ID: 1692
Presenting Author: Jeongseok Choi
Session: 516 - Asian S3EA: Strategic, Spatial and Sustainable EA with effective information
Status: pending
This paper explores the necessity of introducing new forms of climate-ecological infrastructure in Korea and examines institutional reforms that would support their practical implementation
Cities today must implement diverse facilities to address climate change and pursue carbon neutrality—an agenda that markedly differs from past urban development priorities. Such facilities, broadly classified as green infrastructure, are increasingly being introduced in cities worldwide.
However, in Korea, the National Land Planning and Utilization Act (NLPU Act) recognizes only seven categories of infrastructure comprising 51 specific facility types. As a result, facilities not included within these categories lack legal recognition as infrastructure, which restricts their installation under current urban planning regulations.
This study aims to identify two critical policy directions needed to institutionalize new climate-ecological infrastructure within the Korean urban planning system. First, it presents key types of innovative climate- and ecology-related facilities required to strengthen climate resilience and achieve carbon-neutral outcomes, along with their expected benefits. Second, it proposes amendments to the Infrastructure and Urban Planning Facilities Regulations under the NLPU Act to legally incorporate these facilities. The study ultimately suggests that a clear yet highly effective regulatory modification could provide Korean cities with a stronger foundation for responding to the climate crisis.
Professor Jeongseok Choi, the author of this study, previously served as President of the Korea Environmental Policy and Administration Society and currently teaches at Joongbu University.