Review of Consumer Activism in Korea, 1910-1995: A Political-Economic Approach
Author(s)
Rhee, Kee-Choon; Lee, Jinkook
Abstract
Consumer activism in Korea has a long history, starting from an anti-colonial social movement and developing into one which targets consumers’ interests at both individual and societal levels. As a social movement, consumer activism needs to be understood within a political and economic environment, particularly in Korea which has gone through dynamic changes both politically and economically. While understanding of the political environment sheds further light on governmental consumer policies as well as manifested consumer activism, eminent consumer problems and issues were acknowledged according to the stage of economic development. This political-economic approach deepens our understanding of the Korean consumer movement and provides a framework for analyzing consumer activism in other Eastern Asian countries which are experiencing similar political or economic developments.
