체제전환국의 사회적 약자 보호 법제

A Legal System for Protecting Disadvantaged Members of Society in Transitional Countries

It is often extremely difficult for citizens in transitional countries to adjust to a new system for which there is no precedent in their lives. In particular, the livelihood of disadvantaged members of society is threatened by factors such as rising prices and unemployment in the changing environment. Under the previous socialist system, the state provided the basic necessities of life for its citizens, whereas in a market economy the individual must fend for himself. This paper emphasizes the income gap that arises in the process of transitioning to a capitalist, market economy system and points out why the creation of a new social safety net is necessary. In addition, it examines how transitional countries, faced with the task of forming a new social integration, have prepared a legal structure to do so. It is predicted that North Korea’s recent introduction of certain market elements will bring about changes in its society, and therefore the provision of social welfare will be a minimum and necessary task in uniting North Koreans as full members of society. This paper focuses on social welfare policy in transitional countries, as well as wages, medical care, housing, and labor policy before and after the transition period.