Abstract
This study aims to analyze the diagonosis of the inner city decline and its problems in the city of Seoul. The major findings of this research can be summarized as follows: First, the inner city decline in Seoul is characterized by physical deterioration of building structure, decrease in population, and concentration of the poor and the old. The list of hardest hit areas include Gahoe, Hyehwa, Sindang and Huam Dong's which are residential area dominated by old detached housing and are adjacent to the CBD. The 'Korean inner city decline' would be different from that of Europe and American cities which is characterized by economic decline, physical deterioration, concentration of the urban poor and ethnic minority. It seems similar to that of Tokyo, Osaka and other Japanese large cities. Second, The problems in the declining areas include lack of vitality due to decreasing residents, under-utilization of facilities at nighttime, physical deterioration of buildings due to lack of timely redevelopment, insufficiency of open space attributed to overcrowded old buildings, and deterioration of residential environment due to the concentration of the urban poor who are lack of ability to reinvest. Based on the findings of the research, this study suggests change in the emphasis of urban policy from new development, and physical adjustment to 'The Inner City Regeneration Program' which focuses on improvement of residential environment and vitalization of settlement through improvement of urban fabric and infrastructure in thes areas.