서울연구원로고

• Topic Climate Change/ Environment
• AuthorMinkyung Kim, Won-ju, Kim, Kiyoung Lee

• 조회수9
• 등록일2025-05-30

The migratory bird sanctuary in Seoul was designated in 2006, encompassing the lower sections of Jungnangcheon and Cheonggyecheon under Article 17 of the Seoul Wildlife Protection and Management Ordinance. In 2007, Anyangcheon was added as a sanctuary. Initially, the sanctuary faced challenges due to the absence of clear legal regulations on restricted activities, and management responsibilities were divided among various institutions, making systematic oversight difficult. Despite these issues, the sanctuary has evolved into a vital habitat for migratory and seasonal birds, attracting numerous species year-round and serving as a popular space for urban residents. Each winter, the sanctuary supports between 43 to 68 species, with annual counts exceeding 5,000 individuals. Species composition and population numbers fluctuate based on various factors, including environmental conditions, nearby construction, and human disturbance. Since 2017, total population numbers have stabilized, and species diversity has been increasing since 2020. Surveys conducted between 2023 and 2024 in Jungnangcheon, Cheonggyecheon, and Anyangcheon reveal high species diversity and stable or increasing population numbers. Dominant species include the Eurasian coot (30.89%) and Mandarin duck (13.84%) in Jungnangcheon, while the sparrow (24.4%) and rock pigeon (19.1%) are prevalent in Cheonggyecheon. Anyangcheon features notable species such as the long-tailed tit (16.8%) and spot-billed duck (12.9%), along with legally protected species like the Mandarin duck and various geese. Urban disturbances, including construction and increased recreational spaces, continue to threaten the sanctuary ecosystem. Projects aimed at enhancing citizen amenities often impact wildlife habitats by reducing green space, altering plant ecosystems, and introducing noise and physical disruptions. These changes particularly affect buffer zones that help birds maintain safe distances from human activities. Efforts to enhance the habitat include expanding wetland, mudflat, and island areas within the sanctuary. By fostering diverse aquatic and terrestrial environments, these areas can provide essential spaces for feeding, resting, and breeding, especially in central urban locations where disturbances are common. Vegetation should feature multi-layered structures with trees, shrubs, and grasses to offer cover, promote a balanced ecosystem, and provide seasonal food sources for birds. To ensure effective conservation, buffer zones should be established to limit construction and human activity near the sanctuary. Maintaining essential distances of over 50 meters from bird habitats would enable birds to nest and thrive undisturbed. Regular monitoring, habitat restoration, predator control, and the removal of invasive plants are also crucial for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Public awareness and community involvement in conservation efforts are vital. Engaging local residents through birdwatching and educational programs can enhance ecological understanding and support the sanctuary’s goals. Coordinating management efforts across agencies and establishing clear regulatory guidelines will further strengthen the sanctuary’s capacity to sustainably support urban wildlife.

• Topic Climate Change/ Environment
• AuthorSookyung Jeong, Hyunseok Moon, Jongrak Baek

