SEOUL

CONTEMPORARY CITY
PLANNING
HISTORY OF SEOUL
PRE- 1900S
HISTORY OF SEOUL – A VIDEO
TIMELINE OF SEOUL – PRE 1900S
CITY FORTRESS
HISTORY OF SEOUL
POST 1900S
Period Of Adversity-
1900-1960
Japanese Korea
• Korea under Japanese rule , between 1910-1945.
• Japanese industrialized Korea, developing rail roads and
improving major roads and ports.
• Japanese forces retreated post defeat in WW II, leading to the
division of Korean peninsula into Communist North Korea and
Capitalist South Korea.
• Seoul- Capital of South Korea

Korean War
• Korean War 1950-1953
• Seoul was the epicentre of the war, changing hands between
the two sides four times.
• This resulted in numerous casualties and extensive damage to
the capital city.
• Infrastructure was badly damaged, houses were destroyed and
Han river polluted.
Seoul – City level expansion 1910-2000 Design Policies and Principles
Re-development process
Urban foundation (1960 ~ 1980)
• Water Management – river clear up
• Expressway constructions – Bridges, subway line
• Housing sector development
• Industrial zones
Growing city (1980 ~ 2000)
• Sewer management and waste disposal plants
• Development of city centre – urban complex
• Suburbs Development
• Waterfront re-development, ecological pursuits
Smart & sustainable city (2000 ~ present)
• Developing urban scape
• Infrastructural innovations
• Ecological preservation projects
• Redevelopment of housing
Slum Redevelopment in 1960s, under a strict demolition
policy, slums were relocated to
public land outside of urban
centers. People were given plots
around 33-66 km2 

This Citizen Apartment was built

on the same site where a slum area
had been demolished. The size of
apartments then were usually 16-
26 m2.

Financial burden lead the

apartment construction to be low
in quality with poor infrastructure.
So came to stop when one of the
five story Citizen Apartment
collapsed in 1970.

 So in the 1980’s , Slum development

became private sector.
Urban Re-development Projects + Policies

Urban redevelopment projects are

defined as "projects that make effective
use of land, such as commercial and
industrial areas, and improve downtown
and sub-center urban environments
which require market revitalization or
restoration of urban functions".
URBAN PLANNING CHARTER & RE-
DEVELOPMENT
SEOUL URBAN PLANNING CHARTER

 1. Restore mountains and rivers unique to Seoul

 2. Restore city’s tangible and intangible historical and
cultural heritage
 3. Plan an urban spatial structure where residences and
work areas are kept in close proximity thereby reducing
citizens’ commute costs and promote balanced
development among the various regions of Seoul.
 4. Focus on public transportation to reduce environmental
pollution and traffic congestion. Pedestrian friendly
 5. Establish a risk management system to predict and
minimize damage in the event of natural disasters. Reduce
crime.
SEOUL URBAN PLANNING CHARTER

 6. Sustainable development, renewable energy, energy

conservation
 7. Break away from conformity, each region exhibits
individuality and local characteristics.
 8. Protect the uniqueness of each region in Seoul as well as
the history and stories of each community, thereby
maintaining spatial diversity
 9. Establish a cooperative system that promotes constant
communication between local residents and public
administrative organizations.
 10. Create a living environment that promotes welfare,
shows consideration to people with disabilities, the elderly,
children, and pregnant women, respects diversity
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT POLICY

 "projects that make effective use of land, such as commercial

and industrial areas, and improve downtown and sub-center
urban environments which require market revitalization or
restoration of urban functions”
 The prioritized target areas for urban redevelopment projects are
 land unsuited for buildings or where deterioration of the urban
environment is highly likely because of underutilized land
 areas where buildings have deteriorated to a point where full
functionality is no longer possible or areas with heavy concentrations
of buildings
 areas where population and industries are concentrated and thus
require the recovery of urban functions
 areas with easy access to public transportation (such as subway lines)
and require construction of mixed-use buildings

