Purpose-To identify the nature of the welfare system in North Korea from a welfare socialism perspective by examining the eras of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un. Methodology-The study uses fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis data derived from official documents from North Korea, such as legal documents, books, and speeches from the three Kim generations and statistics. Findings-The North Korean welfare system has been based on the Bismarckian-Socialist Welfare System since the establishment of a socialist government. Even though North Korea has recently expanded economic openings through the operation of particular economic zones, the legacy of the Bismarckian-Socialist Welfare System endures. Practical Implications-Using the fuzzy-set approach, this study presents a useful approach to examine the North Korean welfare regime and its change. Value-This paper makes the original contribution to understandings and theories on the socialist welfare state by analyzing the characteristics of the North Korea Welfare state and comparing these features with other welfare states.
