The purpose of this study is to search for alternatives to solve the problems which the current metropolitan administrative system consisting of Seoul metropolitan city with special status and metropolitan city which autonomous districts below has, th...
The purpose of this study is to search for alternatives to solve the problems which the current metropolitan administrative system consisting of Seoul metropolitan city with special status and metropolitan city which autonomous districts below has, those problems that include conflicts between upper and lower level of local governments, overpopulation in metropolitan cities, regional gaps between autonomous districts, increase of demand for development of metropolitan areas and a lack of finance derived from investment for city development. To achieve this goal, this study develops a model of reform based on previous studies and case studies of foreign countries and finds the most desirable alternative by evaluating several alternatives in terms of efficiency and equity. This study also would like to suggest the more practical research outcomes by establishing promotion strategies to apply alternatives to real situations.
There are two approaches to examine the reform of the current metropolitan administrative system: the administrative functional and the space structural approaches. This study relies on more the former than the later. The main object of this study is a model of reform which is helpful to change the legal status and administrative functions of autonomous districts.
A model for the current metropolitan administrative system reform is derived from the following four alternatives: the first (a model of functional adjustment of autonomous districts), the second (selected local council-centered semi-autonomous district model which limits chief executive's power to select officials), the third (selected local council-centered semi-autonomous district model which limits local councils organize itself), the fourth alternatives (a model of transformation of administrative districts which abolishes autonomous districts).
The first alternative can make the problems derived from the reform of the administrative system minimize and policy-making easy by maintaining the current metropolitan administrative system. It also can solve the problems of the upper level of local governments by redistributing the duties of autonomous districts. However, this first alternative is easy to cause regional self-interests by failing to settle the matter of interests between chief executives in the upper level and the lower level of local governments by arbitration. When chief executives in the lower level of local governments are not cooperative with mayors in the upper level of local governments, conflicts between them may increase and severe.
The second alternative has a merit to strength the status of the lower level of local councils and is easy to change the current administrative system through chief executives in the lower level of local governments appointed by mayors in the upper level of local governments. As a result, this alternative can ease of conflicts between the upper and the lower level of local governments. However, this alternative has been criticized because it damages local autonomy in terms of transformation of autonomous districts to semi-autonomous districts and results in strengthening power of chief executives in the upper level of local governments.
The third alternative can make alternatives which developed countries have utilized easily selected and is easy to achieve the budgetary balance of autonomous districts. This alternative gives autonomous districts their autonomy to enact provisions within the bylaws. Under this alternative, chief executives are directly selected by local residents. This alternative also alleviates strained tensions between local councils and chief executives in local governments by making local residents participate in the policy-making process of local governments. On the other hands, this third alternative can make troubles when chief executives in the lower level of local governments are not cooperative to the affairs of the upper level of local governments. Thus, it is necessary to prepare proper regulations to solve this problem. This alternative is also expected that local councilors and public opinion leaders in local areas like civil organization leaders may oppose to this alternative because their chance to participate in local elections may be limited.
The fourth alternative makes it possible to execute metropolitan administration by unifying all power to the upper level of local governments which, including personal recruitment and government budget. This alternative also decreases conflicts between the lower level of local governments and save costs related to local elections and management of local councils. However, this alternative has been criticized because it seems like to return to the previous form of the administration system that was implemented before local elections started in 1991. It is expected that political leader groups, including local councilors, chief executives, and opinion leaders, in local areas oppose to this alternative which has a problem that becomes more centralization of administrative power.
This study establishes a couple of criteria to select the best one among the four alternatives mentioned above. Those criteria are based on the principles of the administrative system reform which many scholars suggest. This study classifies those criteria into the two aspects: efficiency and equity. The former includes identity of residents (history and tradition), accessibility of resident participation, accessibility of residents to public utilities, reduction of resident burdensome. The latter includes accessibility of administrative cooperation between different levels of local governments (decision-making power), speed of administrative performance (responsiveness), economy in expenditures for administration, effectiveness (scale of economy), opportunity costs (costs for the resistance to reform and other additional costs).
The findings are as follow: the fourth alternative was highly ranked in efficiency and the first alternative in equity. On the other hands, the third alternative was regarded as the most appropriate alternative as a model for the administrative system reform in autonomous districts by achieving a high score in both equity and efficiency. In fact, this third alternative has been successfully managed in such metropolitan cities as New York. This alternative may provide both equity and efficiency to settle such problems as districts, functions, and different levels which autonomous districts have faced. This alternative may also provide a solution to settle such problems as finance, management, and unity which take place in metropolitan administration.
In addition, this study presents promotion strategies which need to be managed when administrative reform is executed by principles derived from the third alternative. For details, it is necessary to organize the research advisory committee within the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs for the metropolitan administrative system reform. It is also necessary for central government to initiate the process of administrative reform and need to develop various methods to make residents participate in this process.
Finally, it is necessary to mention limits that this study has. Although this study examines four alternatives by focusing on administrative functions and legal status of autonomous districts, it does not include administrative districts. I think that further research needs to include both the merger and abolition of administrative districts and their legal status. This study also relies on expert groups including public officials, politicians, businessmen, and civil organization leaders, to achieve research outcomes. It is necessary for further research to include not only experts' but also public opinions.