국가와 지방자치단체 간의 관계-제주특별자치도는 얼마나 특별한 道일 수 있는가?-

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between the nation and local government in Korea, especially that of the nation and Jeju Special Self‐Governing Province, centering on the content of the Special Act on the special development of Jeju Island in the current Special Law for Jeju Free International City. Through this study, the potential for Jeju Island to be developed into a truly special Self‐Governing Province is explored. Efforts to develop Jeju Island into an international city started long ago. Following the Jeju‐do Special Development Law enacted in 1999, the Special Law for Jeju free International City was enacted in 2002. The law of 2002 contains more open and revolutionary change. The special law on the free economic zone and establishing and operating foreign educational organizations in Jeju international free city which was enacted in 2005 provides proper support to form Jeju into an international city. The main point of the Special Law on establishing the Jeju Special Self‐Governing Province and building Jeju free International City enacted in 2006 is to promote decentralization of power together with the existing efforts to make Jeju a free international city. This is considered to be a result of the wide‐spread recognition that granting the status of a special self‐governing entity to Jeju Island is essential for the acceleration of efforts for it to become an international city. The central government and the Jeju Special Self‐Governing Province can be regarded as having a partnership for the support of and cooperation with each other. One important step in building the Jeju Special Self‐Governing Province is to achieve high degree of decentralization of power, but the focus is now more on the goal of building a free international city, and the goal of decentralization has become a subordinate concept to that. This was clear when the Self‐Governing Provincial Council was dismantled and Jeju was changed to an administrative city. The finances of the Jeju Special Self‐Governing Province are limited, and the island needs national support and assistance. However, the establishment project driven by the nation could become a burden in the development of a free international city where people, goods and capital move freely, which is the goal of Jesu Island. In the long run, it would be better for the nation to step back to allow foreign professionals, foreign goods and foreign capital to move freely in and out of Jeju. To realize that, of course, it will need national understanding, and national consensus should be a precondition.