• 조회수7
• 등록일2025-05-30

In November 2023, Seoul announced the "Comprehensive Plan to Boost Geothermal Energy Deployment," which aims to shift its renewable energy policy to focus on geothermal energy. This transition is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience against climate change. The plan outlines mandates and milestones for expanding geothermal energy in public projects, as well as incentives for private sector involvement, technical support, and professional consulting. This study offers detailed policy recommendations to ensure the effective implementation of the plan. Notable geothermal policies in Europe include Germany’s Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO), the UK’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), and France's Heat Fund. In March 2022, the UK transitioned from the RHI to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme(BUS) to directly support low-carbon heating systems. This change aligns with the International Energy Agency(IEA)'s recommendation to phase out gas and oil boilers by 2025, as major European countries ban new gas boiler installations. These developments are expected to accelerate the adoption of geothermal systems, particularly those using heat pumps. In South Korea, the focus has primarily been on electricity-based renewables, such as solar power, resulting in limited support for thermal renewables. Efforts to establish a Renewable Heat Obligation from 2013 to 2016 were unsuccessful, which hindered geothermal deployment and technical research. Moreover, funding for geothermal research and development has declined since the 2017 Pohang earthquake. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are utilized in various facilities, including airports, universities, public buildings, and residential complexes, contributing to energy independence and lower greenhouse gas emissions. In the U.S., subsidies can cover up to 60% of project costs, fostering private sector participation. According to the IEA, economic viability can be achieved within 10 to 12 years with government support.  To examine the factors hindering private sector adoption of geothermal heating and cooling systems and to develop a prioritized improvement plan, we conducted an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis among professionals in the geothermal industry. The results indicate that the following measures should be prioritized for support: (1) revising energy independence conversion coefficients, (2) implementing installation cost support programs, (3) supporting retrofit projects to improve efficiency in existing buildings, (4) providing consulting support at all stages from planning to operation, (5) promoting pilot and demonstration projects, (6) mandating renewable heat installations, and (7) introducing operational cost support systems.  

• Topic Climate Change/ Environment
• AuthorSookyung Jeong, Hyunseok Moon, Mook Han Kim, Jongrak Baek

• 조회수11
• 등록일2025-05-30

As global awareness of the climate crisis increases, the demand for sustainable technologies and solutions has surged, leading to a rise in venture capital investment in innovative climate tech startups. However, private-sector funding often prioritizes short-term profitability, which leaves high-impact yet high-risk technologies underfunded. This study highlights the need for clear policy directions and public-private collaboration to support the sustainable growth of the climate tech industry. Despite the Korean government’s launch of the “Climate Tech Industry Growth Strategy” in 2023, which includes plans to invest KRW 145 trillion by 2030 and support the creation of 10 unicorn companies, its implementation has faced criticism for a lack of execution. In response, Seoul City has initiated its own efforts, such as establishing a climate tech team and launching various programs to support startups and green technology innovation. However, these policies require further enhancement to effectively address local challenges and leverage Seoul’s unique strengths. Globally, countries like the United States and China lead in climate tech, accounting for 48 out of 58 unicorn companies. In contrast, Korea lacks such firms, facing technological, financial, and regulatory hurdles. This study identifies promising climate tech sectors for Seoul, such as cleantech, and proposes a strategic roadmap to prioritize impactful technologies through a structured evaluation process. The proposed “Seoul Climate Tech Growth Strategy” recommends establishing a Climate Tech Support Center, fostering startup ecosystems, and reforming regulations. The plan includes initiatives like creating a climate tech fund, enhancing technology demonstration projects, and expanding youth training programs. These efforts aim to position Seoul as a leading sustainable city, effectively addressing climate challenges while stimulating economic growth and raising public awareness.

• Topic Safety/ Infrastructure
• AuthorDae-Geun Park, Beom-Jun Chon, Min-Choel Park, Gyeong-Hoon Ma

