current study examined both country-level factors as well as individual-level factors. Findings According to the analysis results, the difference of level of democracy from South Korea significantly influenced immigrants’ confidence in the South Korean police. Specifically, when immigrants came from democratically under-developed countries, they showed a relatively high level of confidence in the South Korean police. Originality/value Confidence in the police among the first generation of immigrants has recently attracted increasing attention. However, no previous studies have examined immigrants’ confidence in the police within an Asian country. Thus, the current study might contribute to generating better police performances toward first-generation immigrants who tend to be discriminated against and are also vulnerable to various forms of victimization because of their new status in a new society.

The roots of police corruption and anti-corruption reform in South Korea

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-182
Author(s):  
Jin-Wook Choi ◽  
Jina Bak
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
The South ◽  
Police Corruption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Code Of Silence ◽  
Police Organizations ◽  
And Control

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the roots of police corruption, evaluate the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures, and suggest recommendations to prevent and control police corruption in South Korea. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a qualitative approach to identify the key causes and to assess the reform agenda of police corruption in South Korea. In doing so, it introduces a brief history and profile of the police force, explores changes in police corruption, identifies the roots of police corruption, assesses the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures and offers policy recommendations to curb corruption in the South Korean police. Findings This paper claims that conventional and current anti-corruption measures have not been effective in minimizing police corruption in South Korea. It identifies the scope of police work and duties without proper accountability, a code of silence in police organizations, the low ethical standards of police officers and weak punitive measures against corrupt police officers as the main causes of corruption. Strenuous reform efforts that directly target these causes are needed to reduce corruption in the South Korean police. Originality/value This paper will be a useful reference for readers who are interested in why corruption has not been effectively prevented and controlled in the South Korean police.

The role of social solidarity in the rise and decline of the South Korean student movement in the 1970–1990s

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-385
Author(s):  
Sung-Lim Park
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Student Movement ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
The South ◽  
Korean Student ◽  
Korean Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South Korean ◽  
South Korean Students

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the cause how the student movement in South Korea enjoyed the golden age in the 1970–1990s and could not be revived since the late 1990s and cannot be played a pivotal role again.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts historical analysis as primary methodology, traced the historical evolution of South Korean student activism in the 1970–1990s through analyzing secondary Korean literature and newspaper on the particular struggle cases in the period.FindingsSocial solidarity between society and student had played a pivotal role in the South Korean students' long activism in the struggle of the 1970–1990s. In the 1970–1980s, democratic election and constitutional reform set in the main purpose of struggle that attracted wide support from society and enjoyed maintaining a new member supply and their commitment despite authoritarian government's persistent oppression. When the sixth constitution was passed in 1987 with Democratization, the student decided to choose continuing struggle and set social cooperation with North Korea as the new goal, the sensitive issue in South Korea that confronted fierce criticism. Society chose to withdraw their support to the activism in the Yonsei University incident of 1996, rung a knell of long struggle since the 1970s.Originality/valueThe research identified the cause how South Korean students in university could persist long strike without particular internal resource production during three decades and ended the long struggle in the late 1990s; the existence of social solidarity between student and society was the main reason of continued new member supply and their commitment in the battle.

scholarly journals Meat Demand in South Korea: An Application of the Restricted Source-Differentiated Almost Ideal Demand System Model

2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shida Rastegari Henneberry ◽  
Seong-huyk Hwang
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Korea ◽  
The United States ◽  
System Model ◽  
Demand System ◽  
Almost Ideal Demand System ◽  
The South ◽  
Meat Demand ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Meat Market

The first difference version of the restricted source-differentiated almost ideal demand system is used to estimate South Korean meat demand. The results of this study indicate that the United States has the most to gain from an increase in the size of the South Korean imported meat market in terms of its beef exports, while South Korea has the most to gain from this expansion in the pork market. Moreover, the results indicate that the United States has a competitive advantage to Australia in the South Korean beef market. Results of this study have implications for U.S. meat exports in this ever-changing policy environment.

