Commons research in Korea in the 21st century

Abstract

This article explores the progress commons research has had in South Korea since 2000 and the remaining tasks it should address. Dividing the body of Korean research between the themes of community commons and public commons, we look into the divergent paths commons research has taken in South Korea so far, what achievements it has had, and what it should accomplish in the future. The basis of this analysis consists of the 248 articles that appeared in the Korea Citation Index (KCI)-listed journals from 2000 to 2019. After conceptually differentiating community commons and public commons, we divide this body of research into the two groups, accordingly, which we again divide into subgroups according to their themes. The sociological background in South Korea that has prompted the emergence of each subgroup will also be explained where applicable. The analysis will highlight the four main tasks remaining in commons research in South Korea: the establishment of an integrated framework of analysis for diverse commons theories; exploration of the relationship between community commons and public commons; identification of ways to facilitate and encourage the self-organization of commoners; and the establishment of a commons-based approach to social movements.