• 조회수16
• 등록일2025-05-27

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is managing and expanding the use of permeable block pavement on roads by revising relevant ordinances and standards. As a result, the installation rate (area ratio) of permeable blocks in Seoul increased approximately five times from 2.2% in 2014 to 11.0% in 2021. At the same time, awareness of related issues has been rising, with reports of low-quality permeable blocks being supplied that differ from their test certificates, as well as concerns over the reliability of the test certificates themselves. Despite ongoing concerns, the current methods for assessing the permeability performance of permeable blocks installed on-site face practical limitations in terms of time, space, and cost. Additionally, these methods often lack accuracy, leading road management departments to avoid their use. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a method that allows for quick and easy evaluation of the permeability performance of permeable blocks directly in the field. This study developed the K-SWIFT method, a simplified on-site permeability testing method, as an alternative to the existing ASTM C 1701 standard. Field evaluations of permeability performance were conducted at 36 locations. To validate the field applicability of the K-SWIFT method, the field test results of the permeable blocks were compared and analyzed against the actual values obtained from laboratory tests. The K-SWIFT method involves releasing 3 liters of water from a height of 60mm through a 20mm diameter outlet, allowing the water to flow freely onto the surface of the permeable block pavement. The permeability coefficient is then evaluated on-site based on the wetted area of the pavement. To assess the permeability coefficient using the wetted area, it is essential to establish a correlation with the actual permeability coefficient values. In this study, the blocks used in the field tests were extracted, and the actual permeability coefficient values were determined through constant head permeability tests following the KS F 4419 standard. Furthermore, a correlation analysis was conducted by comparing the wetted area measured using the K-SWIFT method, yielding a high correlation coefficient(R² = 0.87). Therefore, it was concluded that the K-SWIFT method can reliably estimate the actual permeability performance on-site. Meanwhile, when intuitive evaluation of permeability performance is needed due to time and space constraints on-site, the K-SWIFT method has been found capable of estimating the permeability coefficient using only the length of the wetted major axis, rather than the entire wetted area. A comparison of the correlation between the wetted major axis length and the constant head permeability coefficient (KS F 4419) yielded a high R² value of 0.87. For slopes within the typical range of pedestrian pavements (approximately 3% or less), a wetted major axis length of less than 1.5m indicates good permeability performance. Conversely, if the length exceeds 2.0m, the permeability performance can be considered poor. For lengths between 1.5m and 2.0m, it was determined that the blocks should be extracted and evaluated through laboratory constant head permeability tests in accordance with KS F 4419. Based on the findings of this study, a field permeability performance evaluation method using the K-SWIFT approach is proposed. Additionally, revisions to the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s “Design, Construction, and Maintenance Standards for Permeable Block Pavements (ver. 2.0)” were derived.

• Topic Social Affairs/ Welfare , Economy/ Administrative·Financial Affairs
• AuthorInchul Mun, Kyungwon Kim, Meekyong Song, Yeohjin KIM, Juyeon Maeng

