The authors explain the seemingly contradictory outcomes of Korean employment relations and HRM based upon a theoretical framework that incorporates the logics of environmental constraints and the strategies of the participants in the labour market.

South Korea is one of the rare countries that have experienced political/industrial democratization and economic development simultaneously in a relatively short period. However the full story of democratization and development processes displays two faces - positive and negative aspects to the deployment of labour/human resources. This book explains these seemingly contradictory outcomes of Korean employment relations (ER) and human resource management (HRM) based upon a theoretical framework that incorporates logics of environmental constraints and strategies of actors. The book discusses the paradigm shift in both ER and HRM during three key periods of the previous century (pre-1987, 1987-1997 and post-1997). This text contains informative details on Korean ER and HRM of past and present, with theoretical and practical views, and of transformations and continuities. The book provides policy implications that can stimulate constructive debates regarding the "mutual-gains" strategies for policy makers, management and employees.

Introduction and contents of employment relations and HRM: economic development, the labour market and actors in employment relations
cultural background and organizational strategy. The origins and evolution of Korean employment relations: employment relations in Korea, 1890-1986 - one hundred years of labour suppression
Korean employment relations, 1987-1996 - experiments with pluralism and tripartism
Changing employment relations in the era of financial crisis and organizational restructuring. Korean HRM Systems: Past and Present: The origins and evolution of HRM, 1910-1987 - a historical sketch
HRM systems in transition. Illustrations of Korean employment relations and HRM systems: Employment relations and HRM in practice - case studies. Korean employment relations and HRM at the crossroads.