Digital Platform Government Initiatives in Korea: Reinforcers for the Better Smart Governance

초록

This chapter explores the evolution of digital government initiatives in South Korea, emphasizing the shift from traditional e-government models to innovative smart governance frameworks. It critically examines the Korean Digital Platform Government (DPG) as a new approach that aims to address the limitations of siloed systems in government operations by fostering an integrated, citizen-centered digital infrastructure. Through a contingency e-government model and reinforcement theory, this chapter outlines the gradual transformation from technocratic, information management-focused models to participatory and governance-based systems. Additionally, it reviews the reinforcement theory perspectives that shape ICT management strategies and highlights the role of public-private collaboration. South Korea’s policy efforts, including regulatory adjustments and technological advancements in AI, big data, and blockchain, signify a pioneering attempt to create a transparent, responsive, and efficient governance platform. This chapter concludes by underscoring challenges, including budget constraints, interministerial coordination, and the absence of unified strategic control, which have impeded the implementation of DPG. Comparative analysis of Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative provides insights into the benefits of streamlined governance structures, underscoring the need for adaptive policies in an increasingly complex digital landscape. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.

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