In this paper, the Non-Growing Type Cities are defined as the ones to fall in a certain stage of cities' life cycle in which the development process is chronically and structurally stagnant or declined, yet they are transformable into the growing ones...
In this paper, the Non-Growing Type Cities are defined as the ones to fall in a certain stage of cities' life cycle in which the development process is chronically and structurally stagnant or declined, yet they are transformable into the growing ones once proper plans to meet the conditions and special features are provided with resultant motivation given. In other words, they are defined to be irrecoverable without feasible policies to resolve the causes for declination as the time goes. 37 property indices are selected for cities' features and 84 cities including Yangpyeong out of 159 cities in Gyunggi-Do are categorized as Non-Growing Type Cities based on factors and determinants analyses. Please note that 6 major metropolitan cities including Seoul are excluded. While only 3 cities (9.7%) out of all the 31 cities and provinces in Gyunggi-Do, 18 cities (81.8%) out of 22 cities and provinces in Jeollanam-Do are categorized as the Non-Growing Type ones. Therefore, it is that the growth rates are measured to be seriously biased among the cities or local areas.
The Non-Growing Type Cities feature to be low in the population for children and high for aged people and low level of income rate and financial status. In addition, the secondary and manufacturing industries are reduced and urban industries are poorly structured. The number of general and manufacturing companies is decreasing at a rapid rate. The number of overall business and other economic activities are being reduced and the growth rate of population is low as well.
In the contrary, the Growing Type Cities feature to be the expanding of area, increase of population especially for young ages, constant growing of economy with the help of industry development, increase in income rate, developed manufacturing industries, developed service industries such as finance, education and medical assistance, advanced industry structure, developed scientific technologies, improved accessibility from better transportation system, higher cultural level and better living, efficient use of land, systematic urban planning and others. Therefore, those cities show distinctive improvement compared to the Non-Growing Type ones.
The declination of those cities is basically due to the reduction of population constantly migrating from the cities to the ones seeking for better chance of employment at a higher income rate and for quality urban services such as education, culture and other welfare. In addition, since the economic plan by the government on "unbalanced development strategy" has been proved to be a failure, the localized cities away from the major developed ones are suffering from worse declination. The declination has caused under-development of industries and less economic activities on urban area and has weakened the financial status of local government. As a result, the investment on infrastructure has been reduced and the declination has been wide spread.
In this paper, a survey was performed for the government officials who have been in charge of urban planning or local development in the city hall or county office in 84 Non-Growing Type Cities selected, and the cause for declination is recognized to be from the reduction of population, lack of employment, weak educational or cultural infrastructure, poor industry, aging of local folks, lack of financial budget and others. In order to progress to the Growing Type Cities, there are requirements for attraction of public institutions or companies, improved environment for stable residence, better education, created culture or tourism, improved public welfare service, independent financial status and others. In addition, the revisions of laws and regulations to abroad range must be planned to induce private sector's investment/development and administrative-financ
ial support of central government.
From the research and survey, the problems that the Non-Growing Type Cities are facing are the from constant reduction of population, aging of local folks, weak educational or cultural infrastructure, declined industry, low income rate, lack of financial budget, rapid declination of urban area, poor support of central government and others.
In order for the Non-Growing Type Cities to resolve those problems and yet progress to the Growing Type Cities in the future, the following plans are suggested:
Firstly, the improvement for stable residence is required for quality living. Specifically, the improvement of residential environment, education and cultural/historical places in urban area, publicity efforts are needed. In particular, the business cities have to be planned within the Non-Growing Type ones. In addition, high schools and universities have to be established for quality education since the major cause for the reduction of population in the urban area are from the lack of better educational chances for children and other people.
Secondly, the growth in income should be achieved through the development of industries and increase deployment rate. This should be the basic and fundamental factor for the Non-Growing Type Cities to growth. In order for this, higher value-added businesses and their connections or specialized business have to be planned. In addition, the public institutions and innovative city plans which are currently led by the government need to be placed on the Non-Growing Type Cities. They need to attract the business qualified in city in terms of strategy. In order for this, better competitiveness of the area and easement of various laws and regulations for attractive business environmental well as the promotional construction of business cities. The construction of business cities should increase the employment rate and boost the urban economy. Furthermore, the educational facilities to raise personnel with aptitude are required. Since there are many tourist attractions in the Non-Growing Type Cities, the development of tourism are also very important.
Thirdly, various financing is required for the development of urban area. In order for great amount of financing for the development of Non-Growing Type Cities, the private sector's investment as well as governmental one needs to be noted. Various project financing methods should be considered. Providing broad work scope to the local entities through direct participation for example is necessary. The local entities should be recommended to become parties to an agreement with given the concession and guaranteed profitability under taking. In addition, it is necessary to introduce PFI in the construction of infrastructure and public services. If the project features to improve the public welfare such as redevelopment or environmental improvement of residential area with uncertain future profitability, then the introduction of TIF may be taken into consideration.
Fourthly, identity of city and its competitiveness are required through the rehabilitation of urban area. In order for this, many cities worldwide are making their efforts to revitalize the area. Through reinforcing the good points and minimizing the weak ones of city area for improvement of competitiveness is necessary to revive the whole city. Therefore, making lawful regulations to establish a general plan for regeneration of city, organization of TMO, introducing incentives for floor space index to increase the residential population of city and rules by local government have to be considered.
Fifthly, administrative and financial support has to be increased in the Non-Growing Type Cities. The development plan has to be promoted based on the understanding and analyses on the current status that the Non-Growing Type Cities are facing. Meanwhile, the support for the cities has to be planned in a different way in the developing cities. The good example is to be the prior administrative and financial support directly by the central government. In addition, the balanced distribution of personnel for performing the work related to the central government has to be focused and great amount of efforts for easement of rules and regulations has to be planned as well.
Sixthly, close cooperation among the residents, administrative facilities and companies is required through the organization of cooperative committee. The central government should support and control the policies made for the development by the Non-Growing Type Cities. An organization for complete management needs to be created on the regular operational basis to administratively support for the planning, analysis and financing for the development of urban area. In particular, it is very important that the plans made by current governmental administration need to be promoted without hesitation for an absurd demand by local group. Meanwhile, the Non-Growing Type Cities, as the main administrative body, should make and promote plans to efficiently draw the resources, funding, and man powers into the city. In addition, they have to lead the plans to improve the relationships among businesses, schools and governments. First of all, the "organization for complete project administration"is required in order to effectively lead the project in accordance with master plan. In the mean time, the administrative organization should adjust and control the individual performance of each division and promote the project in cooperation with private sector's business and local citizens. Also, education and training of personnel are necessary to perform the multiple and complex project. The employment for government officials should be qualified with a doctoral degree or trained as such to become the member of the organization for complete project administration. Moreover, the improvement of relationship with Growing Type Cities is to be made for the development of economy. In addition, specified duties as per cities are needed for the networking. Networking and structuring for win-win strategy between the Growing and Non-Growing Cities is to be made. In other words, the Growing Type Cities should provide the opportunities for education, employment, culture, and welfare to the Non-Growing Type Cities, whereas, the Non-Growing Type Cities should take part in the industries such as tourism, health, recreation or primary industries for organic farming or providing living area for the retired. Therefore, those two different types of cities can go along and be developed far more through sharing of their activities.
Resultantly, in order for the Non-Growing Type Cities to fulfill their roles as the center of rural living and connection between the cities or to become sub-cities, the construction of urban environment and widened capabilities for development are necessary. In addition, self-restructuring for improved competitiveness and supportive plans by central government is required.