198
SUMMARY
Urban Regeneration Model for Small- and Medium-sized Cities
- Focusing on Implementation Process of the Neighborhood Vitalization Project Park JungEun, Jung SoYang, Kim YuRan, Park SungKyung
Key words: Urban Regeneration Project, Neighborhood Vitalization Project, Small- and Medium-sized Cities
This study considers the lack of customized measures for small- and medium-sized cities in light of the continued population growth in Seoul and other metropolitan cities despite the nationwide population decline in South Korea, and the consequently projected intensification of gaps between these small- and medium-sized cities as well as large metropolitan cities. The foremost priority for small- and medium-sized cities is to prevent further population outflow and improve their citizens’ quality of life, especially of those currently working and residing there. The regeneration of such cities may serve as a crucial means for this objective but has not yielded visible effects because the types and contents of such regeneration projects have been oriented toward larger cities.
Therefore, this study sought first to identify the current status of small- and medium-sized cities through a comparative analysis with large metropolitan cities.
In addition, differences in various conditions, such as urban industrial structure, population growth trends, and infrastructural dilapidation, were identified even among small- and medium-sized cities with populations larger than 50,000 or
SUMMARY ･ 199 less than 500,000. Furthermore, small- and medium-sized cities can be divided into two groups: those experiencing population growth or maintenance based on secondary and tertiary industries and those undergoing population reduction based on the primary and tertiary industries.
These two groups were examined in further detail to identify differences in aspects such as spatial structure, industrial structure, and characteristics of urban decline, following which the adequacy of regeneration plans for counteracting the decline were reviewed. In addition, the implementation status of the urban regeneration revitalization plan was analyzed for eleven urban regeneration revitalization zones in four cities. The results of the implementation status analysis were classified according to the characteristics of the two groups of small- and medium-sized cities and categorized into the planning stage and the project implementation and operation management stage.
The results of the implementation status analysis highlighted issues in the planning stage such as residents’ poor understanding of regeneration projects, low levels of resident participation, government-led planning tailored to public participation, and the failure of project contents to reflect local characteristics.
Regarding the project implementation and operation management stages, issues identified included difficulty in securing project sites, the need for smaller-scale regeneration projects, and difficulties in refurbishing empty houses. The issues identified in this implementation status analysis performed through an on-site review were thus significantly related to industry, people, and space.
Consequently, industry, people, and space were established as components of the regeneration model for small- and medium-sized cities, and the hub expansion linked model was ultimately proposed. The latter model is specialized for the conditions of small- and medium-sized cities and is a process model that can be used to expand the projects from point-focused small-scale projects to those
200
that are locally needed, by improving proximity felt by a user to the project through speedy project implementation and thereby increasing the participation of the resident community. Considering that the urban area is smaller than that of large cities and the market demand for regeneration projects is low, it is crucial for regeneration projects to be implemented flexibly according to the project’s needs and demands in a step-by-step manner. To this end, this study stresses the importance of linking and implementing the industrial rather than spatial aspects of regeneration projects to reduce population outflow.
However, institutional improvement under the current system is essential for the application of the hub expansion linked model presented here. This study proposes new systems and regeneration project methods departing from the current Urban Regeneration New Deal policy and project methods for the implementation of regeneration projects linked to local industries to prevent population outflow from small- and medium-sized cities. To effectively achieve the regeneration of such cities, this study examines institutional improvement plans within a new framework, recalling issues addressed in the introductory stages of the regeneration policy. In particular, this study seeks to present a new framework that departs from the current concept of urban regeneration revitalization zones as rigid project boundaries and the strategic plan and revitalization plan system regardless of city size. In addition, this study attempted to diverge from current methods in which projects are implemented only within a previously established comprehensive urban regeneration revitalization plan regardless of changes in conditions in order to minimize change, despite the importance of the participatory processes, such as that of residents, in regeneration projects.
Institutional improvement methods proposed by this study include the simplification of project types; the reorganization of the planning system; and the reorganization of public participation and project management methods.
SUMMARY ･ 201 First, regarding the simplification of project types, this study proposed the maintenance of the two legally established types and the integration of the five types of Urban Regeneration New Deal projects. In addition to the integration of project types, this study also proposed the elimination of the project type-specific recommended criteria for city area size. Second, regarding the reorganization of the planning system, this study stresses the importance of departing from the concept of urban regeneration revitalization zones as project boundaries and of perceiving them as flexible spatial ranges for projects. Furthermore, it suggests removing the designated details of urban regeneration revitalization zones from urban regeneration strategic plans and to only designate such zones when necessary during the planning stage of urban regeneration revitalization. Third, regarding the reorganization of public participation and project management methods, this study emphasizes that the currently centralized public participation and management methods must be converted to region-centered methods. Regarding government funding, the measures proposed involve allocating the total funds to regional units, as is currently in practice, for regions to independently select areas in which to implement regeneration for point-focused hub creation and to implement projects within planes of urban regeneration revitalization zones, and for such regions to undertake project management.
In order to efficiently implement the hub expansion regeneration model proposed in this study, the urban regeneration preliminary project system, which was renamed this year, must be included as a regeneration project method not as an optional means but as an obligation. In other words, small- and medium-sized cities must implement point-focused hub creation projects in the form of preliminary projects for urban regeneration, after which support must be provided by intermediate support organizations to promote the expansion to urban regeneration revitalization zones according to project needs and demands.
