인구감소지역 지원 특별법의 한계와 개선방안

Abstract

In order to solve the problem of local population decline, The Special Act on Support for Depopulation Regions was enacted. The Special Act on Support for Depopulation Regions provides a legal basis for the state and local governments to effectively respond to the problem of population decline by stipulating the establishment of a basic and implementation plan to respond to the problem of population decline, and of various preferential treatments and support policies for population-reduced areas. However, the Special Act on Support for Depopulation Regions has the following limitations. First, due to the lack of clarity, coercion, and specificity of the law, the effectiveness of the law itself is insufficient, and there is no clear difference from other laws. Second, due to the problem of relations with the Fund for respondingd Local Extinction, there is a possibility that the purpose of the bottom-up policy establishment pursued by the Special Act on Support for Depopulation Regions will be eliminated. The fact that the Ministry of Public Administration and Security monopolizes the authority to designate population-extinct areas is also an obstacle to reflecting the actual crisis situation in the region to the policy. Third, the Special Act on Support for Depopulation Regions does not stipulate governance exclusively in charge of local population reduction issues. Fourth, the financial support method for actual policies based on the Special Act on Support for Depopulation Regions is temporary and the scale is insufficient, so there is a lot of room for fiscal shortages. To overcome the above limitations, first, it is necessary to establish an integrated governance system such as the Committee on the Resolution of Population Decline(tentative name) to transfer the functions related to population reduction that the local time committee is in charge of. Second, in important areas, such as areas that can induce population inflow, it is necessary to partially reduce the discretion of the administrative entity and to strengthen the binding power of the law, and to diversify the types of support. In particular, various laws expanding the types and scope of preferential treatments in the 22nd National Assembly are in the process of receiving or reviewing the competent committee. Third, it is necessary to establish new financial support measures beyond financial support that relies entirely on special funds such as the Fund to respond Local Extinction. For example, a method of significantly strengthening incentives to local governments that show the results of local population growth and economic industry revitalization may be considered. The part that special laws can contribute to solving complex real problems such as population decline is to provide a legal basis for policy and to prepare a decision-making structure in which various voices can be substantially reflected in policy making. It is hoped that the Special Act on Support for Depopulation Regions will be reorganized in that direction.