[2017 Study on the Conditions for Presidential Success] The Logic and Direction of Local Autonomy

Abstract

This paper is a short treatise intended to provide a forum for discussion on where local autonomy in Korea, which has a history of over 20 years, should head. While some argue that unconditional adherence to autonomy should be rejected in consideration of the flow of the times, others advocate for further deepening decentralization and resident autonomy. Among recent studies, Jeon Young-pyeong (2008) most comprehensively and effectively summarizes the former position. He presented lessons learned from local autonomy in the United States and recent reform movements in Japan, cautiously offering advice on areas for improvement in Korea's local autonomy, seemingly as a warning against blind decentralization. This does not mean a return to centralization, but rather a call for practicing local autonomy appropriate to the contemporary situation by accurately understanding the historical flow.

Meanwhile, most scholars studying local autonomy continue to advocate for strengthening decentralization and institutional improvements for resident autonomy. In either case, they do not deny the basic direction of developing local autonomy. However, when delving into specific discussions, there are not many scholars and politicians who hold a clear stance on decentralization. This is partly because they remain trapped in the framework of centralized thinking, and partly due to a lack of understanding of the specific contents and systems related to decentralization. Furthermore, considering the environmental factors in our country that make effective operation of local autonomy difficult, there is a need to restart the fundamental discussion on the essence of local autonomy. This paper will further examine the future direction of local autonomy in Korea, focusing on several key issues for next-generation leaders.

Main Text

“The biggest factor hindering the development of our local autonomy is the long-standing centralized political and administrative culture. Changing culture is a long-term task that requires gradual efforts through institutional change. Next-generation leaders must fully empathize with the importance of political and administrative culture for the development of local autonomy.”

“Another characteristic of local autonomy in Western developed countries is the diversity of institutional composition. Because local governments were created through processes where residents themselves formed governments and received approval from the provincial government, they sometimes preferred strong legislatures and weak mayors, or conversely, weak legislatures and strong mayors.”

“In the case of our country, the President is still more respected than the National Assembly, the head of a local government is more respected than the local council, and the head of an Eup/Myeon/Dong has more authority than the resident autonomy committee.”

“Similarly, it is time to grant greater power and roles to village-level resident communication channels such as resident autonomy committees and local communities.”

“Next-generation leaders should contemplate how to wisely harmonize the strengths of resident autonomy and the strengths of collective autonomy.”

“In our country, democracy has been gradually enhanced through a process of power devolution from the top. However, the understanding of the two important values of efficiency and equity remains insufficient, consequently leading to methodological confusion regarding the promotion of these values by different administrations and stakeholders.”

“From an institutional perspective, as preemptive measures to overcome the centralized political and administrative culture, local autonomy is expected to develop through the diversity of institutional composition, cooperative governance between equal governments, mandatory adjustment of '20% autonomy', expansion of elected officials at the frontline Eup/Myeon/Dong level, revitalization of resident autonomy committees, and legalization of other experimental local communities.”

“From a cultural perspective, diverse forms of political participation should be encouraged, and based on this, civic education should be revitalized.”

Author

Kim Tae-young_Professor of Public Administration at Kyung Hee University. Ph.D. in Urban Administration from Cornell University. Major publications include 〈Issues in Local Autonomy〉 (co-authored), “A Study on Estimation of Land Value Using Spatial Statistics: Focusing on Real Transaction Land Prices in Korea,” and “Analysis of Changes in Urban Land Value Using Spatial Statistics.”