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.
Aristotle's Thought and Publicness: Focusing on the Togetherness-Communication-Benevolence Strategy 아리스토텔레스의 사상과 공공성: 共-通-仁 전략을 중심으로
임의영 ( Lim Euy Young )
DOI:10.18333/KPAR.59.3.3 Vol.59(No.3) 3-28, 2025
Abstract
This paper focuses on excavating conceptual resources from the philosophy of Aristotle that are beneficial to the modern discourse on publicness. This excavation is framed by the “Togetherness-Communication-Benevolence Strategy,” a framework for realizing publicness. The “Togetherness-strategy” centers on coexistence, solidarity, and collaborative governance; the “Communication-strategy” on the vitalization of the public sphere; and the “Benevolence-strategy” on the pursuit of a fair and just life. In relation to these strategies, this paper discusses corresponding concepts from Aristotle's thought: the ideal polity (politeia) and friendship (philia) in connection with the Togetherness-strategy; the wisdom of the multitude and rhetoric in connection with the Communication-strategy; and the concepts of happiness (eudaimonia) and justice in connection with the Benevolence-strategy. Finally, the paper presents the implications of this discussion for the field of public administration.
Max Weber's theories have long served as a major work in the field of public administration. This study attempts to construct a foundational theory of agency of the bureaucrat, drawing on the discourse surrounding human action that underpins Weber's theoretical framework. This study narrows its focus to the action theory presented in Weber's theories, aiming to consolidate his perspectives on the origins and dynamics of human action. Building on this foundation, the paper explores the implications of Weber's views on the behavior of the bureaucrat for contemporary theory of public administration. Key questions addressed include: What are the fundamental principles driving human action and its change? How do these principles shape the choices, judgments, and interactions of bureaucrats? Ultimately, this study tries to clarify the broader significance of the theory of agency for modern administrative thought, emphasizing its utilization as a plausible framework for theoretical analysis in the field of public administration.
Key Words
행위자성, 막스 베버, 행위이론, agency, Max Weber, action theory
A Study on the Collaborative Governance of Youth Policy Participation Organizations: Focusing on the Governance of Siheung Youth Policy Network 청년정책참여기구의 협력적 거버넌스 운영에 관한 연구: 시흥시 청년정책네트워크를 중심으로
Today, young adults face serious challenges such as unemployment and poor housing conditions. In response, local governments have sought to actively include young people in the policymaking process to reflect their voices in youth policies. A representative mechanism for this participation, commonly referred to as the Youth Policy Network, exists under different names across various regions. This study analyzes the collaborative governance of youth policy participation organizations established to systematically integrate youth policies. Specifically, using the analytical framework of collaborative governance proposed by Ansell & Gash (2008), this study examines the governance of the Siheung Youth Policy Network, which consists of a policy committee and a policy council. The findings reveal that diverse stakeholders, including administrative bodies, committees, and councils, actively engage in network-based activities within the youth participation organization. However, institutional deficiencies were identified in the process of fostering collaboration among participants. These findings provide policy implications, highlighting the need for educational programs to clarify the functions and roles of youth policy participation organizations, as well as the systematic development of the policymaking process.
The job satisfaction of civil servants is higher on average than that of private sector workers. This study aims to identify the cause of the difference in job satisfaction between the two groups and to analyze the differential effects of explanatory variables. This study analyzed the Korean Labor Panel, which simultaneously surveyed public and private sector workers. The Oaxaca threefold decomposition method was applied to a sample of 7,477 civil servants and 18,565 private sector workers among respondents for a total of 21 years from 2003 to 2023. According to the analysis results, the endowment effect explains 28% and the coefficient effect explains 68% of the difference in job satisfaction between the two sectors. The Oaxaca decomposition results suggest that different prescriptions are needed for improving job satisfaction by sector. In order to improve job satisfaction in the stagnant public sector, it is necessary to improve the salary level, while in order to increase job satisfaction of private sector workers, which still remains low compared to the public sector, it is necessary to seek and implement policies to improve life satisfaction, improve health conditions, and increase the proportion of women.
