This paper tries to identify the roles of the authoritarian governments in theeconomic development of Korea and the characteristics of Korean authoritariangovernments which had made the economic development of Korea successful.The military confrontation with North Korea and the Korean people’s desirefor democracy compelled the Korean authoritarian governments to adoptinclusive economic institutions. The economic growth made possible by theinclusive economic institutions and the Korean people’s desire for democracyeventually led to a democratic governments.It is recommended that developing authoritarian countries adopt inclusiveeconomic institutions and that developing democratic countries establish astrong government.