<p>This dissertation deals with a comparison of social policy in South Korea and Taiwan. By tracing the historical origins of the modern social security institutions, as well as the historical process of modernization of medical care in Korea and Taiwan, this study can identify the extension of entitlement to health insurance as one of the most contentious social policy issues in the two countries. </p><p>Using a historical institutional approach, this study shows that, in both Korea and Taiwan, the direct presidential elections as well as the diffusion of international norms have been two important factors affecting the historical process of the extension of entitlement to health insurance. </p><p>The significance of the direct presidential election factor should be understood in the light of the distinctive political culture in Korea and Taiwan, where the political decision-making has been highly concentrated around the major political leaders and their personalities have assumed a prominent role in sociopolitical development. The significance of international norms should be understood with regard to the particular status of the two states, Korea and Taiwan. Both Korea and Taiwan belong to the states that have sought to build up their respective nations to be comparable to the industrially advanced countries in West during the post World War II era. In more recent years, this has been attempted through the development of social policy programs, even if many areas still need improvement.</p>

This dissertation deals with a comparison of social policy in South Korea and Taiwan. By tracing the historical origins of the modern social security institutions, as well as the historical process of modernization of medical care in Korea and Taiwan, this study can identify the extension of entitlement to health insurance as one of the most contentious social policy issues in the two countries. Using a historical institutional approach, this study shows that, in both Korea and Taiwan, the direct presidential elections as well as the diffusion of international norms have been two important factors affecting the historical process of the extension of entitlement to health insurance. The significance of the direct presidential election factor should be understood in the light of the distinctive political culture in Korea and Taiwan, where the political decision-making has been highly concentrated around the major political leaders and their personalities have assumed a prominent role in sociopolitical development. The significance of international norms should be understood with regard to the particular status of the two states, Korea and Taiwan. Both Korea and Taiwan belong to the states that have sought to build up their respective nations to be comparable to the industrially advanced countries in West during the post World War II era. In more recent years, this has been attempted through the development of social policy programs, even if many areas still need improvement.

Un affaiblissement des prérogatives de recouvrement et un renforcement de l’accompagnement : telle pourrait-être la synthèse de l’étude de l’évolution des rapports entre les organismes de sécurité sociale et les entreprises en difficulté. Progressivement, le sauvetage de l’activité a été érigé en premier objectif du droit des entreprises en difficulté ; le recouvrement des créances est relégué. Celui des créances de sécurité sociale n’échappe plus à cette dynamique. En effet, la solidarité nationale n’est plus nécessairement un vecteur de préférence suffisant, sous couvert des prérogatives exorbitantes des organismes percepteurs. Ces derniers plient sous le poids du principe d’égalité des créanciers. Des délais de grâce peuvent même leur être imposés lors des traitements amiables et de nouvelles mesures spécifiques contribuent également à amputer en toute ou partie leur recouvrement. Si les difficultés de l’entreprise affectent la perception des créances sociales (en temps et en montant), sa disparition sonne généralement le glas d’un paiement complet. La solidarité nationale reste tributaire de la bonne santé des entreprises, dont la remise sur pieds dépend souvent de l’attitude des créanciers sociaux. Voilà pourquoi ces derniers sont, en pratique et par l’effet de la réglementation, de plus en plus associés à la prévention-détection et au traitement de l’entreprise défaillante. Les outils mis à leur disposition ne cessent de se développer et de se diversifier. Leur implication auprès des entreprises en difficulté est d’autant plus envisageable que les limites qui pourraient leur être posées, sont en réalité assez faibles (responsabilité pour soutien abusif, aides d’Etat …). En définitive, le droit du recouvrement des créances de sécurité sociale a, en quelques années, tant évolué que l’on assiste désormais à un changement de paradigme dont l’un des enjeux est de placer les créanciers sociaux au cœur de cette mutation. / A weakening of the powers of recovery and a strengthening of support: you it could be the summary of the study of the changing relationship between social security institutions and enterprises in difficulty. Gradually, the rescue activity was erected in the first goal of the law firms in difficulty. Debt collection is relegated. The claims of social security more immune to this dynamic. Indeed, national solidarity is not necessarily a vector preferably sufficient, under the guise of exorbitant prerogatives organizations collectors. These bend under the weight of the principle of equality of creditors. Grace periods may even be imposed on them during treatment amicable and specific new measures, also contribute to amputate all or part of their collection. If the company's difficulties affect the perception of social claims (in time and amount), its disappearance usually sounds the death knell of a full payment. National solidarity remains dependent on the health of companies, including the re-establishment often depends on the social attitude of creditors. That's why they are in practice and the effect of regulation, increasingly associated with the prevention, detection and treatment of the failing firm. The tools available to them continue to grow and diversify. Their involvement with companies in trouble is all the more possible that the limits that might be asked, are actually quite low (liability for improper support, state aid ...). Ultimately, the debt collection law social security in recent years evolved as we are now witnessing a paradigm shift in which one of the challenges is to put creditors at the heart of this social change.