The Korean Public Administration Review (KPAR), which has published quarterly volumes since its establishment in 1967, is the official journal of the Korean Association for Public Administration(KAPA). As a scholarly journal, KPAR not only hold the highest authority in the field of public administration in South Korea, but also in social science. Since the National Research Foundation of Korea began evaluating journals, KPAR has been listed in the Korea Citation Index (KCI) journal index.
This paper introduces the ideas of major philosophers along with the background of the times of pragmatism, and presents important elements of pragmatic philosophy and public administration processes. Pragmatism is a unique American philosophy that reflects the pioneering era. Peirce, James, and Dewey, known as classical pragmatists, are the main philosophers of pragmatism, and their ideas are summarized as experimentalism, pragmatic effect, anti-fundamentalism, anti-formalism, situationalism, temporary view of knowledge, fallibilism, inquiry community, pluralism, and participatory democracy. Public administration scholars began to introduce classical pragmatism into public administration in the 1980s, and the study of pragmatic public administration has been active since the 2000s, with the result that many studies have been conducted. Taking suggestions from these studies, this paper established an administrative process (creative thinking and decision-making, implementation of decision, results of implementation, feedback), and combined the above eight elements (from anti-fundamentalism to participatory democracy) of pragmatic philosophy to present a pragmatic public administrative process theory. This pragmatic public administrative process is evaluated to be useful in solving new and intractable problems.
Key Words
실용주의 철학, 실용주의 행정학, 실용주의적 행정과정론, pragmatism, pragmatic public administration, processes of pragmatic public administration
An Exploratory Empirical Study on the Oebangbyeolsi as a Meritocracy-Based Local Talent Recruitment Policy in the Joseon Dynasty: Focus on Examination Achievement, Family Background, and Terminal Bureaucratic Rank 실적주의 기반 지역인재 등용책으로서의 조선시대 외방별시에 대한 탐색적 실증 연구: 과거성적, 가문, 최종관직의 특징을 중심으로
This study explores the implementation of the Oebangbyeolsi (special regional civil service examination) in the Joseon Dynasty, focusing on its role as a proactive institutional measure for recruiting regional talent. It aims to reveal the meritocratic nature embedded in the Oebangbyeolsi system. First, based on historical records of Oebangbyeolsi examinations and successful candidates, an exploratory statistical analysis was conducted on various contextual factors―such as the timing, region, and ruling monarch of the examination―as well as candidate characteristics, including family background, examination performance, and final official position. Second, the study empirically examined the relationship between candidates' past examination performance and their final positions (in terms of both rank and organizational affiliation) to assess whether the system operated on meritocratic principles. The findings show that the Oebangbyeolsi was frequently held in remote or less accessible regions―such as the northern frontier areas, Ganghwa, Onyang, and Jeonju― providing equitable entry opportunities for regional talent. Furthermore, individuals with higher examination scores tended to be promoted to higher-ranking positions and served in more prestigious institutions, supporting the notion that the Oebangbyeolsi functioned as a performance-based recruitment system. These historical insights suggest that the Oebangbyeolsi served as a fair and inclusive institutional mechanism, enabling the selection of capable individuals from diverse social backgrounds to contribute effectively to both central and local governance.
Key Words
실적주의, 과거제도, 외방별시, 인사채용제도, 직업관료, 행정사, meritocracy, Gwageo, personnel recruitment system, career bureaucrats, administrative history
Grounded in structural contingency theory, this study examines how organizational restructuring designed to address a VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) environment shapes organizational performance in the public sector. The empirical analysis focuses on the Animal Health Control Policy Bureau (AHCPB) within Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), an agency operating under conditions of heightened environmental volatility and policy complexity. Adopting a mixed-method research design, the study integrates qualitative evidence from in-depth interviews with relevant officials and quantitative analysis based on a Bayesian Structural Time Series (BSTS) model. The results indicate that restructuring improved structural congruence with the external environment, which reduced goal and role ambiguity, strengthened organizational capacity, and enhanced performance outcomes. The BSTS analysis corroborates the positive and sustained impact of the restructuring on long-term organizational performance. These findings provide empirical support for structural contingency theory in a core public-sector setting, suggesting that adaptive structural adjustments facilitate environmental fit, bolster organizational capacity, and advance organizational effectiveness.
