This analysis of employment policies in response to the global recession in the Republic of Korea provides an opportunity to share its experience with countries in similar economic and social situations. The purpose of the study is to (i) document employment policies that the Republic of Korea implemented to cope with two economic crises (1997 and 2008); (ii) extract policy lessons which could be useful to other countries; and (iii) review the Republic of Korea’s experience from the standpoint of ILO Convention on Employment Policy and Promotion (C.122) which requires each member state to pursue an active employment policy as a major goal.
This study is timely because the global economy has faced a downturn in employment and an aggravation of social unrest under the prolonged recession entailing the need for a renewed commitment to place jobs at the centre of economic and social policies for both developed and developing economies. The study adds a great deal of substance to the illustration offered on the Korean experience in the World Development Report 2013 on the global theme of ‘jobs’.