FOCUS ON COMPARISONS OF URBANIZATION PROCESSES AND PROBLEMS BETWEEN SOUTH KOREA AND CHINA*

Abstract

This research compared with problems that generated during urbanization process in Korea and China. Additionally, the current study analyzed solutions for issues such as public policies and reform plans. In 2014, the urbanization levels (% of total) were 91.7% in South Korea, whereas the rate in China was 54.3% that is nearly half of urbanization levels in Korea. It showed that China in a transition stage of urbanization. To look at the issues during urbanization process in Korea and China, it showed the problems of environment, suburbs, lands, transportations, rushed developments and etc. in Korea. Meanwhile China showed the issues of social tensions, suburbs, city environment, initial city developments leading to administrative problems, migrant workers and etc. This study extracted both countries’ similarities and differences to benchmark reform plans.