Key Words
상황이론, 목표모호성, 조직개편, 성과, 베이지안 구조 시계열 모형, contingency approach, goal ambiguity, role ambiguity, organizational performance, bayesian structural time series
How Do Coordination Mechanisms Within Government Bureaucracy Facilitate Interdepartmental Collaboration? 정부관료제 내부 조정기제는 어떻게 부서 간 협력을 촉진하는가?: 적응적 조정기제와 예견적 조정기제를 중심으로
Increasingly complex social structures and wicked problems require inter-departmental collaboration beyond departmental boundaries to make government bureaucracy efficient and effective. While the current literature focuses on conditions for collaboration in terms of systems and institutions, this study aims to clarify the concept of interdepartmental collaboration and examine how coordination mechanisms can drive such collaboration. This study employs a qualitative methodology for the case of “Lab-based Startup Leading University Program,” a case of collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT. This study contributes to shift the academic and practical focus from a top-down, control-tower-oriented approach to an interplay between anticipatory coordination mechanisms such as formal collaborative forums and adaptive coordination mechanisms such as informal communication channels. Furthermore, this study identifies three factors to influence the working of adaptive coordination mechanisms: prior experiences and relationships, facilitators, and implementing agencies.
The Effect of the Budget Review System on the Budget Review: Focusing on Institutional and Operational Review Period 예산안 심의제도가 예산안 심의에 미치는 영향: 제도 및 운영 심의기간 변화를 중심으로
This study empirically examines whether the “Automatic Budget Placing and Early Budget Submission System” implemented since 2014, has affected the activation of budget reviews and the scale of budget increases or decreases, with a focus on the review period. For the case analysis, a panel of review outcomes was constructed based on 16 sectors and 3 types of accounts (General Account, Special Account, and Funds). The activation of deliberation was measured by the total revision rate (increase rate + decrease rate), and the scale of changes was measured by the net revision rate (increase rate - decrease rate). The analysis found that despite the extension of the review period by 30 days according to the earlier budget submission (from October 3 to September 3), no significant effects were observed on either the total revision rate or the net revision rate. This seems to be due to the fact that despite the early budget submission, the timing of the deliberation is similar to November, and the function of the budget committee has weakened due to the Automatic Budget Placing System. In order to revitalize the National Assembly's deliberation on the budget, it seems necessary to have the policy will to advance the start of the review by respecting the purpose of revising the National Finance Act, which requires early submission of the budget bill.
The Impact of Debt Rules on National Debt: Analyzing the Moderating Effect of Bureaucratic Quality in OECD Countries 부채준칙이 국가부채에 미치는 영향: OECD 국가의 관료제 질의 조절효과 분석
Using a dynamic panel data estimator for panel data from OECD countries, this study empirically analyzes the moderating and marginal effects of bureaucratic quality on the impact of the number of debt rules and national or supranational debt rule on general government debt and presents policy and academic implications. The number of debt rules, as moderated by bureaucratic quality, significantly reduces government debt. The average marginal effect of the number of debt rules on government debt indicates that higher levels of bureaucratic quality lead to a decrease in government debt. The national debt rule, as moderated by bureaucratic quality, significantly reduces government debt, with the average marginal effect of the national debt rule on government debt being a reduction in government debt when bureaucratic quality is high. This study suggests that the interaction effect between debt rules and bureaucratic quality on government debt is greater than their individual effects. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance the quality of the bureaucracy and strengthen the national debt rule. Furthermore, considering the strong path dependence of persistent increases in government debt, it is necessary to devise measures to reduce government debt and employ dynamic panel data estimators.