• 조회수12
• 등록일2025-05-27

The world is currently facing a variety of urban challenges due to rapid economic growth and urbanization, which are expected to intensify further. In particular, the rapid urbanization of developing and underdeveloped countries causes severe hardships for citizens due to inadequate infrastructure, housing shortages, water scarcity, air and waste pollution, traffic congestion, and increased crime. Recognizing these issues as global community challenges, many developed countries and cities are engaging in various international cooperation efforts, such as development cooperation projects(ODA) and public diplomacy. Seoul is one of the few cities in the world that has overcome urban challenges during its rapid post-war development and urbanization, gaining extensive experience and knowledge in the process. As such, Seoul is uniquely equipped to provide practical solutions to urbanization challenges in developing and underdeveloped countries. By promoting ODA projects, Seoul can enhance its international reputation as a responsible global city, strengthen its global influence, and increase its competitiveness on the world stage. To achieve this, Seoul needs to actively pursue ODA projects that empower urban (local) governments to address urban challenges independently. This involves identifying cooperation areas that overseas cities require and exploring various practical solutions. Particularly, Seoul must establish selection criteria and grouping mechanisms for partner cities to ensure systematic implementation of ODA projects. For systematic ODA promotion, many governments and developed countries establish both quantitative and qualitative selection criteria for their cooperation targets. However, while some countries disclose general principles for selection, few provide detailed criteria for identifying priority countries, often to avoid international controversies or conflicts. Most countries, including Korea, combine quantitative indicators and qualitative elements to select cooperation targets(priority partner countries). No country relies solely on quantitative indicators; instead, they consider factors such as the feasibility and potential success of cooperation, alignment with international standards, national strategies, and foreign relations. Accordingly, Seoul should also develop selection criteria for partner cities, considering factors such as the necessity and feasibility of cooperation, expected outcomes, diplomatic relations, policy directions, visions, and international standards. Initially, Seoul could identify and group cities based on existing relationships, such as friendly sister cities or prior cooperation experience. These cities should also align with international standards, such as being capital or secondary cities in Korea's priority ODA partner countries or being included in the OECD DAC list of aid recipient countries. The grouped cities can then be prioritized based on cooperation effectiveness, necessity, and strategic alignment. Quantitative criteria should include internationally recognized data such as the Human Development Index(HDI), Democracy Index, GDP per capita, GNI per capita, and urbanization rates. Qualitative criteria could include the feasibility and willingness of the target city to implement projects, sustainability of initiatives, and alignment with Seoul's global "Companion for the Vulnerable" policy. Unlike the central government, Seoul faces budgetary and manpower constraints, requiring a focused approach to ODA to achieve tangible results. To this end, Seoul needs to identify areas and projects desired by overseas cities and concentrate efforts accordingly. Developing modularized documentation of Seoul's successful policies, accessible for partner cities and institutions, would greatly facilitate this effort. Seoul’s "Policy Archive," which currently contains 375 entries, serves as a foundation. However, despite the existence of numerous successful policies and projects since the start of modularization efforts in 2014, there has been limited expansion into new fields and projects. Seoul must reflect on its evolving policies, administrative systems, and changing urban environments to create new policy modules tailored for international cities and institutions. The content of Seoul’s policy modularization and its ODA strategies for grouped cities should be designed based on the developmental needs of the target cities and the international community. Unlike the existing one-size-fits-all format, the modularization should consider the nature of policies and projects and classify them into six types for practical use by overseas cities: Module Paper, Overview Paper, Sector Paper, Issue Paper, Case Manuscript, Advice Paper. Seoul's ODA strategy for grouped cities should focus on the development areas with the highest demand, organizing smaller groups accordingly. Analyzing 100 partner cities reveals that urban challenges such as transportation, infrastructure, environment, and housing are particularly severe. Hence, the strategy should prioritize the following Subgroup 1-1 Focus on transportation and infrastructure. Subgroup 1-2 Address environmental and transportation issues. Subgroup 2-1 Prioritize environmental challenges. Subgroup 2-2 Focus on transportation and environmental issues. Subgroup 3-1 Address transportation, infrastructure, and environmental issues. Subgroup 3-2 Focus on transportation, infrastructure, and housing development.

• Topic Climate Change/ Environment
• AuthorKim Minkyung, Lee Ki Yong

• 조회수18
• 등록일2025-05-26

Since its initial designation as an Urban Natural Park in 1971, Umeon-mountain has been recognized as a Natural Ecological Park in 2004 and a Wildlife Protected Area in 2007, specifically for the conservation of the toad habitat. However, following a significant landslide in 2011, extensive flood control construction altered the habitat conditions, and toads have not been observed since 2008. In response, a habitat restoration project was initiated in 2017 to improve the environment for toad populations. In the 2024 seasonal survey, 284 plant species across 85 families were recorded, including the endangered Cicuta virosa near the reservoir, underscoring the need for habitat protection. The expansion of ornamental plantings since 2018 has resulted in a decline of native oak woodlands, impacting local fauna. The proliferation of invasive species, such as American pokeweed and ragweed, has disrupted ecological health, indicating an urgent need for invasive species management. The endangered narrow-mouthed toad has shown stable population levels since 2019, and Seoul-protected species, including tree frogs and bullfrogs, inhabit the reservoir and wetlands, enhancing the area’s conservation value. While toads were last observed laying eggs in 2005, subsequent surveys, including eDNA analysis, have not detected their presence. This highlights the need for targeted ecological improvements for both reservoir and wetland habitats to support these species. Bird surveys identified 22 families, 31 species, and up to 199 individual birds, including protected species such as the Northern boobook and woodpeckers. Despite the reservoir’s presence, waterbird diversity remains low, with a lack of prey insects impacting predatory species, indicating further habitat enhancement is needed. Despite these challenges, the habitat remains significant for indigenous species, like the Amur goby, underscoring its potential to evolve into a robust habitat through additional conservation efforts. While Umeonsan plays a critical role as a refuge for diverse wildlife, several environmental and management factors pose challenges to ecological integrity. The expansion of trails and viewing decks, coupled with water extraction and wetland fragmentation, has negatively impacted amphibian and reptile habitats, disrupting critical species such as the toad. High visitor usage and unsupervised collecting during breeding seasons also present direct threats to species survival. To protect habitats for the toad, narrow-mouthed toad, and Cowbane, various conservation measures, such as habitat restoration, water quality and quantity management, and invasive species control, are essential. Native vegetation restoration is necessary to maintain ecological balance, alongside measures to safeguard water resources and sediment control. A comprehensive management framework, including water environment, vegetation, fauna, and facility maintenance, should be implemented. Regular ecological monitoring will assess conservation effectiveness, with adjustments to management plans as required. Educational programs should raise public awareness of the area’s ecological importance and engage visitors effectively in conservation. Furthermore, it is recommended to expand the designated protection areas beyond current breeding sites to include aquatic ecosystems, encompassing the broader habitats of toads and Rana huanrensis. Expanding small-scale biological habitats and buffer zones along 30-50m of the water system, with protection from upper catchments and surrounding forests, is also advisable to enhance amphibian conservation in Umeonsan.

