As the concept of social innovation gains increasing credence in the public consciousness, a number of questions have become increasingly prominent in the relevant discourse: what does social innovation mean at the local level? How can social innovation be promoted? In particular, what kinds of social and institutional arrangements are needed to facilitate socially innovative activities and practices in neighborhoods and communities? To address these questions, this paper first outlines the related theories and literature as an overview of the notion of social innovation. Next, to provide an example of a promising approach to social innovation at the local level, the paper develops a theoretical discussion on the interface between local social innovation and participatory local governance arrangements, and proposes a process model of local social innovation as an analytical framework for a case study of a district-level initiative in Seongbuk-gu in Seoul, South Korea. By examining the governance structure and socially innovative strategies utilized in this locality, the case study demonstrates how the local participatory governance system can furnish an enabling environment for socially innovative ideas and strategies. Lastly, along with a look at some of the unique aspects of the case, the paper discusses contributions of this study to the theory and practice of social innovation, along with implications for other cases that may consider the governance approach to social innovation.

随着社会创新概念在公众意识中的信任度越来越高，在相关论述中越来越多的问题变得越来越突出：社会创新在地方一级意味着什么？如何促进社会创新？特别是，需要什么样的社会和体制安排来促进社区和社区的社会创新活动和做法？为了解决这些问题，本文首先概述了相关的理论和文献，作为对社会创新概念的概述。接下来，为了提供一个有前途的地方社会创新方法的例子，本文对地方社会创新与参与性地方治理安排之间的接口进行了理论讨论，并提出了当地社会创新的过程模型，作为对韩国首尔城北区的地区级计划进行案例研究的分析框架。通过研究该地方的治理结构和社会创新战略，该案例研究证明了地方参与性治理体系如何为社会创新思想和战略提供有利的环境。最后，除了研究案例的一些独特方面外，本文还讨论了本研究对社会创新理论和实践的贡献，以及对其他可能考虑采用社会创新治理方法的案例的启示。通过研究该地方的治理结构和社会创新战略，该案例研究证明了地方参与性治理体系如何为社会创新思想和战略提供有利的环境。最后，除了研究案例的一些独特方面外，本文还讨论了本研究对社会创新理论和实践的贡献，以及对其他可能考虑采用社会创新治理方法的案例的启示。通过研究该地方的治理结构和社会创新战略，该案例研究证明了地方参与性治理体系如何为社会创新思想和战略提供有利的环境。最后，除了研究案例的一些独特方面外，本文还讨论了本研究对社会创新理论和实践的贡献，以及对其他可能考虑采用社会创新治理方法的案例的启示。