Key Words
정부부채, 부채준칙, 관료제의 질, 동태적 패널자료 추정법, government debt, debt rules, bureaucratic quality, dynamic panel data estimator
Promotion to Senior-Level Positions and Organizational Innovation in Local Governments: The Mediating Role of Organizational Autonomy 지방정부 고위직 공무원 승진 요인과 조직혁신: 자율성의 매개 효과를 중심으로
This study examines the relationship between promotion to senior-level positions and organizational innovation in local governments, with a particular focus on the mediating role of organizational autonomy. Using structural equation modeling, promotion systems are classified into merit-based, qualification-based, and patronage-based types. The results show that these promotion systems do not directly enhance organizational innovation but exert significant indirect effects through organizational autonomy. Among them, merit-based promotion demonstrates the strongest indirect association with innovation mediated by autonomy. These findings suggest that the institutional design of promotion systems for senior-level officials can foster organizational autonomy, which in turn contributes to strengthening innovation capacity in local governments.
Key Words
고위직 공무원 승진 요인, 조직혁신, 자율성, promotion to senior-level positions, organizational innovation, autonomy
Local Self-Governance and Co-Production: A Theoretical Framework for Their Conceptualization and Interrelationship in Solving Local Problems and Deepening Participatory Democracy 주민자치와 공동생산: 지역문제 해결과 참여민주주의 실현을 위한 개념화와 상호관계의 이론적 모형
This study aims to reconceptualize local self-governance and co-production as alternatives for local problem-solving and public service innovation in the context of global crises, drawing on the perspectives of participatory democracy and new public governance. It proposes a theoretical framework to explain the dynamic interrelationship between local self-governance and co-production.
To this end, the study examines key theoretical issues and perspectives relevant to the reconceptualization of both concepts, and presents refined definitions aligned with the research goal. It then explores the mechanisms through which local self-governance and co-production are connected in grassroots participatory spaces-particularly invited and popular spaces-and proposes a model of their interrelationship as well as potential diffusion pathways for co-production. In an era of regional crises, the study argues that local self-governance and co-production must evolve beyond mere formal institutions into substantive practices of self-rule, enabling residents to address local challenges and improve their quality of life. To realize this transformation, the principles of co-production-defined as resident participation across all stages of public service delivery-must be actively incorporated. This process also calls for a major shift in policy orientation regarding both local governments and local self-governance.
Key Words
주민자치, 공동생산, 참여민주주의, local self-governance, co-production, participatory democracy
Exploring Policy Diffusion Structures Among Youth Participation Organizations in Seoul: A Network Analysis of Policy Proposal Similarity Using Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGM) 서울시 자치구 청년참여기구 간 정책 확산 구조 탐색: 지수형 랜덤 그래프 모형(ERGM)을 활용한 정책 제안 유사성 네트워크 분석
This study investigates the structural mechanisms of policy diffusion among youth participation bodies across the 25 autonomous districts of Seoul, based on the content similarity of their policy proposals. Focusing on the formation of similarity at the proposal stage rather than after policy adoption, a cosine similarity-based policy proposal network was constructed and analyzed using the exponential random graph model (ERGM). The results show that indirect connections through triadic structures and the number of policy proposals have a significant positive effect on the formation of policy similarity, while demographic concentration of youth and geographic proximity are not statistically significant. These findings suggest that policy diffusion is driven more by structural connectivity within the network and policy production capacity than by spatial proximity. By extending policy diffusion theory to the proposal stage, this study empirically demonstrates that youth participation organizations function as arenas of substantive policy production where policy learning and competition intersect, and provides policy implications linking the institutionalization of youth participation to the accumulation of civic capacity.
Key Words
정책 확산, 청년참여기구, 사회연결망분석, policy diffusion, youth participation organizations, social network analysis
This study investigates the heterogeneity of public perceptions of nuclear energy beyond the conventional pro- and anti-nuclear dichotomy. Using data from the 2020 National Survey on Nuclear Safety Perceptions(n=1,019), a Latent Class Analysis (LCA) identified three distinct perception-based subgroups: a skeptical group with low confidence in government safety management; a pro-institution group that supports stronger regulation based on high risk perception; and an optimistic group with favorable views on nuclear safety and future government performance. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that perceived government competence, rather than trust in official announcements, significantly predicted group membership. Demographic variables such as gender and age also showed group-level differences. These findings highlight the need for nuclear policy to reflect the public’s perceptual diversity through differentiated communication and engagement strategies, thereby enhancing policy legitimacy and long-term societal acceptance.
Key Words
원자력, 대중 인식, 잠재집단분석, nuclear power, public’s perception, latent class analysis
