Abstract
The objective of this study is to analyze and suggest the policy on devolution of environmental administrative function between central and local government in Korea. This study also research to make the prospect of power from central government to local government's officers by analyzing the characteristics and contents, standards of local devolution and the attitudes of central and local governments on its process from September 2001 to April 2003. The date collected from the more than 675 questionnairs of government officers included as the Ministry of Environment and local government. The date also collected from interview and field survey. The questionnaire had collected in two times between 2001 and 2003. The environmental administrative function has reallocated from central government to local government since 2001. The devolution focused on simple implemental services and institutional delegated services might result in the lack of initiative and locality of local governments. Therefore, devolution should be proceed towards reinforcing the decision-making capacity and financial and manpower of local government. This paper also showed the weakness on speciality and experience on local bureaucratic in Korean society. This study announced that local government's officer has appeared the negative impact on environmental regulation and the conflict between central and local government.
