An Empirical Study on the Influencing Factors and Performance of Administrative District Reorganization

This study examines how the outcomes of administrative district reorganization are formed by focusing on the mediating role of policy processes. Conceptualizing administrative district reorganization as a policy process rather than a mere structural adjustment, this study analyzes survey data from public officials and residents in the northern Gyeonggi region. The results indicate that influencing factors consist of political and institutional environment, fiscal capacity, and administrative efficiency, while policy outcomes are structured into policy performance, residents’ perceived satisfaction, and governance outcomes. Mediation analysis confirms that policy trust and legitimacy, along with participation and communication, play a significant partial mediating role between influencing factors and policy outcomes. These findings suggest that the outcomes of administrative district reorganization depend not only on structural conditions but also on trust formation and participatory processes, highlighting the importance of policy processes in advancing decentralization.