문화자치 추진과정의 성과와 과제 - 경기도 문화자치활성화 사업 사례를 중심으로

Abstract

This study discusses the shift in recent cultural policy from ‘democratization of culture’ to ‘cultural democracy’, highlighting its impact on the development of ‘cultural autonomy’ that citizens can tangibly experience in local cultural settings. The primary objective is to analyze the case of Gyeonggi-do, which, in 2021, became the first in the nation to enact the “Gyeonggi-do Cultural Autonomy Basic Ordinance” and has been implementing the “Gyeonggi-do Cultural Autonomy Vitalization Project(2022-2024)”. Cultural Autonomy aims to move beyond the vertical hierarchy of central government-local government-private sector relationships, ensuring the cultural rights of citizens and local residents, and establishing a bottom-up system where residents actively participate in the decision-making and execution of cultural policies. This approach focuses on transforming adminstrative systems into horizontal collaborative relationships and strengthening the role of citizens as key players in local culture. The study analyzes the outcomes and challenges of cultural autonomy in Gyeonggi-do by examining the cases of Yangju and Icheon, using thres categories: the establishment of an institutional foundation for cultural autonomy, enhancement of cultural autonomy capabilities, and the activation of cultural autonomy. Survey results from Gyeoggi-do reflect this shift, with 53% of residents indicating they have heard of cultural autonomy, 71% understanding the concept, and 72% expressing a willingness to participate in cultural autonomy in the future. These findings suggest that the “Gyeonggi-do Cultural Autonomy Vitalization Project” over the past three years has been successful. However, as cultural autonomy is still an ongoing process, continued research and practical efforts are anticipated.