The social consequences of economic globalization in South Korea included increased casualization of the labor force and a weakening of social safety nets. The Asian financial crisis of the 1990s required South Korea to restructure its economy with help from a $57 billion IMF bailout package. This package mandated neoliberal reforms like labor market deregulation that undermined workers' economic security. While the government tried to balance labor flexibility with stronger social programs, employment flexibility prevailed, leaving fewer protections for non-regular workers.