• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.446-455
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• 2004

This study has been conducted as a basic research for developing efficient ways of managing Korean National Parks by finding differences via the comparison of present management systems of national parks in Korea and Japan. The survey was conducted through telephone interviews and direct interviews with staffs of related organizations as well as related literature study. In result, it is found that Japanese national parks have a numerical standard of minimum area, with less staff than Korea, and larger designated areas are being managed. Management organizations of both countries are divided as main and commission. In Korea, 6 staff in Natural Resources Division under Ministry of Environment are managing main organization, and in Japan, 53 staff of 3 divisions(National Park Division, Natural Environment Management Division, General Affairs Division) are taking charge of it. Moreover, General Affairs Division, dividing whole country into 11 blocks, manages 11 units of natural preservation offices, 12 branch offices, and 67 units of nature preservation management offices. In case of commission, Foundation of Natural Park Beautification & Management in Japan has a headquarter and 20 branch offices with 54 staff who are only doing site management, while in Korea, the National Parks Management Corporation has a headquarter and 25 offices with 748 staff carrying out main office jobs and site management side by side. From the differences in both countries, we could suggest efficient measures for our national park management as follows: \circled1 introduction of numerical value as criteria for national park designation, \circled2 review of use zone, \circled3 division of the national park management office into site office and regional office, with dividing works and re-posting staff, \circled4 enlargement of park management division in Department of Environment, \circled5 National Park authority becomes a national public servant