한ㆍ일 지방분권정책의 현상과 평가 = Comparative Analysis of the Local Decentralisation Polices in Korea and Japan

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This article focuses on the comparative study of decentralization policy between Korea and Japan since 1990s. It is clear that two countries has stressed decentralization which has been said as New Political Culture(Clark etc, 1998), as the tool of innovation to strengthen the national competitiveness. Especially Rho's regime regarded decentralization policy as a one of important State Policies he would finish during his presidential term. And Koizumi as a Prime Minister of Japan has stressed this policy to reinvent Japan. Both countries has been suffered from concentration of Metropolitan area, regionally ill-balanced development, and loss of competitiveness by the centralization phenomenon. These ill effects drove two countries out of the road of centralization to decentralization. Understanding these phenomenon of both, this article aims to analyze and evaluate decentralization policy process comparatively and find one of the best road map to a decentralized country.
The tool of evaluation study selected is the comparative description of policy process - agenda setting, policy formation, policy implementation, policy assessment - which has been followed by two countries. Researcher chooses literature study, official papers, internet search, and the qualitative method of non-organizational interviews, to describe and find the practices of decentralization policy process in both countries. As one of results, this article says that two countries seems to be in earlier stages of 'Mutual Dependence' said by Muramatu(1991), escaping 'Overlapping' phase by Wright(1978), 'Agency' phase by Chandler(1991). Of course, there was some difference that indicates political culture, political competition construction, work methods, and tradition of local autonomy, etc. This article suggests Korea need to learn the Japan's way to make innovation alternatives and respect past tracks. On the other hand, Japan need to learn the institutionalization action, so to speak, budgeting, personnel positioning to committee, etc. of Korea.