The Korea Local Administration Review

This study investigates and analyzes the current status of local heritage ordinances by local governments in South Korea, conducted against the backdrop of the transition to comprehensive protectionism in cultural heritage policy following the implementation of the Korea Heritage Basic Act. Among the 228 local governments nationwide, 168 have enacted ordinances related to local heritage, which were analyzed by name, year. A standardized ordinance draft was proposed to promote uniformity in these regulations. The study found that various names are used for the same management targets across different local governments, which affects policy effectiveness. Consequently, the standardization of terms and management targets is emphasized. Furthermore, the study suggests that the 60 local governments without local heritage ordinances should enact such regulations to establish a legal foundation for the protection and utilization of local cultural heritage resources. This research serves as a foundational resource for the standardization of local heritage ordinances and the development of an equitable cultural heritage management system among local governments, and it highlights the need for future studies to strengthen the cultural heritage management capabilities of local governments.