한국지방행정연구원

The Korea Local Administration Review

Year
2005-03
Author
Kim, Soon-Eun

A Comparative Study of the Regional Specific Development Zone in Korea and the Structural Reform Special Zone in Japan

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The purpose of this study is to compare the regional specific development zone of Korea and the structural reform special zone of Japan. Towards this end, a framework to analyze policy implementation was applied from a comparative perspective: That is, factors affecting policy implementation, including policy environment, policy design, policy change, issues concerned with policy implementing agencies, and policy evaluation.
Despite the similarities between the regional specific development zone of Korea and the structural reform special zone of Japan in terms of policy resources, policy instrument, and founding theories, several differences have been identified in terms of policy environment and background, policy objectives, policy will of both the central government and local governments, the policy evaluation system and the role of policy actors involved in the policy process.
On the basis of these differences, a comfortable policy environment and policy change is required for better carrying out the regional specific development zone of Korea. The central government has to present better alternatives to combine the policy of the regional specific development zone and the policy of decentralization. The policy objectives and the policy evaluation system should be amended. Finally, the private sector should be assigned a role in developing the regional specific development zone.