"Busan Needs Innovative Urban Planning Through Compression and Connectivity"
Busan Metropolitan Corporation (BMC, President Shin Changho) held the 30th session of its in-house knowledge-sharing program, 'Smart BOOK Morning,' on June 25, aiming to enhance its capabilities as a public developer.
At this event, Dr. Shim Jaeguk, author of 'Compact Network: Saving Cities in Crisis,' was invited to deliver a special lecture on the theme of 'Solutions for Urban Crisis: Compression, Connectivity, and Innovation.'
In his lecture, Dr. Shim introduced the theory of 'The World is Spiky' by Professor Richard Florida of the University of Toronto, emphasizing that creative talent and companies are increasingly concentrated in certain cities, intensifying competition among urban areas. He argued that, in response to these changes, urban planning needs to innovate away from traditional expansionist models toward structures that are compact and organically connected.
He also explained the global trend of cities gaining greater functions and roles than nation-states, and argued that South Korea should also form a mega-region centered on the Gyeongbu axis.
Dr. Shim compared the decline of Detroit with the resurgence of New York, stating that since cities have their own life cycles, a diversified strategy that considers sustainability is essential. He also referenced the urban success formula from Edward Glaeser's 'Triumph of the City,' highlighting the importance of creating urban environments that attract creative talent, such as those offering enjoyment, gastronomy, and fashion.
For future urban planning, he proposed several directions: ▲ Compact City ▲ Functional Convergence ▲ Undergrounding and Straightening of Infrastructure ▲ Compact-Network ▲ Establishment of Global Metropolitan Economic Zones ▲ Marine City Strategies.
Finally, as strategies for urban innovation in Busan, he suggested ultra-station area development centered on North Port, building a smart city based on digital twins, strengthening downtown functions, creating youth-friendly residential conditions, and innovating the industrial structure by attracting anchor companies, thus concluding his lecture.
Shin Changho, President of Busan Metropolitan Corporation, said, "This lecture provided deep insights for our employees who are concerned about Busan's urban issues," and added, "The corporation will continue to encourage all employees to work together and make efforts for sustainable urban planning and problem-solving in the future."
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