earticle

영어

This study reviews the long-term urbanization trend in Korea based on population statistics. The population data show that Joseon was a very static society whose urbanization had not been progressed over 100 years. Also, the society was ruled by a high primacy of Hanseong, the capital city. Korean peninsular had experienced the rapid urbanization in the second-half year of Japanese Colonial Period. The urbanization was achieved on a qualitative development accompanying industrialization. Since the independence, the country has experienced rapid urbanization, but its rate has not been higher than the one of the colonial period. In the colonial period, the Korean peninsular attained some regional balance. This study also discusses the characteristics of Korean urbanization under the Japanese Imperialist rule. Although many Korean researchers have indicated the pseudo-urbanization in that period, this study argues that there is little positive evidence to prove such distorted urbanization.