Analysis of Urban Sprawl Types and Their Characteristics through Measuring Urban Sprawl in South Korea

Abstract

Urban sprawl generally refers to a low-density and unplanned development expanding outward from an urban center. Urban sprawl has been an urban issue due to its negative impacts on environment and economy. Many Korean cities also have a tendency towards urban sprawl. The purpose of this study is to measure urban sprawl in city-regions and analyze their type and characteristics associated with the sprawl. Local Labor-Market Areas(LLMAs) in Korea are chosen for the spatial unit of analysis. The extent to urban sprawl of the LLMAs is measured using various indicators with three categories: population and employment, land use, and urban structure. The results show that the LLMAs are classified into 4 types through cluster analysis, and in particular, Type 3 and 4 have tendencies of urban sprawl. The two types mostly consist of small and medium sized cities, but their tendency and characteristics are different. The results imply that local governments in Korea should implement different growth management policies considering the type of urban sprawl in each area and make multi-jurisdictional efforts.