This report examines Korea's urban policies and offers customised policy recommendations based on the OECD publication, Compact City Policies (2012).

Korea is facing mounting economic challenges. Productivity growth has been on a trend decline amid demographic headwinds, while the societal demand for inclusive growth has been on a steep rise. Furthermore, the government-led unbalanced growth model—which served Korea well in the past—has become less effective and politically palatable in recent years. As such, Korea needs a major paradigm shift to embark on a new sustainable and inclusive growth path. But policy response has been modest at best with no major reforms being implemented over the past two decades. We propose a paradigm shift in Korea’s economic framework, involving a simultaneous big push for greater economic freedom and stronger social protection within the parameters set by long-run fiscal sustainability. We also provide a detailed account of structural reforms to boost economic freedom and sustainable funding plans for stronger social protection.

This report examines Korea's urban policies and offers customised policy recommendations based on the OECD publication, Compact City Policies (2012). Some Korean policies, such as urban regeneration, new town development or multi-modal transfering centers, have implicitly implemented compact city polices to a certain degree. However, there are still issues - including urban sprawl, unbalanced socio-economic levels and environmental challenges - which can be threats to urban competitiveness. An appropriate set of compact city polices, such as environmental friendly urban regeneration, mixed land use, polices to offset the side effects of compact development, strong management of transport demands, and governance enforcement, can accelerate Korean cities' sustainable development.

In recent years Korea has stepped up efforts to reduce inequalities in recognition that a fairer economic model is also the most sustainable one. In order to support this new policy direction, the OECD has carried out novel analysis of inclusive growth building on its Framework for Policy Action, developed by the OECD to improve the prospects of the groups left behind.

Korea is facing mounting economic challenges. Productivity growth has been on a trend decline amid demographic headwinds, while the societal demand for inclusive growth has been on a steep rise. Furthermore, the government-led unbalanced growth model—which served Korea well in the past—has become less effective and politically palatable in recent years. As such, Korea needs a major paradigm shift to embark on a new sustainable and inclusive growth path. But policy response has been modest at best with no major reforms being implemented over the past two decades. We propose a paradigm shift in Korea’s economic framework, involving a simultaneous big push for greater economic freedom and stronger social protection within the parameters set by long-run fiscal sustainability. We also provide a detailed account of structural reforms to boost economic freedom and sustainable funding plans for stronger social protection.

Going forward, Korea faces two closely related challenges: sustaining economic growth against the backdrop of a rapidly aging population and ameliorating income inequality. This paper argues that a gradual increase in social spending could promote more sustainable and inclusive growth in Korea. In particular, simulation results suggest that social spending which supports labor market reforms can boost longer-term growth. However, despite rapid increases recently—albeit from a low base—there is still a social spending gap relative to Korea’s OECD peers. Because of several fiscal challenges in the coming decades, increases in social spending should be incremental, and would be usefully guided by a longer-term fiscal framework.

This book explores the attempts of South Korea in its to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. It addresses 6 of the 17 goals – clean water, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, and partnership – and defines specific national strategies. For each strategy, the contributors define the research indicators they selected, then analyze and examine the extent to which South Korea has met the SDG concerned. They draw these conclusions from national and international reports, government documents and policy papers on SDGs. South Korea’s experience in sustainable development and green programs will contribute to the planning of long-term development strategies for developing countries.

This book looks at Korea's economic, social and spatial development processes from the early Modernisation period to the financial crisis of 1997. It focuses on the political and ideological control of the state during the developmental era, as well as the environmental problems of Korea, and examines how society and environment have been used as means to attain rapid accumulation. Providing an holistic approach to Korean development, this title allows a comprehensive view of Korea's economic miracle as well as its recent problems.

South Korea is one of outstanding country that has made great success on economic growth. However, they have been faced on matter from unbalanced development. The reason why they have been encountered that problem goes way back to the 1950s. After Korean War in 1950s, South Korean government had started to focus on economic development; as if it could be the best method to escape urgent poverty and overcome social problem. While they ignored the imbalance between economic growth and sustainability, almost every resource was poured out superficial socio-economic development. Moreover, from 1960s to mid-1980s, they were under dictatorship and suffered undemocratic regime. People, who had been repressed under these circumstances, finally rose up against the regime in late 1980s, and then it helped them to become democratic. Nevertheless, inequalities, poverty gap and immature citizenship have remained unsolved. Being encountered with the financial crisis in mid 1990s, almost every social policy was insufficient in treating it. While South Korea has had great success in economic development, its social safety network was not well equipped to respond such a serious problem. This issue was also closely associated with the policy based on the growth-first ideology of government-led development, which was far from inclusive. Consequently, most communities are characterized by serious imbalances, which become major constraints on sustainable development. In these circumstances, the existing conglomerate-centered economic system that puts priority on growth is dimming after being hit by a bomb of low growth. They need of a new system, what is called as 'alternative development strategies.'' While they seek to create new system, 'village community' gets important initiatives about alternative way to promote sustainable development. Especially, because it is based on social economy, which lies in its stable management and continuous growth, thus attracting more attention in a low-growth era, it is regarded as method of promoting the rights and benefits of its members. Nowadays, 'village community' rapidly spreads over the whole country. This study explores case study of village community in Seoul in order to investigate the true meaning of urban community for sustainable development. In this context, the present paper has three objectives. First, features of 'village community' is analyzed, especially focus on socio-economic situation surrounding it. Second, it compares 'village community' with the social development, which seeks to harmonize social and economic processes for vulnerable populations. Finally, using case studies, I try to illustrate how 'village community' is initiated social change at local and community level and generated community development for better social services.