Flexible Zoning and Mixed Use in Seoul, Korea
2020
Zoning has long been criticized for its negative effects and has been taken for granted that zoning works as a
hurdle to urban diversity. Responses in the US have emphasized more fine-grained zoning approaches that plan mixed
use. This paper introduces and evaluates Seoul’s zoning system as a possible alternative. While US zoning regulations
have relied on distinguishing ever larger numbers of land use zoning categories, Seoul has opted to integrate new land
uses into existing classifications, allowing for greater flexibility of use in each zone. Using municipal building records to
evaluate land use in three mid-density residential districts, this paper demonstrates that Seoul’s flexible zoning is capable
of producing diverse mixed use neighborhoods. It then highlights the potential downside of this approach, showing that
flexibility allows for the commercialization and sectoral gentrification of residential districts. It concludes by suggesting
that a combination of flexible zones and more fine-grained plans would capture the advantages of both US and Korean
planning.
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