This collection investigates how the rapid implementation of neoliberal market policies and financial restructuring following the 1997 Asian financial crisis fundamentally altered South Korean economic behavior and social structures. Edited by Jesook Song, the volume brings together scholars to analyze the paradox of South Korea’s transition from an export-oriented economy to one characterized by high consumer debt and transnational mobility. The contributors argue that these financial shifts were not merely economic adjustments but were deeply embedded in new governing tactics that reshaped the daily lives of diverse socio-economic groups.

Experts recognize this collection as a critical resource for understanding the intersection of global financial policy and local social change in East Asia. Scholars frequently cite the text for its detailed examination of how neoliberal governance manifests within specific national contexts.