• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.309-334
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• 2010

This study explores gender mechanism of welfare politics in Korea from the perspective of welfare status theory. In the simplistic analysis, it is found that there is no gender difference in welfare attitudes. In the more sophisticated analysis of welfare-status-beased SEM, however, it is found that Korean welfare politics is to be understood in terms of gender-related politics. Three major findings of this study are as follows. Firstly, Korean women possess less pro-welfare attitudes in terms of the status of welfare beneficiary. This is due to the visible gender segregation in the Korean labor market on the one hand and due to the centrality of social insurance programs in the structure of Korean public welfare system on the other hand. Secondly, Korean women have relatively higher level of pro-welfare attitude when it comes to the status of welfare service provider. Thirdly, Korean women tend to be more supportive to pro-welfare parties as they have less chance to be a higher taxpayer. Based on the above mentioned findings, this study concludes that it is possible to make Korean women be more pro-welfare if the Korean welfare state expands more social services that tend to meet urgent needs of women.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.205-233
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• 2011

This study aims to fathom the relationship between socio-economic security and social cohesion which are two sub-domains of Social Quality, on the institutional context of welfare state. In order to grasp the institutional context of welfare state, the study adopted welfare status theory and measured socio-economic resources of individuals via the status as welfare beneficiary and welfare taxpayer. The study postulates a theoretical model that the socio-economic security domain affects the social cohesion domain. In order to verity the theoretical hypothesis, this study utilized structural equations analysis(SEM) using social survey data conducted in year 2008. Recognition of social trust was included as the core index of social cohesion, and welfare statuses, socio-economic security and social trust were inserted in the sequence. Results revealed that the amount of resource in regards to welfare status of rights had significant influence on the socio-economic security, whereas it had no significant relations in regards to welfare status of duties. The recognition of socio-economic security derived from status of welfare rights and duties were positively associated with recognition of social trust. Also, the recognition of socio-eocnomic security turned out to have significant influence on social trust. Conclusively, among the two sub-domains of Social Quality, the study found that the socio-economic domain has influence on social cohesion domain. Such results suggest that in order to enhance the overall social cohesion in Korea, more delicate arrangement of welfare institutions are required.