The purpose of this dissertation is to make an empirical study on legislative process of Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act enacted in the Roh Tae-woo administration. The study will prove that making of unification policies during the Roh admin...
The purpose of this dissertation is to make an empirical study on legislative process of Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act enacted in the Roh Tae-woo administration. The study will prove that making of unification policies during the Roh administration was affected by domestic political variables. Furthermore, it will examine the implications the early institutionalization of unification policies had on domestic politics.
The Roh administration witnessed dismantlement of the international Cold War and transition from an authoritarian regime to a democratic system in domestic politics. These changes created an environment in which domestic political variables could affect the policy making process. It was such a critical turning point in South Korea's history that the Roh administration made a major in its North Korea policy. The administration removed barriers that had long blocked public discussions on national unification. It aimed at building a partnership with North Korea and integrating two Korean systems through creation of a single Korean national community. To this end, the administration promoted exchanges and cooperation between the two Koreas.
When the barriers were removed, the South Korean society was flooded with unrestrained claims for national unification. Having fought for democracy, student activists and dissidents set up national unification as their new agenda and succeeded in making it as one of the major political issues in the post-democratization Korea. To reinforce its legitimacy and take initiative in domestic politics, the Roh administration had to respond to this key issue. Subsequently, the policy transition made under the Roh administration was resulted from its responses to domestic political changes as well as the changes in global environment following termination of international Cold War.
In 1988, the Roh administration announced the July 7 Declaration. It was a preemptive measure to cope with students' radical demand on national unification and place progressive student movement under the government control. In the declaration, the administration introduced the Korean National Community Unification Formula (KNCUF) incorporating a wide range of views promoted by various political groups. Two key concepts lying at the core of the KNCUF were democracy and gradualism. As a practical policy, the administration adopted expansion of exchanges and cooperation between the two Koreas. Yet, student activists and dissidents pressed illegal visits to Pyongyang demanding free exchanges with North Korea. Their radical, regime-changing actions created political instability in South Korean society. Hyundai chairman Chung Ju-young's visit to the North threw the society into greater confusion. As situations grew worse, the conservatives filed strong complaints and criticized the government. In response, the Roh administration tried to enact the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act while promoting dialogue with North Korea. The act was aimed at turning the idea of a single Korean national community into a reality and promoting it in a way corresponding to the tide of democratization. The administration was also motivated by a belief that the government should discourage radical movements that would undermine the basic liberal democratic order. It also believed that the government, not the dissident groups, must take lead in promoting unification policies. Majority of South Korean people, including established opposition parties, agreed with the administration.
In this context, making of unification policy in the Roh administration was affected considerably by domestic political variables. A wide range of political discussions and various types of external pressure were place on the political system. The political system decided on policies in response to such demands. The result was establishment of post-Cold War relations between the two Koreas through creation of a Korean national community. it was a state-centered, realistic policy based on the liberal democratic order. The administration induced a consensus among people and established political parties on this policy. Enactment of Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act backed up this process. Faced with radical demands on national unification erupted after democratization on top of uncertainties in post-Cold War world, the Roh administration succeeded in taking lead in implementing realistic policies based on liberal democracy. It was able to do so by inducing compromises and concessions among various political groups. We should also take note that thanks to early institutionalization these policies have remained intact over last two decades in spite of changes in administration.