• Topic Safety/ Infrastructure
• AuthorSun-Kwon Yoon, Sung Hhwan Hwang, Min Seok Kim, Hyeonseok Choi

• 조회수40
• 등록일2025-05-23

Recent climate change and unusual weather patterns have led to an increasing trend in the intensity and frequency of localised heavy rainfall, with significant regional variations in rainfall occurrences across Seoul, Korea. Continuous urban development and city center densification have persistently increased the impervious surface area of urban drainage basins, shortening flood arrival times, raising peak runoff volumes and sharply altering the water cycle in urban areas. Regional causes of flooding in urban areas are mainly attributed to flooding in low-lying areas and insufficient drainage capacity of sewage pipes. Flooding from internal water occurs when concentrated inflow of rainfall exceeds the design capacity of drainage facilities, leading to road surface water pooling in low-lying areas. This is compounded by inadequate pipe capacity or flow, improper pipe gradients, insufficient pump capacity and poor drainage due to sediment buildup and deposition. Therefore, rational and economical design and construction of stormwater drainage facilities that can enhance the capacity for stormwater exclusion in urban areas are crucial. As urbanised areas in many countries have become increasingly exposed to flood risks in recent years, the establishment of appropriate stormwater management plans to address the worsening issue of urban stormwater runoff has become essential. One key feature in controlling drainage capacity and rainfall runoff in urban stormwater systems is the efficiency of stormwater inlets. Capture efficiencies of these inlets are determined by various geometric conditions, including road surface runoff flow, road gradient and inlet design. Empirical formulas for estimating capture efficiency under different inlet shapes and installation conditions have been developed. However, current domestic design and installation spacing standards for stormwater inlet entrances are based on outdated guidelines, necessitating the expansion of design standards that can reflect increased design frequencies. Thus, there is a need to calculate capture flow rates for various inlet sizes considering road conditions (lane, longitudinal and cross slopes) and design frequency variations. There is also a needed to improve design standards. In addition, it is essential to analyse design standards of drainage facilities and stormwater sewer maintenance technologies in urban areas both domestically and internationally to draw implications for policy improvements in stormwater inlet installation and to devise structural and maintenance enhancements that can secure drainage functionality. This study first analysed the current state of stormwater inlet installations in Seoul and identified maintenance issues to establish strategies for securing stormwater drainage functionality. Second, domestic and international cases of stormwater inlet installations were reviewed and standards were designed to propose installation and design guidelines for Seoul’s stormwater inlets. Finally, a hydraulic model experiment was conducted to analyse capture efficiency for different stormwater inlet cover types and a stormwater inlet maintenance plan involving citizen participation was proposed. Observing maintenance practices in advanced countries such as the United States, active involvement by civic groups was notably impactful. Developing a systematic program that encourages civic participation would be crucial. Various incentives for voluntary citizen involvement are also needed, such as offering modest rewards for those participating in cleaning activities or providing educational resources and programs to raise awareness of the importance of stormwater inlets and the necessity of maintenance activities, thus encouraging natural public engagement. This study’s findings can be applied to the design and construction of sewer improvement projects and stormwater inflow facility expansion projects, facilitating the installation of stormwater inlets. Its findings might also be incorporated into Seoul's sewer management manuals (by the Water Regeneration Department), related guidelines and sewer design standards (by the Ministry of Environment). They could also be utilised to verify facility standards for stormwater inlet installation and maintenance and for promoting amendments to current standards.

