The Korea Local Administration Review

The resident referral system for the heads of eup･myeon･dong is one of the administrative innovations in realizing grass-roots democracy. This system allows residents to perform the right to appoint the head of town-ship held by the head of the local government and so revitalize the local autonomy. However the current system suffers from a barrier to institutional diffusion for what it is because of resident’s conflict, unfairness, increased work of public officials and political concerns in the selection process. Therefore, for the diffusion of this system and institutional settlement, it is necessary to establish a system that collects and participates in the opinions of residents not unilateral instruction, in the process of making, executing and evaluating the township agenda. In order for the resident referral system to spread to other local governments, it is necessary to diagnose current problems and find the ways to develop them. This study diagnosed problems and derived improvement plans through surveys and FGI centered on stakeholders in areas where the policy was implemented or is currently in effect.