FILE:///E:/ACADEMIC/9TH%20SEM/URBAN%20DESIGN%20THEORY/SEOUL/SEOUL%20SOLUTION%20FOR%20URBAN
%20DEVELOPMENT_PART1%20(1).PDF
TRANSFORMATION FROM VEHICLE ORIENTED TO
PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED CITY
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - BUS
• Reorganisation of public bus services
• Introduction of exclusive bus lanes
• Introduction of transit-fare cards
• Private to quasi-public
• Advantages
• Introduction of electric buses in 2010
• TOPIS
• Seoul city transportation app
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION – SUBWAYS AND TRAINS
• In addition to buses, subways and
trains are also widely used
• 7M people use trains everyday
• 9 lines crisscrossing the city, reaching
every nook and corner

• By 2020 – 10 light
train lines to be
introduced wherein
the subway system
can be accesed
within a 10 minute
walk from anywhere
in seoul
TRANSFORMATION FROM VEHICLE ORIENTED TO PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED
• This policy began in earnest with the “Creation of
pedestrian-friendly walkways” project in 1998 and was
revised in 2004 and 2013
• Focussed on creating more pedestrian and bicycle friendly
pathways and areas
• Pedestrian streets width increased and atmosphere changed
• Creation of Car-free Streets
• Removal of Elevated Roads and Pedestrian Overpasses
• Creation of Five Pedestrian-friendly Areas by 2014
• Operation of Children-only Streets
•  Overall Improvement of the Pedestrian Environment for the
Mobility Handicapped
• 2030 masterplan
DEVELOPMENT OF GANGNAM
NEED FOR NEW, LARGE BUILT-UP AREAS DUE TO THE RAPID EXPANSION OF SEOUL
EXPANSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS & PLANS FOR LARGE BUILT-UP AREAS
• No planning for explosive growth, and urbanization quickly
deteriorated quality of life and generated slum areas across the
city.
• Disorganized urban sprawl characterized the city.
• Development of Gangnam began as part of Seoul’s population
dispersal policy, with an aim to have 40% of the population
north of the Han River and 60% to the south.
• In the early stage of the plan, Gangnam was to be one of many
sub-centers. At the time, these sub-centers were supposed to be
the hinterland and residential areas structurally and were thus
located at the center of transportation hubs to enable easy
access from the center of Seoul or other cities. On the contrary,
Gangnam did not have any residential districts or built-up areas.
Its planned density was not as high as we see today.
• Detailed plans were developed to turn Gangnam into a high-
density urban center, just as we see today. It became one of the
3 major city centers of Seoul,.
DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR GANGNAM

LAND USE AND LOTS SECURED FOR PUBLIC SPACES

INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PUBLIC SERVICES

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MIGRATION & DEVELOPMENT PROMOTION POLICIES
DISCOURAGING CONCENTRATION IN GANGBUK & PROMOTING CONSTRUCTION OF
MAJOR FACILITIES IN GANGNAM
DISCOURAGING CONCENTRATION IN GANGBUK & PROMOTING CONSTRUCTION OF
MAJOR FACILITIES IN GANGNAM

In 1976, the next targets were the prestigious high schools in the
old city center.2 Starting with Gyeonggi High School, 8 high
schools, including Hwimun High School and Sukmyung Girls’
High School, were moved to today’s Gangnam-gu. In 1980,
Seoul High School moved to Seocho-gu, and Baeje High to
Gangdong-gu.
1. A total of 15 high schools were moved, creating the famous 8
school districts, and South Korea’s vehement. In this area, the
construction or extension/expansion of universities, express bus
terminal, factories, and other industrial facilities is prohibited.
2. In 1974, the high school curriculum was standardized, and
the teaching staff and school facilities were not up to people’s
expectations at some high schools. Development of Gangnam
49 pursuit of good education has fueled the continued migration
to Gangnam ever since.
IMPROVED DEVELOPMENT OF GANGNAM
IMPROVED DEVELOPMENT OF GANGNAM
IMPROVED DEVELOPMENT OF GANGNAM
IMPROVED DEVELOPMENT OF GANGNAM
LAND RE-ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM
• replotting-based approach, exchanging and subdividing/combining the land without altering the relationship of rights in existence prior to
the program.
• devised to respond to rapid urbanization in the 1980s,
• For detached housing
• Developing public spaces and built-up areas
• prevent disorderly urban sprawl as the city grew in areas without sufficient financing.
• Accommodated the waves of people moving into the city
• By the end of the 1960s, the program was implemented all over Gangnam, dispersing the population away from Gangbuk.
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING
ACTUALIZING THE “2030 SEOUL PLAN”
RANGE OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
YEONGDEUNGPO
ISSUE BASED PLAN

