지방행정구역 개편에 관한 소고

A Study on Reform of Local Administrative Areas - Concentration on Autonomous Districts

Korea s local autonomy system was restored in 30 years, and it has been nine years since the first general election. This implies that local authorities have the ability to make their own decisions and solve all problems they may face within the boundaries of administrative areas. Administrative areas before the full implementation of local autonomy were simple regional units for the convenience of an administrative process. However, these are now autonomous districts where the local authorities have jurisdiction under a local autonomy system. In the process reform of administrative areas, it is essential to promote the system carefully and rationally. When we look at changes in administrative areas at the national level, including in 1995 right before the full implementation of local autonomy, there are numerous cases of administrative area reform with political intention or favoritism from the central government rather than on a rational basis. Despite many trials and errors, there are still myriad debates and recurrences of administrative area reform for large Korean cities based on political involvement or simple population criteria. Although there are sizeable population differences in most large Korean cities, administrative area reform without consideration of regional disparities, living conditions, and citizen opinion must be reconsidered. In the process of administrative area reform, it is highly probable to have greater influence from political circles, and not citizen opinion, even though electoral districts for assemblymen and administrative areas are closely related to residents lives. Therefore, it is essential to develop a legal system that reflects and respects citizen opinion during the process of administrative area reform. It is also important to develop a rational approach based on the basis of selecting administrative areas with the proper dimensions and principles although it is difficult to prevent political influence on the reform of administrative areas.