Korean Political Leaders (1952-1962): Their Social Origins and Skills

Abstract

This study concerns the social backgrounds of Koreani political leaders who have occupied the topmost stratum in Korea's political hierarchy during the Liberal, Democratic and the Military governments. The study is based on response to questionnaires as well as on published biographical data covering 316 of the 484 men who were selected according to criteria we believe to be carefully devised.' In this study we are primarily concerned with two main aspects of the social backgrounds of political leaders. First, from what social strata are Korean political leaders recruited? Is their social background the same throughout the three administrations? If not, do the differences indicate any over-all social and political change? Secondly, what are their skills? How did they rise to key positions? For our study, we drew up a relatively simple questionnaire and submitted it to leaders in the following categories: (1) cabinet ministers of the three governments; (2) congressional leaders who had served more than three terms and held chairmanships of subcommittees (we included the members of the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction in this category because of its predominantly legislative function) ; (3) viceministers of the executive branch; (4) higher civil servants of four selected ministries (Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Finance, and Justice). Also, provincial governors were included in this category; (5) ambassadors to the United States and Japan; and (6) service chiefs of the armed forces. The final mailing list included 161 cabinet members, 156 congressional leaders, 87 vice-ministers, 60 higher civil servants, 9 ambassadors, and 11 service chiefs, a total of 484 persons. Usable information was obtained from 316, or 65.3%. The distribution of returns by respondents from the six categories are given in the following table: