Searching for an Alternative Paradigm for Korean Public Administration after the NPM Movement

Abstract

NPM (New Public Management) has been a fashion in many countries since the 1980s. Korea was not an exception. Two previous governments attempted to introduce many prescriptions of NPM in government reform process. However, the performance has been limited. Some measures faced internal resistance and some were reported as not progressing because there was no foundation laid for the changes. By the way, the new government adopted quite different doctrine of government innovation and political terrain was changed, raising conflict among social groups and government. Trust in government from the market as well as the civil society has been reduced. Therefore, the author proposes an alternative paradigm of PA which may complement NPM. Credible government is the alternative: enhancing credibility of government in three dimensions of competence, relations and ethics. Also measures that may help improve trust level between the market and civil society have been suggested with detailed ideas of confidence building measures.