Policy conflict and its settlement in Korea: the case of regulatory reform

Abstract

Policy making can be defined as the specification of policy content, a set of policy goals and instruments. This specification can be made through two stages: position taking and coordination. Usually due to their interests and values, major policy actors in the policy making process have not only concern for the content of the policy to be made but also some ideas and preference for it. They internally transform these ideas and preferences into their policy positions, and then push their positions externally against other incompatible positions. When policy actors push different policy positions from somewhat independent power bases, policy conflict ensues. Coordination among them is needed. The outcome of policy coordination can not always be the same as each actor intends. Original policy content can be maintained, or partially deleted from or added to, or changed into completely new one, or evaporated into the air. More than two policy positions can be coordinated in integrative or distributive fashion.