Dynamic regulatory governance amidst infectious diseases: analyzing agile responses and regulatory shifts in health and welfare policy

This article conducts a comparative analysis of the South Korean government's responses to COVID-19, examining its initial actions and contrasting them with measures taken during other pandemics (e.g., swine flu) and endemics (e.g., SARS and MERS) that significantly impacted the population in the past two decades. The study is grounded in the premise that, particularly during national crises like infectious disease outbreaks, governments face heightened expectations to provide well-founded rationales for their regulatory decisions. Employing the grounded-theory method, our findings reveal an increased diversification of values and rationales in government regulation during the COVID-19 period. This emphasises an agile approach to regulations, recognising the crucial role of civic consent and cooperation alongside government measures, thereby upholding liberal democratic values. The insights shed light on the state's role in inclusive governance, advocating for a comprehensive and adaptive approach to policy development.