In Korea and Japan, similar urban declining phenomena is occurring over a period of time. In Japan, the population of all cities decreased before Korea. The decrease in population causes problems such as a decrease in tax revenues, deterioration of urban functions and urban areas. To solve these problems, Japan tried to solve urban problems by the compact city policy called the location optimization plan. In Korea, the population is also expected to decrease from 2028, but the site of cities are still expanding through urban development. Such urban sprawl causes various urban problems, and thus the necessity of a compact city is increasing.
In order to make a compact city such as Japan''s location optimization plan, it is necessary to understand the current status of the city. In Japan, before making a location optimization plan, local governments identify the compactness of urban structures through urban structure evaluation, and based on the evaluation results, local governments calculate concepts, tasks, and goals for site remediation plans. However, in Korea, there is no index to evaluate the intensity of urban structure. Several previous studies have derived an index to evaluate the degree of compression, but most of these studies were focused on large cities. In Korea, population decline is already appearing in local small and medium-sized cities. This study examines the urban structure evaluation and the necessity of compact cities for local small and medium cities. To evaluate the urban structure, Japan evaluation indicator is used.
The evaluation indicator of urban structure used in this study was selected in consideration of the handbook for urban structure evaluation announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan, location optimization plans for 21 cities, and the status of statistical data in Korea. Total 29 indicators were selected, and this study evaluated the urban structure compactness of 15 cities in Gyeongsangbuk-do. As a result of the evaluation, Yeongju-si, Yeongcheon-si, and Mungyeong-si showed high compactness of urban structure. However Cheongsong-gun, Yeongyang-gun and Bonghwa-gun showed low compactness of urban structure. The three cities with low compactness need compact city policies such as location optimization plan.
Based on the results of the urban structure evaluation, cities were categorized to derive the characteristics of each type and the direction of urban planning. As a result of the categorization, five types : living service intensive type, urban function stabilization type, safety environment reduction type, and primary industry-oriented type, and city-dispersion type were derived. Living service intensive type and urban function stabilization type require measures to prevent the decrease in density. Safety environment type needs prevention measure from disaster. It was found that the primary industry-oriented type requires attracting new industries and compact city policies. The city-dispersion type requires residential induction to living service facilities. This investigation could be useful base data for compact city policies in South Korea.