ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the structure of democratic institutions in Korea and reviews democratic development in conjunction with the implementation of its Northern policy under the present regime. President Kim Young Sam's recent handling of the introduction of a new labor law, which makes it easier for chaebols to lay off workers and hire temporary workers and allows replacement of striking workers, also reflects his leadership style and his lack of commitment to democratic principles. On the leadership issue, Kim has shown the desire to lead all major policies and centralize the process. Kim's government which was designed to reflect the popular will has caused a split in public opinion and is swaying over its foreign and security policies. The Kim administration's failure to build public consensus and its inability to design a consistent policy toward the North has not only increased public skepticism of its policy effectiveness but also caused the North to distance itself from the South.
