Social protection in South Korea: Transition from the developmental to the universal welfare state

Huck-ju Kwon and Eunju Kim

No wp-2026-3, WIDER Working Paper Series from World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER)

Abstract: South Korea's social protection system has undergone a profound transformation from a developmental welfare state, in which social protection policies were subordinated to the economic development goal, to a universal welfare state. This study traces this trajectory by examining six key programmes—Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance, National Health Insurance, National Pension, Employment Insurance, the National Basic Livelihood Security Scheme, and the Basic Pension—focusing on their functions, policy design, coverage expansion, and responses to new social risks.

Keywords: Developmental state; Welfare state; Social protection; Welfare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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