Tracing the Evolving Roles of Government, Business, and NGOs in South Korea’s Climate Change Policy: 1987–Present

Jihye Kim; Ji-Won Song; Dhruba Borah

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-21419-5_10

Tracing the Evolving Roles of Government, Business, and NGOs in South Korea’s Climate Change Policy: 1987–Present

Jihye Kim (Lead / Corresponding author)
, Ji-Won Song
, Dhruba Borah

Management and Marketing

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

This study examines the evolving roles of government, business, and NGOs in South Korea’s climate change policymaking from 1987 to the present. Using a longitudinal historical analysis, we show a shift from government-dominated policymaking to more decentralized and collaborative governance. Drawing on policy entrepreneurship and agency theory, we find that the government initially acted as the primary policy principal, reflecting its neo-developmental state legacy, while NGOs and businesses played subordinate roles. Over time, NGOs evolved from underground activists to watchdogs and policy entrepreneurs, while businesses shifted from economic drivers to policy entrepreneurs. We show how misalignments between government goals and the diverse interests of NGOs and businesses generated tensions, helping explain the emergence of collaborative governance within South Korea’s historical and institutional context. The findings offer implications for strengthening cross-sector governance and advancing climate action in complex policy environments.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	International Business and Seismic Disruptions
Subtitle of host publication	Political, Digital, and Sustainability Dynamics
Editors	Abderaouf Bouguerra, Sun Hye Lee, Jill Juergensen, Shasha Zhao
Publisher	Palgrave Macmillan
Chapter	10
Pages	267–293
Number of pages	26
ISBN (Electronic)	9783032214195
ISBN (Print)	9783032214188
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-21419-5_10
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 30 Jun 2026

Publication series

Name	The Academy of International Business
Publisher	Palgrave Macmillan
ISSN (Print)	2662-1223
ISSN (Electronic)	2662-1231

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Climate change policy
Policy entrepreneurs
Policy development
Historical analysis
South Korea

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-21419-5_10

Embargoed Document

Author Accepted Manuscript
Accepted author manuscript, 426 KB
Licence: Other
Embargo ends: 30/06/2027 00:00 BST

Cite this

Kim, J., Song, J.-W., & Borah, D. (2026). Tracing the Evolving Roles of Government, Business, and NGOs in South Korea’s Climate Change Policy: 1987–Present. In A. Bouguerra, S. H. Lee, J. Juergensen, & S. Zhao (Eds.), International Business and Seismic Disruptions: Political, Digital, and Sustainability Dynamics (pp. 267–293). (The Academy of International Business). Palgrave Macmillan. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-21419-5_10

Kim, Jihye ; Song, Ji-Won ; Borah, Dhruba. / Tracing the Evolving Roles of Government, Business, and NGOs in South Korea’s Climate Change Policy : 1987–Present. International Business and Seismic Disruptions: Political, Digital, and Sustainability Dynamics. editor / Abderaouf Bouguerra ; Sun Hye Lee ; Jill Juergensen ; Shasha Zhao. Palgrave Macmillan, 2026. pp. 267–293 (The Academy of International Business).

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abstract = "This study examines the evolving roles of government, business, and NGOs in South Korea{\textquoteright}s climate change policymaking from 1987 to the present. Using a longitudinal historical analysis, we show a shift from government-dominated policymaking to more decentralized and collaborative governance. Drawing on policy entrepreneurship and agency theory, we find that the government initially acted as the primary policy principal, reflecting its neo-developmental state legacy, while NGOs and businesses played subordinate roles. Over time, NGOs evolved from underground activists to watchdogs and policy entrepreneurs, while businesses shifted from economic drivers to policy entrepreneurs. We show how misalignments between government goals and the diverse interests of NGOs and businesses generated tensions, helping explain the emergence of collaborative governance within South Korea{\textquoteright}s historical and institutional context. The findings offer implications for strengthening cross-sector governance and advancing climate action in complex policy environments.",

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Kim, J, Song, J-W & Borah, D 2026, Tracing the Evolving Roles of Government, Business, and NGOs in South Korea’s Climate Change Policy: 1987–Present. in A Bouguerra, SH Lee, J Juergensen & S Zhao (eds), International Business and Seismic Disruptions: Political, Digital, and Sustainability Dynamics. The Academy of International Business, Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 267–293. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-21419-5_10

Tracing the Evolving Roles of Government, Business, and NGOs in South Korea’s Climate Change Policy: 1987–Present. / Kim, Jihye (Lead / Corresponding author); Song, Ji-Won; Borah, Dhruba.
International Business and Seismic Disruptions: Political, Digital, and Sustainability Dynamics. ed. / Abderaouf Bouguerra; Sun Hye Lee; Jill Juergensen; Shasha Zhao. Palgrave Macmillan, 2026. p. 267–293 (The Academy of International Business).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

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T1 - Tracing the Evolving Roles of Government, Business, and NGOs in South Korea’s Climate Change Policy

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AU - Borah, Dhruba

PY - 2026/6/30

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N2 - This study examines the evolving roles of government, business, and NGOs in South Korea’s climate change policymaking from 1987 to the present. Using a longitudinal historical analysis, we show a shift from government-dominated policymaking to more decentralized and collaborative governance. Drawing on policy entrepreneurship and agency theory, we find that the government initially acted as the primary policy principal, reflecting its neo-developmental state legacy, while NGOs and businesses played subordinate roles. Over time, NGOs evolved from underground activists to watchdogs and policy entrepreneurs, while businesses shifted from economic drivers to policy entrepreneurs. We show how misalignments between government goals and the diverse interests of NGOs and businesses generated tensions, helping explain the emergence of collaborative governance within South Korea’s historical and institutional context. The findings offer implications for strengthening cross-sector governance and advancing climate action in complex policy environments.

AB - This study examines the evolving roles of government, business, and NGOs in South Korea’s climate change policymaking from 1987 to the present. Using a longitudinal historical analysis, we show a shift from government-dominated policymaking to more decentralized and collaborative governance. Drawing on policy entrepreneurship and agency theory, we find that the government initially acted as the primary policy principal, reflecting its neo-developmental state legacy, while NGOs and businesses played subordinate roles. Over time, NGOs evolved from underground activists to watchdogs and policy entrepreneurs, while businesses shifted from economic drivers to policy entrepreneurs. We show how misalignments between government goals and the diverse interests of NGOs and businesses generated tensions, helping explain the emergence of collaborative governance within South Korea’s historical and institutional context. The findings offer implications for strengthening cross-sector governance and advancing climate action in complex policy environments.

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KW - Policy entrepreneurs

KW - Policy development

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A2 - Bouguerra, Abderaouf

A2 - Lee, Sun Hye

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A2 - Zhao, Shasha

PB - Palgrave Macmillan

ER -

Kim J, Song JW, Borah D. Tracing the Evolving Roles of Government, Business, and NGOs in South Korea’s Climate Change Policy: 1987–Present. In Bouguerra A, Lee SH, Juergensen J, Zhao S, editors, International Business and Seismic Disruptions: Political, Digital, and Sustainability Dynamics. Palgrave Macmillan. 2026. p. 267–293. (The Academy of International Business). Epub 2026 Jun 30. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-21419-5_10

Tracing the Evolving Roles of Government, Business, and NGOs in South Korea’s Climate Change Policy: 1987–Present

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Embargoed Document

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Cite this