Revitalizing Secondary Cities for Livability through Participatory Planning in Community Building in South Korea

Abstract

In South Korea livability concerns have become an increasing focus of public interest as a means to elevate the quality of people's everyday lives in the city. However the social issue of livability has been overlooked while the central government remains focused on neoliberal economic policies, and limiting the participation of civil society in the planning. The gap between livability aims and their relevance in the public conscience is increasing as greater attention is given to the global economic crisis, and the stagnation (or downturn) of local economies, particularly within secondary cities in South Korea. Without emphasis on local culture specific to each region, cities are beginning to look similar and populations are becoming increasingly disconnected from their unique historical and cultural identities. This paper addresses the way in which community building efforts, through participatory planning, can make secondary cities livable. Through the review of case studies of Maul Mandulgi movements, this study will explore which occurrences fit the livable city framework, how the movement influenced local governance, to include positive relationships between people and their government, and how positive social and physical changes were made by enhancing conviviality in the community. After identifying the conditions of the cities that were successful in community building, this study will present how local cities were able to revitalize themselves through the livable city in the lifeworlds frame. A qualitative research method has been selected for this research, and was conducted with archived documents written by community members, and also by outside members in order to maintain an objective perspective. In this research the cultural framework of the livable city is addressed, and successful cases, and policies, in South Korean society introduced. This research analyzes the following four cases, the Songmisan network in Seoul; Samdokdong in Daegu; Hanggung-dong (Maul Renaissance) in Suwon; and Munhwa-dong (Si-hwa Munhwa Maul) in Gwangju where living spaces were improved by residents well before the central government adopted Maul Mandulgi as a government policy in 2000, and established themselves as potential models of livable communities. These cases elucidate the key components of a livable city in South Korea, and makes a strong argument for the adoption of key policies in secondary cities, to improve their communities through Maul Mandulgi; participatory community building.