The Korea Local Administration Review

The purpose of this study is to propose the future direction of development of the local autonomy. To achieve this purpose, the local autonomy level in 2002 was used as a comparative standard to analyze the development patterns of the past and seek future development directions. The criteria for comparative analysis were set up with decentralization and participation, the two main components of local autonomy, and the local autonomy level in 2002 and 2019 was compared and analyzed through detailed items. According to the research, legislative power was analyzed as maintenance for institution ･ development for operation, administrative power as development, organizational power as development, fiscal power maintenance for revenue and weak backward for expenditure. And electoral participation was analyzed as weak development, direct participation as development, neighborhood participation as maintenance. Based on the results of the analysis discussed, the direction of development of the local autonomy in Korea was presented. Overall, strengthening of decentralization and participation was required. And strengthening of legislative and fiscal authority, and the expansion of the neighborhood participation system was proposed for that purpose. Later, it will be necessary to encourage the development of the Korean local autonomy in a desirable direction through periodic inspection of the development process in accordance with the analysis framework of this study.