The Role of Urban Think Tank

In Seoul

Miree BYUN

Director of Future Research Center, Senior Research Fellow

Proud to lead Seoul into the future

The Seoul Institute

23 years old,

established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 1992

to upgrade municipal administration through professional research, and to improve the quality of life in Seoul.

1

Mission

• Mapping out pacesetting agendas

• Organizing research projects solving urban problems

• Creating an open research platform with civil society

Research Areas

Urban Society

Civil Economy

Transportation

Safety & Environment

Urban Planning & Design

270 Manpower 70 PhDs

$27Million Annual Budget

Megacity Research Center

Future Research Center

Data & Information Center

4

Research Areas

Urban Society • Urban Management/ Social Welfare/ Healthcare/

Education/ Culture

Civil Economy • Industry/ Employment/ Economy/ Tourism

Transportation • Sustainable Transportation/ Public Transportation/ Travel

Demand Analysis/ Roadway Planning & Maintenance/ Transportation Operation/ Taxi / Logistics

Safety & Environment • Safety/ Climate/ Energy/ Environment/ Air Quality/ Water

Resource Management/ Waste Recycling

5

Research Areas

Urban Planning & Design • Urban & Regional Planning/ Housing/ Urban Renewal/

Urban Design

Future Research Center • Future Planning/ Comparative Study/ Population / Social

Survey / Neighborhood Indicator

Megacity Research Center • Seoul Solution/ Megacity Research/ International

Cooperation

Data & Information Center • Information Service/ Database /Publication

6

The SI & Seoul Metropolitan Government

Role of the SI is quite closely linked to policies of Seoul

Policy Direction of the Mayor

Existing Policies in many departments of Seoul Metropolitan Government(SMG)

Evaluate Policy & Propose New Policies

7

SI SMG

Urban Master Plan 2030 Seoul Plan Management Plan of Metropolitan Area Downtown Development Plan Sangam Digital Media City Plan Hanok Preservation Area Management Plan Systematic Reform of Urban Public Transportation Comprehensive Plan for Cheonggyecheon Restoration Comprehensive Management Plan of Han River

Role of SI : Make Comprehensive Master Plan

2030 Seoul Plan: Spatial Structure of Seoul Cheonggyecheon Restoration Urban Public Transportation Reform

…

Supply Model of Urban Public Housing Energy Management System according to Climate Change Air Quality Management Improvement of Spatial Information Policy Pacesetting Transport Guidelines related to Urban Planning Guideline for Specialization Strategies of Metropolitan Sub-Centers Policy Guideline for Safe Seoul Guidelines for Smart Service Policy of e-Government for Seoul

Role of SI : Policy Review and Evaluation

1995 2012

…

Social economic

Infant daycare

Welfare

Ecology

Air Quality Management Communities Rebuilding Plan

Role of SI : Monitor & Analyze the Social changes

Seoul, 20th Century: Growth & Change of the Last 100 Years Travel Data Survey and Establishment of DB System Urban Competitiveness Evaluation Comparative Analysis on the Urban Competitiveness Evolution …

Publications Seoul INFO

Changes of SI’s role by each development phase

Phase

I

1992 ~

2002 • Set up agendas

• Propose Vision

• Direct policy

• Establish plan

• Policy consulting

Phase

II

2002 ~

2010

• Research in advance

• Case study

• Establish sector plan

• Monitoring

Phase

III

201

0 ~

• Participating citizen

in planning

• Supporter and

Guidance

Comprehensive policy research

institute

Specified by department and big

projects

One of many other think tanks

Experts everywhere, think tanks by every sector

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Restructure Select & Concentrate Participation

Phase I Rebuilding a foundation of Seoul : 1992 ~ 2002

• Check and Maintain Urban Infrastructure

• Rearrange Administration System

• Implement Environment Policy

The SI as a prominent think tank handling comprehensive policy research.

• Comprehensive Research Institute

• Policy agenda selection and suggestion

• Plan Establishment

• Policy Improvement

Role of SI

12

Gimpo

Incheon

Incheon International Airport

Railroad

Railroad(plan)

Subway

Subway(plan)

Main Road

Main Road(Plan)

Munsan

Incheon

Incheon

Siheung

Cheonan Anyang

Ansan

Suwon Daejeon

Bundang

Bundang

Seongnam

Gwangju

Wonju

Guri

Namyangju

ChunCheon

Uijeongbu Wonsan

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Major Policy

Phase II Selection and Concentration : 2002 ~ 2010

• Business mind in urban administration

• Large-scale Urban Development Project

• Strengthen global competitiveness

• Establishing 2020 Masterplan of Seoul

• Comprehensive Plan for Restoration Cheongye-Cheon

• Preliminary research of Newtown Projects

• Systematic Reform of public transportation system

The SI became

• establishing more specific and feasible plans than phase I

• specified to deal with departments and projects of SMG

rather than the whole.

Major Policy

Role of SI

13

Phase III Citizen Participation : 2010 ~ present

• Citizen participation for Policy Decision Porcess

• Site-focused policies

• Participatory Governance

• 2030 Seoul Plan

• Community Rebuilding Plan

• Welfare Standard with 1,000 citizen panels

14

Major Policy

Role of SI

The SI as a trustworthy coordinator and moderator for citizens and civil society

▶Masterplan for Digital City(DMC)

• A transport hub for the Incheon airport railway and subway line 6. • Creation of digital media industrial district • Provision of digital media industry supporting services and facilities

Before

After

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▶Cheonggyecheon Restoration Plan

• Restoration of green space along the center of the city

Before After

160 million visitors since 2005

14

▶Reform of Bus Management System

• Expansion of public transportation network • Reorganization of bus routes(about 7,500 buses over 650 routes) • Exclusive median bus lane system • Integrated transfer fare system

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000

5,500

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Subway

Bus

4055

4331 4428

4487 4566

4544 4533 4532 4577

4730 4835

4984 5114

4293 4192 4180

4006 3992

4655 4583 4602

4605 4595 4647 4539 4565

14% ↑

Nu

mb

er

of

Pa

ss

en

gers

(t

ho

usa

nd

pe

op

le/d

ay)

16

▶Masterplan for Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park

• To make a global center for commercialization of creative ideas and associated marketing in downtown area

• Size : 85,368m2 (In the past, baseball & soccer stadium)

• Including Convention Halls, Design Exhibition Hall, Design Information Center, etc.

15

The SI and its future role

Researches policy that can apply to citizens’ real lives

Suggests practical alternatives

Moderates many other think tanks in Seoul

Seoulution (Seoul + Solution)

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as Solution Provider for Mega Cities around the World!

Sharing • ODA • Education • Consulting • Exchange

Citizens

Metro

Water Supply & Swage

Waste Management

Sanitation

Environment Restoration

Smart Card

Urban Regeneration

Public Housing

E-Government

Urban Solution

• Policy • infrastructure • Urban Development

• Capacity Building

Other Policies

“Inclusive and Sustainable

Growth”

Mega Cities

Similar Issues &

Opportunities

Seoul’s Potential

Capacities

Best Practices & Technology

People & Resources

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The Seoul Institute

Thank you