Emerging World Cities in Pacific Asia (UNU, 1996, 528 pages): Part 2. Changing Asia-Pacific world cities: Seoul: A global city in a nation of rapid growth: Conclusions

Emerging World Cities in Pacific Asia (UNU, 1996, 528 pages)

(introductory text...)

Note to the reader from the UNU

Preface

Introduction

(introductory text...)

The functional world city system

What this book offers

References

Part 1. Global - Asia - Pacific functional linkages

Global restructuring and emerging urban corridors in Pacific Asia

(introductory text...)

Introduction

Global restructuring and uneven growth

A new Asia-Pacific economic interdependence

Emerging Pacific-Asia urban corridors and formulation of the functional city system

Towards the twenty-first century

Notes

References

International transport and communications interactions between Pacific Asia's emerging world cities

(introductory text...)

Multilayered flows

Goods transactions

International passengers

International telecommunications

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

Notes

References

Part 2. Changing Asia-Pacific world cities

The Japanese urban system and the growing centrality of Tokyo in the global economy

(introductory text...)

Introduction

Japanese urbanization in perspective: An overview, 1955-1991

Functional and structural changes

New growth upon new accumulation: The Capital Tokyo Metropolitan Area

New agglomeration and ''Tokyo problems''

Future prospects and policy implications

References

Appendix

Seoul: A global city in a nation of rapid growth

(introductory text...)

Introduction

The determinants of a world city

The spatial pattern of industrialization

The primacy of Seoul and the capital region

A new perspective in spatial policy: Globalization

Conclusions

References

Globalization and the urban system in Taiwan

(introductory text...)

Introduction

The nature and development trend of the national urban system

Structural change

The spatial dimension of economic structural change

The international dimension of the urban system

The impact of globalization on the mega-city of Taipei

Policies and policy implications

Conclusion

Note

Bibliography

Globalization and the urban system in China

(introductory text...)

Introduction

Economic reform and globalization in China

The globalization of china's economy

Foreign investment

Urbanization and urban system development in China

The effects of globalization on the urban system in China

Problems of urban development under the open policy

Policy implications and future trends in urban development

Notes

Acknowledgements

References

Global influences on recent urbanization trends in the Philippines

(introductory text...)

Introduction

Recent urbanization trends

A simple model for examining global influences

Global influences on urbanization trends

Concluding remarks

Acknowledgement

References

The changing urban system in a fast-growing city and economy: The case of Bangkok and Thailand

(introductory text...)

Introduction

Growth and transformation of the Thai economy

Urban population, settlement patterns, and employment distribution

The international dimension of the changing urban system

The internal dimensions of the changing urban system

The urbanization of bangkok: its prominence, problems, and prospects

Conclusions: towards a new national urban development policy for Thailand

Acknowledgements

Notes

References

Emerging urban trends and the globalizing economy in Malaysia

(introductory text...)

Introduction

The nature and trends of the national urban system

Macro-population structure and change

The international dimension of economic activities

Economic structural change and urbanization

The impact of internationalism on the Kuala Lumpur Core Urban Region (KLCUR) - The leading mega-city

Policy implications

Conclusion

References

Jabotabek and globalization

(introductory text...)

Introduction

The context: Globalization of the Indonesian economy

Jabotabek, the Jakarta metropolitan area

The Jabotabek region's national and international linkages

Note

References

Part 3. Borderless cities

The Singapore-Johore-Riau Growth triangle: An emerging extended metropolitan region

(introductory text...)

Introduction

The concept of extended metropolitan region

EMRs

The Singapore case

Conclusion

Notes

References

The Hong Kong-Zhujiang Delta and the world city system

(introductory text...)

Introduction

The Zhajiang Delta and its cities

The world city hypothesis and Zhajiang Delta cities

Territorial containment of a functional world city phenomenon

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

References

The evolving urban system in North-East Asia

(introductory text...)

Introduction

Yellow Sea Rim and Japan Sea Rim areas

The transnationalization of urban systems: The BESETO ecumenopolis

Ideal and reality: Needs for further research

References

Contributors

Other titles of interest

Conclusions

Globalization is the reality of the 1990s. In the coming years, many nations will go through industrial restructuring to accommodate a new international division of labour. In consequence, there will be a large increase in international trade and in cross-border movements of labour and machinery, FDI, and other forms of international cooperation. After two decades of compressed economic growth, the comparative competitiveness of South Korean industries is being contested in world markets. During the past few years of democratization, labour costs increased far more rapidly than in Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. On the other hand, South Korean industries are lagging behind in technological development to offset the wage hike. Major South Korean export sectors, such as textiles and consumer electrics, are losing their competitive edge to China and the ASEAN countries. After a short-lived trade surplus in the three years 1986-1989, the trade deficit exceeded US$10 billion in 1991. In these circumstances, South Korean companies are forced to search for new areas of investment (FDI) and trade partners abroad.

The growth of Seoul and the Capital region has been regarded as resulting from the compressed economic growth of the nation. The government initiated the decentralization policy for Seoul and the Capital region in the early 1960s. In spite of restrictive policy measures, population and industrial activities in the region have been growing. The economies of agglomeration in Seoul and the Capital region continue to attract various industries including producer services and high-tech and information-oriented industries.

A world city is characterized by the competitiveness of its residents. The global competitiveness of the residents makes the city global. Therefore, a global city is one with "environments" favouring the competitiveness of the residents. With Seoul's stringent regulations to control metropolitan growth, bottlenecks are created in transportation, housing supply, and other infrastructures. The quality of life has been deteriorating, especially as regards air and water pollution and severe traffic congestion. For the nation's competitiveness, the residents of Seoul should be competitive in world markets. Therefore, it is necessary to revitalize the "environments" of Seoul by modifying the spatial policy of growth control in Seoul and the Capital region.

In relation to its city size and the export orientation of the national economy, the city of Seoul is relatively deficient in terms of its international activities. But some new factors are likely to change the role of Seoul in the world system. First, South Korea became a member nation in the United Nations, along with North Korea, in October 1991. South Korea will thus participate more widely in UN-related activities. Seoul will house most of these activities and their office space. With the liberalization of services under United Nations agreements, an influx of various service activities is expected from the advanced nations, especially in producer services such as banking, insurance, communications, and professional services. With the increasing trend towards regional cooperation in the Pacific Asian countries, Seoul will become a major centre of regional cooperation in the Far East.

The long-standing government policy of decentralization for the Seoul-Capital region has obviously been ineffective in controlling the further agglomeration of Seoul. Although the signs of a population "J" turn from the region have very recently been detected, especially in manufacturing activities, the concentration of producer services and information in Seoul is increasing. At the same time, Seoul's role as a central city is increasing.

The restructuring of various spatial policies seems to be inevitable. The new emphasis of planning in Seoul and the Capital region should be on restructuring the functions of the area more efficiently. With globalization, the management of the growth of the region became important. Therefore, the growth control policy in Seoul and the Capital region should be coupled with growth management to enhance the efficiency of the spatial system of the region and the government's efforts to develop large cities in the provincial areas.