The Development of Corporate Social Responsibility Cross-Sector Networks in South Korea: A Historical Review from an Institutional Theory Perspective

This study provides a historical review of the development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the relevant cross-sector networks among non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government and corporations in South Korea, a state-led market economy. By applying and integrating the institutional theoretical framework, the study shows how CSR in South Korea developed overtime under the complex hybridized influences of the global and local pressures and the emergent network dynamics among the organizations across the civil society, governmental and industry sectors. The review provides a novel insight on how NGOs, though often perceived as the independent agents of CSR development, could develop their roles and networks for CSR in contingency with governmental institutions in a state-led market economy. The review proposes several important strategies for how NGOs in South Korea may develop stronger positions and influence on CSR in their cross-sector networks with governmental organizations and corporations, as well as in their within-sector networks with civil societies. Theoretical implications are discussed to open up an innovative avenue of research for theoretical and methodological advancements in future studies of CSR in Asia and other underexplored nations.