Energy democratization policy without democratization of policy governance in South Korea: A participatory democracy perspective

Policy governance with citizen participation has gained much attention in the application of participatory democracy. Accordingly, what conditions are needed to conform to the idea of policy governance and contribute to policy effectiveness? This article answers this question by examining the energy policy of the South Korean Moon Jae-in government. It argues that—in addition to the formation of policy governance—democratizing its operation based on the democratic principles of legitimacy and responsibility is required, and theoretically presents conditions to this end. It then examines the Moon government's energy policy process, featuring nuclear phase-out and fostering renewable energy. The government-formed energy policy governance was represented by public debate committees and policy projects that accompany citizen participation under the banner of participatory democracy. However, it does not consider the democratic principles that led to people questioning its authenticity and brought about serious policy problems that hindered the accomplishment of policy objectives. Related Articles: Ayhan, Kadir Jun, and Nancy Snow. 2021. “Introduction to the Special Issue: Global Korea Scholarship: Empirical Evaluation of a Non-Western Scholarship Program from a Public Diplomacy Perspective.” Politics & Policy 49(6): 1282–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12440. Heo, Inhye. 2013. “The Political Economy of Policy Gridlock in South Korea: The Case of the Lee Myung-bak Government's Green Growth Policy.” Politics & Policy 41(4): 509–35. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12029. Kane, John, Hui-Chieh Loy, and Haig Patapan. 2010. “Introduction to the Special Issue: The Search for Legitimacy in Asia.” Politics & Policy 38(3): 381–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2010.00240.x.