Antecedents and consequences of extrinsic superstitious beliefs: a cross-cultural investigation

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy J. Sierra ◽  
Michael R. Hyman ◽  
Byung-Kwan Lee ◽  
Taewon Suh
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Intrinsic Religiosity ◽  
Magical Thinking ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Antecedents And Consequences ◽  
Superstitious Beliefs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance the understanding of antecedents and consequences of superstitious beliefs. Design/methodology/approach – From survey data drawn from 206 South Korean and 218 US respondents, structural equation modeling is used to test the posited hypotheses. Findings – To extrinsic superstitious beliefs, both the South Korean and US models support the subjective happiness through self-esteem path and the anthropomorphism path; from these beliefs, both models support the horoscope importance path and the behavioral superstitious beliefs path. Only the US model supports the path from self-esteem to extrinsic superstitious beliefs, and only the South Korean model supports the path from intrinsic religiosity to extrinsic superstitious beliefs. Research limitations/implications – South Korean and US student data may limit generalizability. As effect sizes in this context are established, researchers have a benchmark for future quantitative superstition research. Practical implications – By further understanding antecedents and consequences of superstitious beliefs, marketers are in a better position to appeal to targeted customers. Anthropomorphism and intrinsic religiosity, not fully studied by marketing scholars, show promise as segmentation variables related to consumers’ attitudes and behaviors. Social implications – To avoid unethical practice, marketers must limit themselves to innocuous superstition cues. Originality/value – Leaning on experiential consumption theory and the “magical thinking” literature, this study augments the superstition literature by exploring carefully selected yet under-researched determinants and consequences of superstitious beliefs across eastern and western consumer groups.

Finding beneficiaries: trade adjustment assistance system in South Korea

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joon-heon Song
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Policy Preferences ◽  
Trade Adjustment Assistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Policy Failure ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Trade Adjustment ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the essential cause for the policy failure of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) in South Korea. Design/methodology/approach To substantiate the claims made for the failure of the policy, this paper focuses on the differences in policy preferences among the government ministries and agencies involved in TAA. Findings The failure in the TAA policy, according to this study, was attributed to the conflicts and miscoordination arising from the differences in policy preferences among government ministries and agencies. To rectify this failure, the South Korean government had to revise its laws and regulations several times over a short period. Originality/value Drawing on the analytical framework of the literature on policy failure, this paper examines the causal relationships between outcomes of TAA policy and the conflicts or miscoordination among government bodies at each stage: initiatives and planning, implementation and operation of the policy.

Changes in Twinning Rates in South Korea: 1981–2002

2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoon-Mi Hur ◽  
Jun Soo Kwon
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Rapid Rise ◽  
The South ◽  
Older Mothers ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Record Data ◽  
Birth Data ◽  
National Statistical Office

AbstractThe present study investigates the twinning rate trends in South Korea for the years 1981 to 2002 utilizing the birth record data from the South Korea National Statistical Office. The twinning rates between 1981 and 1991 remained nearly constant and were slightly less than 10 twin individuals, that is, approximately five pairs per thousand births. Since the early 1990s, however, the twinning rate has increased sharply and reached 19.30 twin individuals, that is, around 10 pairs per thousand births in the year 2002. Application of the Weinberg method to birth data for the years 2000 to 2002 revealed that the dizygotic twin rate in South Korea increased almost threefold between 1981 to 1991 and 2002. In the 1980s the effect of maternal age on twinning rates appeared to be minimal. In the 1990s, however, increases in twinning rates occurred more markedly among older mothers than among younger mothers. We speculate that the rapid rise in twinning rates in South Korea in the 1990s is probably attributable to the spread of Assisted Reproductive Technologies among older mothers who seek treatments for infertility. The present study also examined whether residing in industrial areas is associated with multiple births in the South Korean population. The results did not support the recent finding of higher twinning incidence in industrialized regions.

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