Evaluating customer-centred reforms in Korean local governments: possibilities and limitations of reform measures for civil application

Abstract

The customer-centred approach has been in the mainstream of public administration research since the 1980s. However, there have been relatively fewer observations of the developments in East Asian public administration compared to those of Western countries. This study adds to our understanding of administrative reform by analysing the Korean policy measures developed from the customer perspective and by discussing the implications of the Korean experience. The main focus is placed on local governments’ policy schemes introduced to enhance the quality of public services for civil applications. This Korean case study shows the importance of a balanced approach to public administration reforms in the stages from input to feedback and evaluation. Also, the Korean experience reinforces the notion that it may take quite some time to transform old institutions into new ones, even when conditions for reform are provided. Despite the notable success of the Korean reform measures in empowering local residents to participate in administrative processes, the legacies of the authoritarian and elitist tradition still remain in Korean public administration, and influence even the formulation and implementation of reform measures.