This paper examines the historical and socio-economic causes of the differences by paying attention to the unique characteristics of the Northeast region in the process of transition to the ‘social governance system’. Furthermore, this study analyzed how the ground power mechanism and governance structure that actually works in urban spaces of the northeast region are changing. Since the 2000s, the Northeast has emphasized the reduction of the authority of local governments in response to the central government's social governance system, and the shift to a ‘public autonomy’ model where local residents and social organizations participate. However, in the Northeast region, the influence of local governments from the ‘community building’ process is very strong. Above all, due to the low level of competence and development of social organizations, the generalization of ‘government-led communities’ and the discontinuation of administrativeization continue to be obstacles. In fact, in the ‘government-social cooperation’ model developed in the northeast region, most of the forms are in progress with social organizations that have been established in the councils that are closely related to local governments or social organizations that have high influence on local society. In addition, due to the nature of the Northeast region, independent social organizations do not have a large capacity, so most of them stay in the subsidiary role of government projects. Under these circumstances, social governance projects in the Northeast region may potential risk the selective development of projects that meet the interests of the government, while certain interest groups or relatives who have collaborated with local governments monopolize privileges. In addition, the lack of human resources and expenses to participate in social organizations, and the lack of systems and administrative procedures for vitalizing social organizations are pointed out as important limitations in establishing a social governance system in the Northeast region.