The Women's Movement in South Korea Revisited

Abstract

: Using unique survey data collected in 2000 and 2010 and a novel approach to the study of women's movement, this study examines the extent to which the women's movement has persisted and/or changed over the past decade in South Korea. The core emphasis of the paper is on whether Korean women's organizations have changed mobilization repertoires that are important for movement formation, and if so, how and why. The findings indicate two things. First, on one hand, the women's organizations have displayed similar patterns of resource mobilization (i.e., financial situation) over a ten-year period. On the other hand, women have used or have been willing to use different political tactics and alliance strategies to pursue their goals. Second, the younger women's groups, compared to their older counterparts, have collaborated more among themselves and have also been more satisfied with other public and private sectors in addressing women's issues and formulating appropriate policies.