• Topic Economy/ Administrative·Financial Affairs
• AuthorMook Han Kim, Jae Uk Joo, Chang Young Hong, Yun Hee Jang

• 조회수49
• 등록일2025-05-20

Unicorn is a privately held startup with an enterprise value of $1 billion or more. The number of unicorn companies has increased dramatically since the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the growth of the global startup ecosystem. In recent years, unicorn companies have been recognized not only as a symbol of startup success, but also as a driver of economic growth that ensures innovation and growth, and an indicator of the maturity of the startup ecosystem. As a result, governments have begun to pay attention to policies that foster or support unicorn companies, and there has been discussion on the need to develop customized policies to support the success and growth of unicorn companies.  In Korea, there has been a growing interest in the growth of unicorn companies, and as of 2023, there were 14 unicorn companies. While the number of new unicorns has been declining recently due to high interest rates and the economic downturn, Seoul was recently ranked 9th in the global startup ecosystem, and most of the country's unicorns are concentrated in Seoul. Contrary to popular belief, unicorn companies are “large-scale companies” that have grown significantly in terms of investment, capital, employees, and business history than typical startups, and their growth to unicorn status has been driven by attracting multiple rounds of investment, and in many cases, large-scale overseas investment has played a major role. Policies to foster unicorns are being deployed across the globe with a variety of strategies, with innovation, investment, and network expansion cited as key drivers of SME scale-up. According to an OECD study, financial and non-financial support, platforms, and regulatory improvements are needed to facilitate scale-up.  Despite differences between countries, unicorn and scale-up policies in major countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan have a common policy of providing large-scale investment after “selecting promising candidates,” and programs to arrange global networking. Increasingly, unicorn/scale-up policies are evolving to strategically support a “global/platform-oriented tech sector” with high growth potential, as evidenced by recent EU policies. In analyzing the current situation and policy needs of the next generation of unicorns, we found that, despite being mostly baby unicorns, the surveyed companies are more matured/growing scale-ups than typical startups. Most of them have grown mainly in the domestic B2B market through technology-based investment, and a small percentage of them are planning to enter overseas markets in the future. In terms of policy demands, R&D/technology and investment were viewed as the main areas for growth and policy support, and there was also interest in overseas markets. Building a pipeline that connects the local startup ecosystem to the global market is key to the city's unicorn acceleration strategy, and it is necessary to devise a strategy to support unicorn acceleration based on the current startup ecosystem and support policies. This includes securing and expanding channels with global networks, revitalizing local startup ecosystems, securing consistency in startup and scale-up policies, and establishing a role division and cooperation structure that utilizes the strengths and weaknesses of the public and private sectors. To this end, it is necessary to secure a global network to access markets, including strengthening support for global market entry and expanding the interface between global and local VCs; harmonize urban economic growth policies with unicorn and scale-up policies; utilize the Seoul Investment Fund as a “certified pre-investment”; and prepare detailed strategies to strengthen the local startup ecosystem as a source of innovation, including continuing to support the revitalization of the startup ecosystem using public support systems.  

