earticle

영어

The fertility rate had increased rapidly after the Korean War but has shown gradual decrease after the introduction of government-driven birth control policies. Consistent decrease of fertility rate has reached a dangerous level below 1.00 beyond the level capable of maintaining the status quo. By the low fertility rate and relocation of youth population to capital regions, local cities are facing the risk of extinction, in addition to the issues of aging society. Until now, city planning has focused on growth-oriented policies and has failed to cope properly with the era of population decrease. There have been policies such as innovative cities aiming to move metropolitan population to local areas but they have not been successful in achieving the intended effects. Local autonomous entities are establishing various plans based on the assumption that development would lead to population increase, which is far from the reality. In the era of population decrease, local areas are facing the risk of extinction, beyond the issues regarding aging society. Resolving these issues requires adjustment of the previous growth-oriented plans and policies. Population projection and coping methods should take the top priority and local autonomous entities should be granted with proper authorities to be capable of planning. The sense of crisis should be shared by emphasizing that failure of plans may cause the extinction of the cities. Rather than relying on administrative districts, the local autonomous entities should cooperate with one another in establishing joint city plans based on life zones. Population decrease indicates rapid changes not only in the land planning but in the overall society. By breaking away from the previous growth-oriented paradigms and positively taking relevant measures for population decrease, we will be able to set right directions for land planning in accordance with the era of population decrease.