A Comparative Study on The Characteristics and Dynamic Changes of Urban Spatial Structure among Historic Planned Cities in Korea and Japan - The Case of Suwon City and Hikone City -

The purpose of this study is to identify the potential and challenges of the historic planned cities in Korea and Japan by comparison of the characteristics and changes of their urban spatial structures. The similarities and difference among cities are investigated and the inter-temporal changes and the reasons of them are analyzed for the purpose. In particular, transportation network, urban land use, industrial structure, population structure, and urban policies of the case study areas, Suwon City and Hikone City, are compared in order to find important implications. The results provide the evidences that each city has the unique urban spatial structure though some similarities in social, economic, and cultural backgrounds and locational characteristics are found. There are common factors in emerging the urban area and changes of the two cities: those are political and economic backgrounds and locational conditions. In addition, the two cities have experienced radical changes of street network and land use during the modernization era. Above all, they have common problem, deterioration of the old C.B.D. by expansion of urbanized area according to the growth. Currently, the two cities discover the cultural and economical value of the historic planned city and try to revitalize the old C.B.D. by various approaches. The strategies by them can make a new positive changes in the two cities. In conclusion, it is necessary for the historic planned cities to develop and execute a planning technique responding a new cultural needs of the old C.B.D. and changes of new urban life.