Analyzing the Factors Influencing Democracy-oriented Innovation in the Local Governments of Korea

(Purpose) The purpose of this study is to identify the factors influencing the democracy-oriented innovation in Korean local governments. This is due to the relatively insufficient focus on the influencing factors of specific types of policy innovation in existing research. By verifying the factors influencing the democracy-oriented innovation of local governments through new data from the local government innovation implementation plans, this study aims to address the limitations of previous research and contribute to the accumulation of relevant knowledge. (Design/methodology/approach) The dependent variable of this study is the ratio of democracy-oriented innovation. The data for the dependent variable was obtained from the innovation implementation plans prepared by local governments and submitted to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The independent variables of this study consist of political factors, economic factors, administrative factors, and regional factors. The data was obtained from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Election Commission, and the Local Finance Yearbook. The analysis method employed was multiple regression analysis. (Findings) The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that administrative factors, specifically the number of public officials, and regional factors, such as rural areas, were significant determinants of democracy-oriented innovation. Interpreting the direction of the regression coefficients, it was found that an increase in the number of public officials is associated with a decrease in democracy-oriented innovation. Similarly, democracy-oriented innovation tends to decline in rural areas. Additionally, political and economic factors were found to have no significant impact on democracy-oriented innovation. (Research implications or Originality) This study suggests that overcoming the resistance of public officials and regional constraints is critical for promoting democracy-oriented innovation in local governments. Its contributions include analyzing democracy-oriented innovation in Korean local governments from a new perspective and identifying key factors influencing its activation. Additionally, the study highlights the significant determinants for fostering democracy-oriented innovation in local government.