| COVID-19, Familism, and South Korean Governance Subjects: Politics & International Relations; Social Sciences; Introductory Politics; Asian Politics; Political Philosophy; Political Theory; Regulatory Policy; Political Behavior and Participation; Sociology & Social Policy; South East Asian Politics; Political Ideologies; Ancient & Medieval Political Theory; Social Policy; Health Policy; Political Psychology; Public Opinion; Social Movements; Sociology of the Family; Sociology of Culture; This book traces the factors that contributed to the success in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea and identifies the concept of familism as a major environmental factor. The government of South Korea has achieved remarkable outcomes in its COVID-19 response, despite the fact that South Korea usually promotes a family-focused investment of resources at the expense of broader social goals. The author eschews these western cultural biases in theories of crisis management and suggests that the key component of South Korea's success is not self-centered egotism of individuals but a focus on family and familism, which projects state as an extension of family. He argues that while the success in managing the COVID-19 epidemic is due to a combination of factors, familism has been a key force in driving this successful response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The book will be of interest to scholars and students of governance, crisis management, civil society, and citizen's participation in public administration, international relations, Asian studies, and cultural studies and Confucianism. Dr. Jai Chang Park earned his doctorate in Public Administration from the State University of New York at Albany and is serving as a professor emeritus of Public Administration Department at the Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul, Korea. |