Gov’t plans urban regeneration projects

The government plans to regenerate old cities instead of developing new cities or large-scale residential areas. Accordingly, it is expected to foster more than 10 key cities in provinces.

To this end, the government will release detailed measures on introducing a competition system in the railway sector, including the establishment of the second railway company, next month.

The Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Ministry reported its 2013 business plan including the railway plan to President Park Geun-hye at the government complex in Sejong City on Thursday.

According to the ministry, the government will create more than 10 key urban areas across the country from this year by supporting core regional cities. The development project will be made through “urban regeneration,” which aims for the revival of old cities by redeveloping downtown areas.

The ministry will either focus on developing key cities such as Jeonju, Chungju and Chuncheon or develop regional hubs by connecting small and mid-sized cities such as Jeonju, Gunsan and Iksan. Instead of designating certain areas, the ministry will support the development of regional hubs after accepting applications from local governments.

In this context, it will have an “urban regeneration special act” legislated by June and start an urban regeneration special committee under the Prime Minister’s Office to kick off the project from 2014.

“As regional development had a too big picture and focused on underdeveloped areas, urban areas where 90 percent of the population is living are deteriorating,” said Park Ki-poong, the ministry’s first vice minister.“The ministry will boost balanced regional development by advancing selected regional hubs that will lead the growth of each region.”

Based on the election pledges by President Park, the ministry will also foster the areas near the Seomjin River, which borders eastern Gyeongsang and western Jeolla provinces, as a symbol of national integration. As the ministry plans to create an area for peace near the demilitarized zone, research on the project will be initiated within this month.

imsoo@donga.com