[Opinion] The Treasure of the Green New Deal, Urban Industrial Areas

There is widespread prediction that even if the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) ends, it will be difficult to return to the previous state. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased concerns about economic recession and job losses. Policy support to expand and maintain jobs, especially urban jobs, is becoming increasingly important.

As a post-COVID measure, following the 'Korean New Deal,' the 'Green New Deal' was announced. The Green New Deal refers to a plan that simultaneously promotes an environmentally friendly transformation of the economic structure and revitalizes investment through expanded public investment or incentives for private investment. It also means a policy that responds to climate change, such as reducing greenhouse gases, while creating new jobs. Although it is still at the proposal stage and opinions on the Green New Deal vary, the author understands it as follows: energy transition policies that expand the use of renewable energy, energy reduction policies that reduce energy use and improve efficiency, welfare policies that strengthen the welfare level of vulnerable groups, and policies that promote job creation during this transition process, namely ▲energy transition ▲energy reduction ▲support for vulnerable groups ▲job policies.

With fierce competition from latecomer countries such as China and India and rising domestic labor costs, the manufacturing base that has supported the South Korean economy, including the Southeast manufacturing belt and industries such as machinery, shipbuilding, and automobiles, is shaking. As manufacturing growth stagnates and the business structure of existing companies weakens, the working environment deteriorates. Since the treatment of workers does not improve, satisfaction decreases and young people avoid these jobs. Conflicts with surrounding residential areas and urban environments worsen due to noise and vibration. In some metropolitan areas such as Seoul and Busan, apartment complexes are being built through housing redevelopment projects in industrial areas. Although these appear cleaner than factories, the industry and, above all, urban jobs disappear.

In some metropolitan areas, knowledge industry centers, formerly called apartment-type factories, are being established, improving the environment. There is an urgent need to expand this to vulnerable areas outside the metropolitan area and to broaden it into a more comprehensive urban industrial area revitalization support policy. Nationwide industrial areas excluding industrial complexes cover 286㎢, accounting for 0.27% of the national land area. Multifaceted support is being provided for industrial complexes on the outskirts. Various policies such as industrial complex remodeling, industrial complex regeneration, and structural advancement projects exist. In contrast, industrial areas remain at the level of zoning management and are practically neglected, making it difficult even to identify how many workers are employed in which industries.

However, urban industrial areas have better accessibility to downtown compared to industrial complexes and excellent accessibility for innovative personnel essential for smartization. They allow proximity between residence and workplace and convenient use of surrounding amenities, so policy support is expected to be effective. There is a need for comprehensive support policies such as projects to demolish old factories and supply knowledge industry centers, research and development support facilities, and startup support centers; projects to improve some infrastructure such as roads, parking lots, dormitories, and employee support facilities; or projects supporting remodeling of individual factories, along with fund support and tax reductions to promote these projects. Job creation in existing industrial cities suffering from manufacturing decline is especially anticipated. Support for transition to eco-friendly and digital industries can also create green jobs and digital jobs. Renovating old industrial areas can reduce conflicts with surrounding residential areas and create a hygienic 'green urban environment.' Strengthening manufacturing competitiveness and improving the urban environment will enhance the competitiveness of the city and quality of life, also contributing to balanced regional development outside the metropolitan area. To realize this, prompt legislation of the 'Special Act on the Management and Revitalization of Urban Industrial Areas (tentative name)' is urgently needed. Urban industrial area redevelopment projects can become a useful means to create jobs, especially digital jobs, in declining non-metropolitan areas and promote the fostering of eco-friendly industries, thereby implementing the Green New Deal.

Kim Hyun-su (Professor at Dankook University · President of the Korean Society of Land and Urban Planning)

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.