Sociotechnical Imaginaries and the Globalization of Converging Technology Policy

Technological Developmentalism in South Korea

Bibliographic Data

ID12205461
AuthorsEun-Sook Kim (0000-0001-8567-524X, Kyung Hee University, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume27
Issue2
Pages175-197
Publication date2017-08-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueScience as Culture (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0950-5431 • E-ISSN: 1470-1189
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09505431.2017.1354844
OpenAlexW2740330763
LanguageEN
Citations received29
References cited26

The United States (US), European Union (EU), and South Korea had different definitions and visions of technological convergence before interacting with each other from the late 2000s. The Korean government has used Western policies as a benchmark but produces a distinct concept of technological convergence due to a particular imaginary of technology as a vehicle for national economic growth. This sociotechnical imaginary of technological developmentalism influences Korea’s translation of technological convergence from other jurisdictions. Because the sociotechnical imaginaries of different nations are difficult to communicate across national contexts, the translation of visions often changes the original meaning of things like technological convergence. Western sociotechnical imaginaries such as human enhancement and sustainable development do not translate well into South Korea due to the national imaginary of technological developmentalism. First, Korea’s Lee administration predominantly envisioned converging technology (CT) as a new growth engine, in contrast to the US and EU which emphasize visions of trans-humanist or sustainable futures respectively. Second, the Park administration’s CT vision imitates the Western societal challenge-driven rationale, but this vision was not enacted. As such, the democratic, sustainable imaginary of societal challenge-driven innovation is not easily translated into Korea’s national imaginary or technology policy

Convergence (economics · Developmentalism · Economic growth · Economic system · Economics · Geography · Globalization · Management · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Sociotechnical system · Summit · Technological change · Technological convergence · The Imaginary · Vision · Chinese history and philosophy · Engineering · Innovation and Socioeconomic Development · Law · University-Industry-Government Innovation Models

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