* SUMMARY

Continuities and Changes in Korean Government Innovations

Government innovation is nothing new. There are always ebbs and flows of innovation initiatives in the public sector, and Korea is no exception. The history of Korea after World War II shows that the government has constantly pushed government reforms and innovations, particularly following the cycle of political and administrative changes.

This article surveys public sector innovation initiatives, which had been conducted under past Korean administrations. With a special focus on civil service reforms (innovations in public personnel administration), it attempts to answer three questions: (1) What are continuities and changes in the civil service reforms in different administrations? (2) Can government innovation initiatives be sustained? and (3) What are the lessons learned from the Korean experience of government innovations?