지방정부 정책의 진화적 합리성에 관한 연구

A Study of Evolutionary Rationality of the Local Government Policy - Focused on Seoul Station 7017 Project -

This case study on the Seoul Station 7017 project, by seeing it through the lens of evolutionary rationality, explores rationality of policy that the (local) government and the related stakeholders should seek for in a complicated, uncertain, and dynamic situation. This research suggested evolutionary rationality as an alternative to substantial rationality and procedural rationality, which consist of the two basic dimensions of policy rationality. The study contrasted between the classical policy rationality dimensions and evolutionary rationality of the case. The mayor’s political consideration expedited the planning of the project that had failed to confirm substantial rationality in the beginning due to conflicting interests in terms of its values and potential effects. Such a politics-led fast process lacking substantial rationality had also not gained its procedural rationality. Nevertheless, the later participatory process (discussion and deliberation) that stakeholders involved successfully fulfilled evolutionary rationality in soothing conflicts and contributed to improving substantial rationality to some extent. This study suggests how local governments can secure the rationality of policy in the introduction of policies that are expected to conflict with existing social and economic values.