Key Words
직무만족, 옥사카 분해, 공공부문과 민간부문, job satisfaction, Oaxaca decomposition, public and private
The purpose of this study is to classify latent profiles of public officials’ job behaviors related to passive and proactive administration, analyze the predictive factors influencing these profiles, and examine performance differences across the latent profiles. This study used data from 6,444 public officials in central administrative agencies and local governments, collected through the 2023 Public Service Life Survey conducted by the Korea Institute of Public Administration. Latent profile analysis identified four categories of public officials’ passive and proactive administration profiles: “Proactive Administrator Type”(20.2%), “Potential Proactive Administrator Type”(73.4%), “Janus Type”(2.6%), and “Passive Administrator Type”(3.8%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that personal factors (gender, age, education, rank, tenure, institution of employment type, and recruitment path), job autonomy, and developmental culture significantly influenced latent profiles. Analysis of performance differences across latent profiles showed that both individual and organizational perceived performance were higher among public officials in the “Proactive Administrator Type”, “Potential Proactive Administrator Type”, and “Janus Type” than in the “Passive Administrator Type”. Based on these findings, this study discusses theoretical and policy implications for fostering the internalization of proactive job attitudes among public officials.
Key Words
적극행정, 소극행정, 잠재프로파일, proactive public administration, passive public administration, latent profile analysis, LPA
The Relationship Among Work Autonomy, Innovative Behavior, Performance: Focusing on a Moderated Mediation Model of Performance Management 업무자율성, 혁신행동, 업무성과의 관계: 성과관리의 조절된 매개효과를 중심으로
This study empirically analyzes the relationship among work autonomy, innovative behavior, and job performance in the public sector, focusing on the moderated mediation effect of performance management. Using data from the 2023 Civil Service Life Survey, this study examines how work autonomy influences innovative behavior and how innovative behavior, in turn, improves job performance. Additionally, this study investigates how the level of performance management moderates the impact of work autonomy on innovative behavior and the relationship between innovative behavior and job performance. The results indicate that work autonomy positively influences both innovative behavior and job performance, with innovative behavior playing a key mediating role in the relationship between work autonomy and job performance. Furthermore, the level of performance management strengthens the indirect effect of work autonomy on job performance through innovative behavior, particularly in organizations with higher levels of performance management. This study highlights the importance of performance management in fostering innovation within the public sector and provides practical and theoretical implications for policy improvements.
Key Words
업무 자율성, 혁신 행동, 업무 성과, 성과 관리, work autonomy, innovative behavior, job performance, performance management, public sector
The Effect of Goal Orientation on Evidence-Based Decision-Making: The Moderating Role of P-O Fit 공공조직 구성원의 목표지향이 증거기반 의사결정에 미치는 영향: 개인-조직 적합성(P-O Fit) 관점에서 조직문화의 조절효과
Despite growing recognition of the importance of evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) in navigating complex and uncertain public sector environments, empirical investigations into individual-level determinants of evidence use within public organizations remain underdeveloped. This study addresses this gap by examining the extent to which public employees’ goal orientations―specifically, learning and performance goal orientations―influence their engagement in evidence-use behaviors. Furthermore, drawing on the person-organization (P-O) fit framework, the study explores how different dimensions of organizational culture (rational, hierarchical, group, and developmental) moderate these relationships. Utilizing survey data from 999 employees across 33 Korean public enterprises, the study employs multiple regression and moderation analyses. Findings indicate that learning goal orientation significantly predicts active engagement in EBDM, whereas performance goal orientation does not exhibit a direct effect. Additionally, moderation analysis reveals that rational and developmental cultures enhance the positive association between learning goal orientation and EBDM, while hierarchical culture attenuates this effect. These results offer theoretical and practical insights, suggesting that fostering evidence-based practices in the public sector necessitates human resource strategies that align individual motivational dispositions with the prevailing organizational culture.
