This study aims to analyze the historical change of Korean board of education through
a perspective of historical institutionalism. The results shows that the system change
could be categorized into six periods. For each period, major causes of system change
were examined according to the concepts of historical institutionalism, that is,
punctuated equilibrium, ideas, and actors' power relations.
In terms of punctuated equilibrium, the system has been in unstable balance resulted
from the tension between a party to abolish it and another party to keep it throughout
the history. When a huge external event has occurred, the balance was broken and
changes were brought. General trend was reduction of authorities given to the board of
education. In terms of ideas, there has been conflicts between the ideas of autonomy
and political neutrality and the idea of efficiency. Unlike efficiency, the ideas of
autonomy and political neutrality was hard to get the public support. Also there has
been conflicts between a group intending to abolish the system and a group intending to
keep it. As time passed, the former became more powerful, resulting the board of
education in gradual losing its authority because it had regarded as an inefficient
organization.