지역균형발전과 지방자치

Regional Balanced Development and Local Leadership

Balanced development is one of the core-policies in the Rho Moo-hyun regime. The balanced policy focuses on preventing the overcrowding in Seoul area and improving the under- developed region. It is urgent and timely to solve these problems because they aggravate the national integrity and social equity. However new thinking and drastic measures are required to do the tasks. Paradigm of regional development policy must be shifted. Local government, not central, should have powers and responsibilities to carry out those kinds of projects. Central government should emphasize on supporting the skilled manpower, information and funds. And 'no plan, no development' principle should be observed without exception. Plans for own areas and interests are not real plans. Higher plans should not be replaced by lower plans. Networking of plans is important. Government should also make an effort to build the business- and education cities. rather than the administration city in the southern Seoul. Rural development should be implemented in the relation and cooperation of the neighbor cities, as well. For small and rural areas, the independent strategy to survive is not desirable. Finally the spirit of local-oriented development always should be kept in mind for the identified and specified development. And yet traditional development system still deliver a 'brand X' development.