Governing the Digital Divide: Collaborative Pathways for Urban-Rural Integration in South Korea

This study examines the structural dilemmas and optimization pathways for digitally integrating urban-rural public services through a collaborative governance lens, using South Korea as a critical case. Despite possessing world-class digital infrastructure, Korea's digital-driven integration process remains mired in deep-seated collaborative failure across four dimensions: design, provision, governance, and institutional support. Drawing on New Public Service and Collaborative Governance theories, this research constructs a 4C analytical framework to systematically diagnose these failures and their underlying causes. The findings reveal a fundamental paradox: technological advancement does not automatically translate into governance effectiveness or social inclusion. The success of digital integration fundamentally depends on the congruent evolution of institutions, mechanisms, and social capital. Based on this diagnosis, the study proposes an integrated optimization pathway encompassing mandatory digital inclusion mechanisms, multi-actor provision ecosystems, hybrid governance systems, and robust institutional foundations. These interconnected strategies offer a coherent blueprint for transitioning from techno-centric governance toward a genuinely inclusive, responsive, and sustainable digital future.