Busan Institute of Urban Affairs: "Urgent Need to Introduce New:Village Project for Old Downtown Regeneration"

The Busan Institute of Urban Affairs has proposed the introduction of the 'New:Village Project' in the old downtown area as an alternative for the practical renovation of aging low-rise residential neighborhoods and the improvement of living conditions.

The institute strongly recommended the establishment of a 'Busan Downtown Master Plan' (tentative name) as a prerequisite for this initiative.

According to the recently published BDI Policy Focus, the Busan Institute of Urban Affairs (President Shin Hyunseok) stated, "Busan's old downtown is densely populated with aging houses on high ground and steep slopes, making full-scale redevelopment structurally difficult." The institute added, "With the increasing number of vacant homes and a lack of infrastructure accelerating the deterioration of the residential environment, the New:Village Project currently being promoted by the government could serve as an appropriate solution."

The New:Village Project is a renovation approach that comprehensively improves living infrastructure, including the maintenance of aging low-rise houses, pedestrian environments, local streets, and basic facilities. In December 2024, the government selected 32 pilot areas nationwide, with three locations in Busan?Busanjingu, Yeonje-gu, and Sasang-gu?participating in the project.

According to the Busan Institute of Urban Affairs' field analysis, old houses are concentrated in the original downtown districts such as Jung-gu, Seo-gu, and Dong-gu. In particular, more than half of all households in Jung-gu reside in aging low-rise houses. The report emphasized the need for a comprehensive vision that reflects these structural conditions and local characteristics, suggesting that systematic management and strategic regeneration could be achieved through the 'Busan Downtown Master Plan.'

The Policy Focus identified key tasks applicable to the introduction of the New:Village Project: substantial improvement of residential environments through pedestrian environment upgrades and local street maintenance; realization of a 15-minute city through the integrated promotion of multi-ministerial projects; and the creation of urban spaces with a distinctive identity that reflect the historical significance of Busan as the wartime provisional capital.

Je Hyunjung, a research fellow at the Busan Institute of Urban Affairs, stated, "Busan's old downtown faces the dual challenges of historical legacy from its time as the wartime provisional capital and poor infrastructure." She emphasized, "The New:Village Project is the most suitable regeneration strategy for these unique local conditions, and the establishment of a master plan encompassing the entire downtown, rather than just individual zones, is more urgent than ever."

Cover of BDI Policy Focus.

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