The revised education Law 4009 that went into effect on April 6, 1988 paved the way for the imposition of the local autonomy in education in this country. This study has aimed at comparing the new system with that in the United States, which has had the greatest influence on education in Korea since its independence from Japan. It is also hoped that this comparative study will reveal what should be done to effectively promote the local autonomy in education in Korea. The purposes of the study were to analytically compare the system in Korea and that in the United States in order to find out what should be done in and to find out the problems which the local autonomy in education in this country may face in the course of its imposition and to present the proper measures to deal with them. The results of the study are as follow: 1) The ministry of education should delegate much of its authority to the provincial or municipal boards of education. The ministry should concentrate only on those nation-wide problems and finacial support. The provincial or municipal boards of education, in turn, details in educational maintenance to the lower organizations. 2) In terms of public participation, members of the board of education should be elected directly by the constituents, not by the local assembly. 3) To protect the independent educational administration, the legislative function, the budget proposition and the final disposal of the budget which is now under the jurisdiction of the local assembly should be turned over to the board of education. 4) The superintendent of the board of education in the local district should by chosen from the master or doctoral degree holders or from those who completed the program of superintendent track. 5) The control of high schools should by assigned to the local district board of education, which is now managed by the provincial or municipal board of education.