ABSTRACT
In the current chapter, we will seek an answer to the question, ‘if there were no significant changes in the degree of autonomy of the Korean state despite constitutional and institutional changes for democracy, how and why was this?’ (Question 2). By analyzing three main factors, i.e. the party and assembly members, interest groups and the executive, involved in the economic policy decision-making and implementing procedures, it will be argued that the source of a high degree of Korean state autonomy is embodied in the executive power, i.e. presidential and the bureaucratic authority.
