National Policies for Urban Development in Korea

This chapter analyses Korean urban policy and provides recommendations to address urban policy challenges. The chapter begins with a brief examination of the trajectory of urban policy in Korea, which shifted from a polarised growth pole strategy in the 1960s into promoting strategies emphasising qualitative urban management and urban competitiveness. Four policy priorities are recommendations for strengthening the co-ordination and coherence of Korean urban policy: i) address the current policy fragmentation across ministries and among local governments through a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to urban development and increased co-operation among sub-national administrations ii) adapt urban policy to future demographic trends, such as ageing and an increasing immigrant population iii) advance a more tailored urban policy to address the different needs of Korean cities and iv) close the gaps between expected and actual outcomes in urban planning, through more widespread use of urban modelling and greater ex post evaluation and monitoring.