Since 1948 there were as many as 49 ministry-level organization changes in Korea. Moreover, in 1948, eleven ministries increased to eighteen ministries in 2004. However there were even more changes in the ministries. In 1948 there were 73 bureaus and ...
Since 1948 there were as many as 49 ministry-level organization changes in Korea. Moreover, in 1948, eleven ministries increased to eighteen ministries in 2004. However there were even more changes in the ministries. In 1948 there were 73 bureaus and 314 divisions in government. Yet, there are currently 333 bureaus and 1,152 divisions.
The government argues it has changed the organizations in response to the policy changes. This paper is to study the organization changes in response to policy changes in Korea. The study has been done with the case of Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy through 1960 to 1985.
First, I studied the influence of the policy change on the organizations in response to the size and the type of the policy change. The larger the size of the policy change is, the larger the needs of the organization change is. The cases of analyses were mainly policy innovations and non-linear succession of policy. After launching Five Year Economic Development Plan, the organization change occurred just six month later. However, the organization change took place just after the President Park declared to raise heavy and chemical industries in January 1973. Therefore, the history shows that the organization change depends upon the political status of the policy.
Second, the reasons of organization changes were analyzed and confirmed that they were caused by the policy changes. However, it could be found that the bureaucratic interests were involved in the organization changes. When First Five Year Plan was renewed, the organizations were expected to shrink. Nevertheless, there were no changes in the organizations.
Third, it was seen that the organization changes could lead to the policy change. The policy change was assumed to lead the organization change; however, it wasn't always true. The organization change sometimes led to the policy change. For further study, more policy changes should be analyzed.
Chapter two shows that policy changes often lead to the organization changes, even though there are no clear theoretical relations between policy changes and organization changes. This study shows the result in the same direction.