ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to shed light on the theories and implications of strategic management and performance budgeting in the contemporary history of the Republic of Korea. It focuses on the varied political and managerial roles played by Korean bureaucrats in the transformation of the nation from a poverty-ridden agrarian society to a modern democratic powerhouse. The chapter examines how performance-oriented management practices evolved in Korea under different presidencies and government—economy relations. Government Competitiveness, by focusing on the transformational role of the public sector, is central to the discussion of government-led performance managing practices in many developing countries. The chapter explores the strategic economic planning process and military-led performance management practices of Korea under the authoritarian era of Presidents Jung-Hee Park, Doo-Hwan Chun, and Tae-Woo Roh, respectively. It concludes by discussing the key lessons learned from the Korean experience and examining how performance management techniques and practices may have to evolve under different political and economic contexts.
