SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION, FARMERS' MOVEMENTS AND REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS IN SOUTH KOREA: A CASE STUDY ON THE DIFFUSION OF FARMERS' PROTESTS, 1987–1989

摘要

South Korea has experienced rapid economic development and industrialization over the last three decades, and has become one of the leading newly industrializing countries (NICs), Since 1980, however, many movements calling for social reforms and democratization have Liken place in the process of this social transformation. This study focuses on the farmers' movements, in particular, farmers' protests against the irrigation tax during the period between 1987 and 1989. Farmers' protests began at one county in Chonnam province and spread rapidly all over the agricultural regions. During the same period, 178 cases of farmers' protests were recorded and 46.7 percent of nil the counties in agricultural regions witnessed active farmers' protests. These protests reveal distinct regional differences in the diffusion process. Important factors related to the spatial differences of the diffusion process are regional agricultural structure, activities of farmers' organizations, and local characteristics.