• Topic Economy/ Administrative·Financial Affairs
• AuthorMook Han Kim, Da-Young Yang, Ji-Hye Han, Bokyung Lee

• 조회수45
• 등록일2025-05-20

In 2022, global foreign direct investment (FDI) fell 12% year-on-year to $1.3 trillion. The decline was the result of a challenging investment climate due to the Russia-Ukraine war, economic slowdowns, and debt burdens. FDI inflows to advanced economies fell by 37%, while FDI inflows to emerging economies reached a record high, and greenfield investment grew in global value chain-intensive industries, while investment in digital industries slowed. Emerging economies are introducing more favorable policies for investment, while developed economies are tightening investment screening and national security regulations.  Seoul's FDI outlook for 2023 is optimistic, but there are still uncertainties. While FDI in Korea as a whole reached a record high of $30.5 billion, Seoul saw a significant decline in FDI in services. In 2022, FDI in Seoul fell to $10.8 billion, a 40% year-on-year decline, which is related to the challenging global investment environment. 90% of Seoul's FDI comes from services, with finance and insurance accounting for a large share. Through the first half of 2023, FDI in the country as a whole and in Seoul is expected to grow rapidly. Overall, FDI in the manufacturing sector has increased, mainly in the electrical, electronic, and chemical industries, while FDI in the service sector has increased due to large private equity inflows. On the other hand, Seoul's industrial structure is centered on services rather than manufacturing, and this feature seems to have influenced the city's FDI flows. In particular, the financial and insurance sectors account for a large share of FDI in Seoul. This reflects the changing investment environment in Seoul. In addition to traditional finance, Seoul has recently been recognized as a global financial center in the fintech sector. Seoul is also increasingly recognized as a startup hub, ranking 12th among all cities in the 2023 Startup Ecosystem Assessment. There are differences in the industrial environments of different cities in terms of attracting foreign investment, which are driven by geography and the nature of their relative markets. London and Berlin build their industrial policies and city industrial strategies around their advanced economies, systems, and talent to promote global markets, and strive to attract companies rather than favor foreigners. Hong Kong emphasizes its traditional trade center between Asia and Europe, and applies Chinese and other Western open systems to attract foreign investment. Singapore leverages its geographical advantages, stable system, and sophisticated infrastructure to become Asia's largest financial industry attractor, optimize its capital market, and serve as a base and hub for new industries without geographical constraints. China is attracting science and technology infrastructure, enterprises, and talent through the establishment of various industrial parks, creating special zones to match regional focus areas, and focusing on new industries based on science and technology and ICT. Tokyo emphasizes mature markets, stability, safety nets, and infrastructure, and strives to maintain developed market advantages. In common, they are aligned with national and city industrial policies to attract foreign investment. National and city economic and industrial strategies are used to attract foreign investment, and new industries are encouraged based on the region's main industries and future vision. At the city level, there is also a trend to focus on R&D for future industries and to support university and private company collaboration in line with international cities. In Asia, there is a particular focus on attracting talent for innovative industries. In addition to experienced and skilled workers, policies that create incentives for potential talent and facilitate the flow of talent are common. Currently, Seoul's economic development plans and strategies are not comprehensively articulated, so the Seoul Investment Agency utilizes brochures and manuals at a working level. From the existing cases, it is evident that investment promotion organizations tend to adopt investment promotion strategies derived from national or regional economic development plans to contribute to the overall economic development plan. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen the credibility of the investment promotion strategy by establishing a higher-level plan to clarify the purpose and value of investment promotion and to ensure the stability of the strategy in the medium and long term. In addition, while Seoul's industrial structure is centered on services, the government's current investment promotion strategy is centered on manufacturing, which is different from Seoul's industrial structure, and there is a lack of official analysis and strategy. Therefore, it is necessary to use Seoul's characteristics as the basis for a differentiation strategy based on an analysis of Seoul's industrial structure and investment attraction behavior. It is advisable to refer to recent examples that highlight future market opportunities by linking traditionally strong industries with currently emerging sectors. Finally, recognizing Seoul's structural limitations as identified by global case cities, an approach is needed that identifies and benchmarks policy proposals at the central government level with those available within Seoul's purview. For example, consideration should be given to expanding the activities of the Seoul Investment Agency and transferring the necessary authority, securing staffing, securing space, developing incentives, strengthening networking, and establishing a multicultural and multilingual support system, and later expanding follow-up support functions such as ombudsmen and grievance redress. 

