The Discourse of Non-Regular Employment Policies: Comparative Analysis between South Korea and Japan

The Discourse of Non-Regular Employment Policies: Comparative Analysis between South Korea and Japan

This article explores how policy discourse and ideas have influenced the policies towards non-regular employment in South Korea and Japan through discursive analysis. Both countries have experienced significant labor market reforms since the 1990s, leading to an increase in non-regular employment. However, there was a difference in how each country set the discourse around non-regular employment resulting in different policy responses. South Korea and Japan went through the periods of policies that emphasized flexible labor during their periods of economic crises. Yet, Japan has emphasized labor market flexibility and expanded the use of non-regular employment, framing it as a means to diversify employment forms. In contrast, Korea has focused more on protecting non-regular employment and reducing social inequality. It has been more cautious in its approach to non-regular employment. But at the same time they couldn’t forgo the ideas of labor market flexibility for its economic growth. There was a slight turn in the policy discourse after the 2008 financial crisis. After 2008, Japan shifted its focus towards providing safety nets and support for non-regular workers, while also aiming to diversify regular employment. Korea also has sought to improve employment stability and reduce discrimination, and yet still promoted pro-business policies emphasizing flexible labor policies. Such different policy discourse have led to different policy responses and views of non-regular employment in Korea and Japan.

This article explores how policy discourse and ideas have influenced the policies towards non-regular employment in South Korea and Japan through discursive analysis. Both countries have experienced significant labor market reforms since the 1990s, leading to an increase in non-regular employment. However, there was a difference in how each country set the discourse around non-regular employment resulting in different policy responses. South Korea and Japan went through the periods of policies that emphasized flexible labor during their periods of economic crises. Yet, Japan has emphasized labor market flexibility and expanded the use of non-regular employment, framing it as a means to diversify employment forms. In contrast, Korea has focused more on protecting non-regular employment and reducing social inequality. It has been more cautious in its approach to non-regular employment. But at the same time they couldn’t forgo the ideas of labor market flexibility for its economic growth. There was a slight turn in the policy discourse after the 2008 financial crisis. After 2008, Japan shifted its focus towards providing safety nets and support for non-regular workers, while also aiming to diversify regular employment. Korea also has sought to improve employment stability and reduce discrimination, and yet still promoted pro-business policies emphasizing flexible labor policies. Such different policy discourse have led to different policy responses and views of non-regular employment in Korea and Japan.