This study investigates the Self-Reliant national defense policies in the era of the Roh Moo-Hyun government, regarding the analysis of “discourse” and “policy”. National policies has been formed with the process of the discourse circulation in the society and government initially in order to obtain the policy legitimacy. In order to lead the discourse into the policy making process, it is essential to obtain legitimacy from the society.
The study first analyzed the contents and characteristics of self-reliant national defense discourses as well as the goals of them with the presidential speeches and addresses. Second, the Roh Moo-Hyun administrations official national defense discourses were examined for tracing the impact factors on the national defense policies. Finally, it analyzed the actual policy implementation of the Self-reliant national defense discourses with a focus on two aspects; military power strength and command structure in national defense.
The study shows that the characteristics of self-reliant national defense discourses and national defense policies under the controversial debates on the transfering of the wartime operational control during his term.