178
SUMMARY
Suggestions of Network-Based Mega Region Development for Balanced National Development
Park Kyunghyun, Lee Yun Suk, Huh Dong Suk, Choi Ye Seul, Jeong Jun Ho, Kang Mingyu
Key words: Mega Region, Balanced National Development, Network
The purpose of this study is to suggest policy directions about mega region development. First, we synthesize academic and policy discussions on the wide-area spatial structure. Second, we diagnose the actual conditions of Korea's wide-area spatial strategy and draw up implications. Third, we identify trends in overseas cases and presents policy implications for the super-wide area. Finally, we present the direction of the development of super-wide areas for balanced national development.
In a broad sense, the super-wide area is a spatial integration in which administrative districts are divided, but daily life or economic activities are functionally linked. Central cities and surrounding regions form a network of global scale, and within the region, homogeneous regions are formed through functional and cultural links between the central city and its neighboring areas.
The super metropolitan area is not a fixed space and has the property of dynamically changing depending on the situation and conditions. The diversity
SUMMARY․ 179 of linked activities can also cause the spatial extent of the super-wide area and the administrative area to be mutually inconsistent by analysis in the setting of the super-wide area.
The competitiveness of the super metropolitan area is not in population size, but in the its connectivity on various scales. Therefore, it is necessary to have a flexible and strategically oriented approach based on the industrial and functional relationships and connections that various subjects in the region have with the surrounding area. For the region-led super-wide area, cooperative dialogue, network, and regional endogenous development structure are needed at the same time as implementing related policies.
Korea's super-wide spatial strategy has been discussed since the 1970s. In the 2000s, a super-wide spatial strategy was introduced. However, existing super-wide policies have the following problems and limitations. First, there was no spatial strategy. The policy of fostering the super metropolitan area in Korea was not linked to the unique characteristics of the region by emphasizing industrial support policies, not spatial policies. Second, the central government led the attempt to be less interested. Cooperation between local governments is essential in the promotion of the ultra-wide area, and the ultra-wide projects that have been carried out have been carried out in a top-down manner in the absence of cooperative governance between local governments. Third, the scope of the project was artificially set and lacked flexibility. Since the central government set the spatial scope of the metropolitan economy as an administrative unit, the spatial scope of the metropolitan economy was different from that of the local economy. Fourth, the budget was allocated by sharing. It promoted a new type of regional egoism that caused conflicts among local governments in the metropolitan area. Fifth, Korea's existing policy in the ultra-wide area was promoted mainly on large-scale construction projects,
180
short-term projects, or achievements considering regional stability, resulting in low practical regional performance contributions.
The basic direction of the super-wide area should be concentrated and linked.
It should be led by the region, set a clear purpose, and the role of the central government should be established.
Five factors are needed to foster the ultra-wide area. First, “compact”. We need to strengthen the function of the central hub of local metropolitan cities.
It is desirable to set the primary target for the formation of the ultra-wide area as a local metropolitan city. Second is “network”. It is necessary to expand the wide-area transportation network centered on local metropolitan areas. Third,
“diversity”. It is necessary to strengthen the industrial foundation to expand industrial diversity. Fourth, “governance”. A system for promoting ultra-wide areas should be established. Finally, “flexibility”. The super wide area should be flexibly established according to the purpose and needs.
In the future, in order to foster ultra-wide areas that are suitable for regional characteristics, away from the top-down method led by the central government, more researchea are needed to diagnose problems that hinder the development of ultra-wide areas. We should find an suitable cases in our situation through closer comparative research on the wide-area spatial strategy cases currently being introduced and promoted by countries around the world.