 old and new come together in harmony

 target year of the urban master plan is set to be 20 years from the time of planning,

according to the guideline for establishment of the plan1

 The status of each sector such as population, industry, economy, environment, transportation, housing, etc. is
documented as of the beginning year.
 Based on the investigated status, the goals and strategies for each sector are established and the planning
indicators are set.
YEONGDEUNGPO
SPATIAL PLAN

 The spatial range for the plan is the entire urban planning area matching the Seoul administrative districts
 total area of 605.96 ㎢ .
 However, the target areas are expanded to the Seoul metropolitan areas in the vicinity of Seoul when analyzing the
status and conditions to draw the planning tasks and planning the spatial structure reorganization.
HISTORIC CITY CENTER PLAN
LOCATION, SIGNIFICANCE & PROCESS

• Value
• Preserve
• Tourist attraction
HAN RIVERFRONT MASTERPLAN
SIGNIFICANCE & PROCESS

THE MIRACLE OF HAN RIVER – SYMBOL OF MODERNIZATION

Largest & most valuable urban open space
Urban express roads + Privately owned apartments
VISION + PRINCIPLES
MAKING HAN RIVER THE CENTER OF CITIZENS’ LIVES EVEN AFTER 100 YEARS
DANGSAN AREA
1. Establishment and review of public
management plans for the planned
management of the central area and the
establishment of location conditions for
new industrial spaces
2. Review of active space utilization for
low-use factory sites along the Han
River
3. Creation of a waterfront creative culture
trail (Hapjeong~ Seonyudo~Yanghwa
Han River Park)
4. Improvement of pedestrian environment
such as expansion of sidewalks and
green spaces on Yangpyeong-ro 24-gil
(review of conversion of dedicated
pedestrian spaces in some sections)
5. Dangsan Station~Yanghwa Hangang
Park access road environment
improvement
DANGSAN AREA

6. World Cup Bridge-Anyangcheon, Yanghwa Hangang Park Bicycle Road Connection 2 Seongsan
Bridge, Yanghwa Bridge-Hangang Park Bicycle Road Expansion25 Expansion of bicycle parking space
at the entrance to Seonyudo Park2 Between Seonyudo Pier-Dangsan Station-Seoul Marina-Danginri
Power PlantReview of water transportation connection
7. Seonyudo Observation DeckReview of complexization of citizens' rest/convenience facilities, etc.Use
of low-use factory site along the Han River Expand the Han River observation space on the upper floor
8. 233 Establishment and operation of reference points for landscape simulation of major mountains and
district landscape simulation
9. Establishment of wide-area and self-portrait celebration and application of landscape formation
standards
10. Improving the permeability of impermeable pavement in parking lot
11. Small-scale storage around drinking fountains and drains Greenery composition
12. Riverside roadside buffer forest creation
13. Establishment of Han River as a base at the entrance of Saet River
MASTER PLAN
FIVE REGIONS
BASIC FRAMEWORK OF CITY SPACE
TRANSPORTATION
2030 SEOUL PLAN
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 2030 PLAN
DISTINGUISHED FROM CURRENT CITY PLAN
STRENGTHENING OF IDENTITY
3 MAIN CENTRES FOR BALANCED DEVELOPMENT
SPATIAL STRUCTURE
ESTABLISHMENT OF CITY AXES
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! 
ABINAYA, MADHUMITA, NANDITA, NUPUR, RAJSHRI & VAISSHNAVY
9TH SEMESTER – D SECTION