Globalization and Social Policy in South Korea: The Politics of Social Protection and Structural Adjustment

Until recently, Korean society was unfamiliar with the concept of the welfare state. Welfare was thought of as social benefits that the state benevolently provided to the extremely poor and disabled. For a people accustomed to making a living through their own effort, welfare was never perceived in terms of social rights. Although the state had long been a tax collector, even in social emergencies it rarely provided people with cash assistance. Social benefits given to the extremely poor were rarely enough to live on, as these consisted primarily of small amounts of grains, condiments, garments, and small amounts of