This study consists of two parts. One is the theoretical concern in order to
demarcate the theories, namely post-industrial society theory and the economic
theory of the consumption/work trade-off, which provide the explanation for the
change of work and leisure. The other is the empirical concerns which trace the
overall trends of leisure and work in the sequence of economic growth in Korea
and grasp the meaning of the change of work and leisure through economic
crisis. One of the most peculiar changes of work by the economic crisis was
destabilization of labor market. Unstable labor market was concluded with
polarized leisure. Expired people have no money for leisure and employed
people have no time for leisure. The change of leisure activities and the leisure
satisfaction by the economic crisis was closely related. General leisure satisfaction
was falling and the passive leisure activities were mainly chosen. Which theory
has more power of explanation or more relevance to the change of work and
leisure is distinguished by this theoretical discussion and empirical study. In
conclusion, economic theories such as Becker’s new theory of consumer behavior,
Linder’s harried leisure class, or Schor’s ‘cycle of work-and-spend’have more
power of explanation on the change of work and leisure time in Korea than the
theory of post-industrialism. But it is impossible to demarcate the explanatory
power of two theories before economic crisis because work time and leisure time
have been fluctuated. There are no tendencies or trend of work and leisure time.