The Governance of Land Use in Korea
Urban Regeneration
This report examines land-use trends, policies and practices in Korea, in particular in the city of Busan, through the lens of urban regeneration and citizen participation. Land-use planning is critical for the efficient and inclusive management of cities, pursuing sustainable and balanced development and improving quality of life and regional competitiveness. Korea has benefitted from comprehensive and well-structured, hierarchical land-use planning and urban regeneration frameworks. However, faced with a series of demographic and economic challenges, together with geographic factors and historical developments, Korea needs to re-evaluate land-use management and urban regeneration to leverage inclusive growth and boost competitiveness in Korean cities. This report argues that involving citizens in land-use planning and urban regeneration is essential to collect better quality information as a basis for plans, decisions and outcomes. This report is of relevant to urban planners, land use especialists, and city managers who work on urban regeneration projects and citizens’ participation.
Executive Summary
Korea faces a series of demographic and economic challenges, which, together with geographic factors and historical developments, require a more efficient management of cities. An ageing and shrinking population, youth migration, poor supply of affordable housing, and a limited urbanised territory call for more compact urban development and urban regeneration. Land-use planning is a tool for ensuring more efficient and effective management of cities, pursuing sustainable and balanced development and improving quality of life and regional competitiveness.