Network analysis of welfare politics in Korea: Focusing on social insurance legislation in the 18th National Assembly

Abstract

This paper focuses on action and actor beyond the welfare attitudes. This study aims to analyze the network pattern of joint submission among assemblymen in order to specify the dynamics of welfare policy making process. Research method is SNA (social network analysis). Data come from legislation information system in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. 11 legislations, 23 joint broader groups and 118 members of the National Assembly relation with five social insurance (the National Pension Act, the National Health Insurance Act, the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act, the Employment Insurance Act, Act on Long-Term Care Insurance for the Elderly) of former part of eighteenth assembly (2008-2010) are network analysis objects. The main findings are as follows. First, the network of the members of National Assembly is a dense network form. Second, Sim Jae-Chul who has three times elections and is president of the Policy Board of the Hannara party has the highest degree centrality and prestige centrality. Lee Kyung-Jae who has four times elections in Hannara party has the highest closeness centrality and Chun Hye-Suk who has only one election in Democratic party has the highest between-ness centrality. Conservative party has taken the lead in the legislation in relationship with five social insurance more than liberal party. And progressive parties have not showed an active role. Third, main actors attributes is affiliated in conservative party and in Committee on Culture, Sports, Tourism, Broadcasting, and Communications, unaffiliated in Health and Welfare Committee and Environment and Labor Committee which have responsibilities passing a bill about five social insurance, and have more three times elections experience.