@article{ART003335544},
author={Kim, Chan-Dong},
title={A Political-Ethical Study on the Separation of Church and State and Local Governance Leadership},
journal={The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics},
issn={1229-8387},
year={2026},
number={64},
pages={105-139}
TY - JOUR
AU - Kim, Chan-Dong
TI - A Political-Ethical Study on the Separation of Church and State and Local Governance Leadership
JO - The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 64
PB - The Society Of Korean Christian Social Ethics
SP - 105
EP - 139
SN - 1229-8387
AB - Local autonomy in Korea has now entered its thirty-fifth year since its institutional restoration. Yet, the system remains highly centralized and has not been operated on the basis of civic society’s genuine right to self-governance. Furthermore, in local elections, the phenomenon persists whereby political parties dominate local autonomy through their nomination authority. This paper seeks to explore the necessity of institutional design that separates local autonomy from the state’s partisan politics, grounding its theoretical and philosophical justification in the theological doctrine of the separation of church and state.
To this end, the study examines concepts of church–state relations as developed in theology, their historical trajectory, and the influence of the Enlightenment and the Reformation on the emergence of secular states and democratic governance. It then considers how the principle of separation of church and state has been incorporated into the constitutional values and provisions of Korea. The analysis also addresses the gap between the ideal and the reality in the actual processes of national governance.
Within the framework of local autonomy, the paradigm of institutional self-governance and the system of party nomination are shown to have hollowed out grassroots democracy, allowing political parties to exercise hegemonic control over local self-government. In conclusion, for Korean local autonomy to be restored to its authentic character, institutional reform is required—specifically, the separation of politics from autonomy.
KW - Separation of church and State;Local Governance Leadership;Democracy;Reformation;Party Nomination Authority
DO -
UR -
ER -
Kim, Chan-Dong. (2026). A Political-Ethical Study on the Separation of Church and State and Local Governance Leadership. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, 64, 105-139.
Kim, Chan-Dong. 2026, "A Political-Ethical Study on the Separation of Church and State and Local Governance Leadership", The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, no.64, pp.105-139.
Kim, Chan-Dong "A Political-Ethical Study on the Separation of Church and State and Local Governance Leadership" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics 64 pp.105-139 (2026) : 105.
Kim, Chan-Dong. A Political-Ethical Study on the Separation of Church and State and Local Governance Leadership. 2026; 64 : 105-139.
Kim, Chan-Dong. "A Political-Ethical Study on the Separation of Church and State and Local Governance Leadership" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics no.64(2026) : 105-139.
Kim, Chan-Dong. A Political-Ethical Study on the Separation of Church and State and Local Governance Leadership. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, 64, 105-139.
Kim, Chan-Dong. A Political-Ethical Study on the Separation of Church and State and Local Governance Leadership. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics. 2026; 64 105-139.
Kim, Chan-Dong. A Political-Ethical Study on the Separation of Church and State and Local Governance Leadership. 2026; 64 : 105-139.
Kim, Chan-Dong. "A Political-Ethical Study on the Separation of Church and State and Local Governance Leadership" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics no.64(2026) : 105-139.
