In spite of the various legal constraint to the inner cith manufacturing of Seoul since 1970s, small, labor intensive and highly competitive industry clusters significantly in the core of Metropolitan Seoul. This paper attempts to clarify the structur...
In spite of the various legal constraint to the inner cith manufacturing of Seoul since 1970s, small, labor intensive and highly competitive industry clusters significantly in the core of Metropolitan Seoul. This paper attempts to clarify the structure of industrial space in Jung-gu, the core of Seoul through an analysing the Register of Establishmen and questionaire results. Especially for the synthetical understanding of industrial location in the core area, special attention is given to the behavior and dynamics of firms in terms of microscopic level.
It is clear that the phenomenon of industrial clustering to Jung-gu areas in caused by the external economies supplied from the core area, and that the behaviors of firms are mainly related to the specific locational structure of this area.
The major results of this study are summarized as follows :
(1) Small firms clustering behind the main street of Jung-gu largely lease the old and cheap premises in infracting the zoning system, and they are subcontractors of other firms.
(2) In spite of industrial relocation policy in Seoul, it is certain that the inner city provides a favorable location for such industries as printing, clothing and engineering.
Still more there have been continuous births by changing ownerships and it's poru\ducts. The location preferences of these firms are linkages to other firms and accessibility to the market.
(3) The rates of birth and death flucturate widely with the change of external conditions, and the average viability of firms is estimated about 8 years.
(4) Though most firms confront with such problems as the lack of space for expansion due to high land prices and traffic congestion at core area, there have been few migrations to the outward. And their migrating destinations are limited to the core or inner city area.
(5) In accomodating services and adopting new technology, small firms depend on personal and informal contacts, and this convenience of service acts an attactive factor to new entry. But there exists some managerial problems such as higher wage pressure, difficulties in sales and shortage of funds.
This thesis is an intensive approach to a restricted industrial space in Seoul, and the results are gained without regard to neighbering inner area and the other urban functions.
Therefore, further surveys by a larger sample and data will be able to explain the whole structure of the inner city location.