The Effect of Policy Instruments on Policy Acceptance: A Study on the Disposable Items Reduction Policy Using Conjoint Survey Experiment 정책수단이 정책 수용성에 미치는 영향: 컨조인트 실험설문을 활용한 1회용품 사용 줄이기 정책 연구
This study investigates the effects of different policy instruments on public acceptance of policies aimed at reducing the use of single-use disposable items. Specifically, it explores a mix of regulatory measures, monetary incentives, and information provision used by governments to decrease the use of single-use cups in cafés. Using conjoint analysis, the study examines how various policy instruments influence public acceptance. A conjoint experiment was conducted in which participants were presented with a pair of policy alternatives (profiles) and asked to choose their preferred option. Data was collected from 213 participants through the "People's Thought Box" website between September 14 and 25, 2023. The analysis revealed that regulatory fines on cafés, monetary incentives for consumers, and information provision significantly increased policy acceptance. Voluntary donations by cafés and fines imposed on consumers, however, did not show significant effects. The findings suggest that effective policy instruments should be developed based on rigorous scientific data generated from experimental research designs. This approach ensures that policy goals are achieved by encouraging voluntary participation from target groups, influencing behavioral changes, and ultimately meeting policy objectives.
Key Words
컨조인트 분석, 정책 수단, 정책 수용성, 실험설문, 1회용품, conjoint analysis, policy instruments, policy acceptance, survey experiment, disposable
Analyzing the Relationship Between Regime Change and Public Institution Performance Evaluations: Focusing on the Timing of CEO Appointments 정권변동과 공공기관 경영평가 결과 간 관계 분석: 기관장 임명 시기를 중심으로
This study examines the impact of executive appointment timing on public institution performance evaluations. In South Korea, these evaluations serve as a key policy tool for assessing institutional efficiency and guiding organizational improvements. However, with each administration change, institutions led by executives appointed by the previous government often receive lower evaluations, raising concerns that the system is used as a political instrument. Using panel regression analysis on data from 27 state-owned enterprises (2013-2022), this study finds that institutions with executives appointed by the incumbent administration tend to receive higher overall and non-quantitative evaluation scores. This suggests that political factors may influence assessment outcomes. To enhance the fairness and objectivity of the evaluation system, this study proposes aligning executive tenures with presidential terms and refining evaluation criteria to reduce political bias. Strengthening transparency and ensuring independence in evaluation processes are also crucial for improving the credibility of public institution assessments.
Key Words
공기업, 공공기관 경영평가, 정치적 임용, public institution performance evaluation, public enterprise, political appointment
Understanding the perceptions and attitudes of public officials, who serve as both policy implementers and target groups, is essential for successful policy implementation. The significance of comprehending public officials' responses to emerging digital policies has intensified as digital transformation within public organizations becomes imperative. Accordingly, this study sought to typologize public officials' perceptions and attitudes toward Data-Driven Administration―a component of digital transformation policy―and to identify the factors influencing each typology. To this end, factor analysis and K-means clustering were employed to exploratively categorize public officials' perceptions and attitudes, while multinomial logistic regression and marginal effects analysis were conducted to identify the determinants of each cluster. The analysis reveals four distinct typologies of public officials' perceptions and attitudes toward Data-Driven Administration: resistance, passive acceptance, inactive acceptance, and critical acceptance. The factors influencing cluster membership were identified as leadership, performance management, financial resources, technological resources, innovative behavior, and data literacy. These findings hold theoretical significance in confirming that the discourse from international literature―asserting that policy responses cannot be adequately explained through the dichotomous framework of acceptance versus resistance and that ambivalence exists where acceptance and resistance coexist―is applicable within the Korean administrative context. Based on these findings, this study presents strategic recommendations for promoting Data-Driven Administration.
Key Words
데이터기반행정, 수용 및 저항, 유형화, data-driven administration, acceptance and resistance, typology