• Topic Economy/ Administrative·Financial Affairs
• AuthorMook Han Kim, InHye Yu

• 조회수30
• 등록일2025-05-19

Dessert has recently expanded from an after-meal treat to a standalone dining category. Originally meaning “after-meal sweetness”, dessert has evolved into a culture where it can be enjoyed as a meal replacement, thanks to advances in coffee and confectionery technology. Especially since the mid-2010s, dessert cafes have emerged and dessert itself has become a mainstream product, a result of cafes and bakeries looking to diversify their revenue amid the changing self-employment market. Dessert cafes have become part of consumer values and culture, not just a place to eat out. The growth of the dessert market has been heavily influenced by social media and changing consumption trends. Since the early 2010s, the popularization of photo-sharing platforms has brought dessert into the spotlight as a “small luxury”, and the dessert experience has become more widespread with economic growth. Since the pandemic, the rise of the contactless economy has led to a reassessment of the value of offline dessert culture, and dessert cafes and bakery cafes have continued to grow. Recent trends have led to the consumption of dessert cafes as destinations for tourism and leisure. With keywords like “bread pilgrimage” and “cafe tour” gaining traction, dessert cafes are becoming more than just a place to eat, but an attraction with photo zones and signature desserts. In addition, dessert menus are diversifying, new dessert items are quickly becoming popular, and trends continue to emerge that reflect consumer preferences. The dessert industry is not yet clearly defined as an industry, but it can be reconstructed from existing industry classifications that include cafes and bakeries. The dessert industry in Seoul, analyzed as non-alcoholic beverage stores and bakeries, has grown significantly over the past decade. Between 2012 and 2022, the dessert industry in Seoul nearly doubled in both number of businesses and number of workers, with the growth driven by the café-centered beverage industry. The majority of dessert businesses are small, with the majority of owners in their 30s and 50s, but there is a growing number in their 20s. The dessert industry is growing across Seoul, with Gangnam-gu, Mapo-gu, and Songpa-gu standing out as major concentrations. Gangnam-gu is centered around Teheran-ro and Sinsa-gil, while Mapo-gu has a high concentration of dessert businesses in Hongdae and Hapjeong-dong. In Songpa-gu, Songnidan-gil and Seokchon Lake have recently emerged as new dessert spots. Across the city, cafes and bakeries are growing in a somewhat different but similar spatial pattern. The major neighborhoods in Seoul's dessert industry have different characteristics. Gangnam and Hongdae are home to a concentration of modern cafes, while the Bukchon and Seochon neighborhoods of Jongno are home to cafes that have been converted from traditional hanoks. Yongsan is home to boutique cafes in renovated old buildings, while Seongsu-dong is a center for young people and hipster culture and is emerging as a “hot spot” for desserts. Currently, domestic dessert industry support policies are mainly focused on cafes and bakeries, but recently there has been an increase in policies that directly support desserts. At the event level, coffee- and bread-focused festivals and competitions are on the rise, dessert-themed branding of local shopping districts and streets is not uncommon, and institutional approaches such as ordinances and master plans to support desserts are also emerging.  Seoul supports the dessert industry through sponsorship of private dessert-related events and certification programs rather than institutional approaches. Future policy directions should include embracing the dessert sector as part of the ongoing ‘Gourmet City Seoul’ branding and promoting the industry through various existing support measures. Rather than focusing on leading the dessert industry, it will be more effective to strengthen the circular structure of the policy by identifying trends in the industry and finding and sharing best practices. The inclusion of the dessert sector in startup/vocational training and small business support, the segmentation of the dessert sector in Seoul Gourmet Week, and the support of a regular certification renewal system in conjunction with the event are expected to help the dessert industry in Seoul continue to grow in the future.