參􈘂政府의 􈱇政分權法制에 대한 􈹐價

Legal Examination on the Decentralization Reform of “Participatory Government”

Our Constitution §117 guarantees local government the right of autonomy. Decentralization is essential to ideal local autonomy, and consequently it is a legal order. In Korea, dictatorship and government-led industrialization brought about a concentration of national power in central government. A majority of resources also merged in the metropolitan area and with a few conglomerates. This has caused serious inflexibilities in politics, economy, society and culture. Therefore, the necessity of Decentralization is still more momentous. Decentralization of power results in autonomy and autonomy requires responsibility, and vice versa. Autonomy and responsibility are closely interrelated. To solve various problems stemming from centralization and concentration of power, efforts are needed to increase the levels of responsibility and autonomy at all sectors of society. The central government, local governments, the communities and citizens should establish their own plans and take responsible actions. As a necessary consequence, Decentralization needs fairly long time for a fruit. Nevertheless the Decentralization Reform of “Participatory Government” is too inclusive and hasty to get good results in the term of office of “Participatory Government”. Therefore, this paper suggest that Decentralization of “Participatory Government” needs choice and concentration of problem for good results, Enactment of ‘the Act on the Blanket devolution of Centralized Administrative Powers to Local Government’ is demanded urgently, Decentralization Reform of “Participatory Government” should not target the people or be imposed on the citizens, but should be carried out with the participation of the people, because the level of people s participation in government determines the level of democracy in a country.