• Survey Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.75-101
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• 2005

This study introduces and analyzes the data from Directory of Korean NGOs, which was published in 1997 and again in 200, to conduct a quantitative research on the growth of civic organization in South Korea. This paper focus on the information on membership size and founding year which are essential indicators for the growth of organizations. Missing rates on those two indicators are checked to evaluate the quality of data. We examine the changes in membership size between the two time periods, 1996 and 1999. It shows that there is a considerable decrease in the membership size for civic and advocary organizations that are oriented to national issues. It suggests the competition among the organizations over limited resources, which is consistent with an assumption of ecological theory of organization on non-linear growth pattern. Using founding year data from 1945 to 1996, we estimate pseudo growth curves of civic organizations based on logistic growth curve model to discuss different growth patterns of organizations across areas of activities.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.125-138
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• 2006

While the global food system prevails in America, the community food system is also spreading rapidly. The former, which is based on industrial agriculture, has negative impacts on family farms, food safety, and community development. In contrast, the latter has positive effects on farmers, consumers, communities, and the environment. Community food systems have been able to grow successfully through the participation of farmers and consumers, support of the federal and state governments, and the initiatives of NGOs. Food Circle, upon which this study focuses, is one of the community food systems based on the regional level. It is the outcome of the green movement in Kansas City, Missouri. The goal of Food Circle in Missouri is to retain and support rural family farms by connecting them with regional consumers. Its main activity is to collect data, including a directory of farmers and their regional products, and distribute this data to regional consumers. It is informally organized and entirely self funded. Although community food systems have several problems, their development is to continue in America. The food system in Korea has become a global one in recent decades, and agricultural problems and food safety issues are being generated as a result. The development of community food systems would be helpful in resolving these problems. In order to activate community food systems in Korea as seen in America's case, it would be necessary to have the imperative participation of both farmers and consumers, the support of the central and provincial governments, and the initiatives of NGOs.