韓國에 있어서의 中央統制의 最近 動向

Recent Trend of Central Control over Local Authorities in Korea

Pursuing a better method of classification that might enable us to have an analytical insight into the practical aspects of current central control in Korea from the administrative point of view, I attempt to see it in the field of local organization, finance, personnel, and management. It is true that this is an era in which government intervention is required at many points and with a constantly expanding coverage. But governmental supervision is unreasonably strict in Korea, the Ministry of Home Affairs forming the apex of hierarchical control. And, besides the authoritarian character of our society, this may be due to a variety of factors political, sociological, and economic. There undoubtedly can not be any absolute criteria to measure the adequacy or the efficiency of central control, and today’s situation of local administration in Korea might necessitate or justify the present method of supervision and guidance of national government. Yet since we are unusually interested in developing democratic institutions and in promoting local self-government, the traditional concept and method of control which takes it for granted that the national government intervene directly and with authority in the administration of local authorities should be reassessed. The value of central administrative control needs to be re-evaluated in the light not only of its general impact on the encouragement and development of local autonomy but of their own heavy cost in terms of manpower at both levels. Central control should primarily rely upon legislative and judicial intervention. And administrative control should be confined to securing a national minimum standard of efficiency, to the application of nationwide procedures, to fitting localized activities into the national plan, and to the supply of knowledge and technical guidance. Furthermore, it is desirable to exercise more flexible and reasonable methods of control according to the level of hierarchical structure, and in accordance with the different capacity, administrative and financial, of each ocal authority.