• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.109-126
• /
• 2019

The Panmunjom Declaration adopted by the leaders of South and North Korea on April 27, 2018, has created an environment conducive for peace and cooperation in the Korean Peninsula. In the June of last year, South Korea has joined the Organization for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD). The membership of OSJD has established a solid foundation for restoring a multimodal logistics system that connects the Korean peninsula to Eurasia countries, including China and Russia. In this paper, a questionnaire survey targeting working-level experts was conducted to find the barriers in constructing multimodal logistics that efficiently connect the port-continental railways of the Korean peninsula and the Eurasian nations. Survey items were divided into five categories-border crossing procedures, technology, facilities, operation, and government support. As a result, among the most important problems of international multimodal logistics in Eurasia that need to be solved on priority include improving transshipment facilities, eliminating inspection carried out at every country for transit, simplifying documents for customs clearance, and minimizing the changes in freight rates. In conclusion, for vitalizing the connection between the Korean peninsula and the continental railways, it is necessary to develop a transshipment system to facilitate the changes in tracks at the borders by making a joint effort with the international community. Second, railway and operational systems in South Korea, North Korea, China, and Russia should be standardized. Third, international cooperation among South Korea, North Korea, China, and Russia is essential for simplifying customs clearance at borders, priority departure of domestic cargo, sharing information about the changes in freight rates, and so on. Finally, the government should come up with measures to secure the quantity of cargo required to form block trains, while developing new business models.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.692-700
• /
• 2016

The study proposed a strategy for supporting North Korea's SOC construction in the future by reviewing domestic and foreign cases. According to the literatureanalysis, we developed a candidate list of technology for SOC of North Korea in terms of Construction Management / economy sectors. The category is North Korea SOC construction support, and the sub-category is North Korea SOC construction support program. The implementation procedures included the following six steps: Preparation, Support for Establishing Construction Industry Base, Support for Establishing Business Management Base, Support for HR Management Base, Business Model Establishment/Expansion, and Monitoring of Management Result. Lastly, we developed twenty-five candidates of detailed technology. In the future, it is necessary to decide a methodology for project implementation by each scenario after selecting a study area, and to develop a more specified scenario.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.20 no.9
• /
• pp.262-269
• /
• 2019

This study was conducted to pave the way for the development and operation of education and training programs to nurture skilled North Korean construction workers. Such programs would help to meet the expanded demand for setting up infrastructure, which is the backbone of the two Koreas' economic cooperation and mutual development. To achieve this initiative, the targets and scopes of education and training were determined by classifying business types for education and training purposes by construction sector. Furthermore, each education and training course and their allocated time frames were analyzed. Issues related to inter-Korean economic cooperation in the border area were also analyzed to determine regional characteristics. Education and training programs were thus classified into three types of infrastructure units: society, industry, and life infrastructure units. Social infrastructure units are the common demand of the whole border area, including construction of roads, railways, and harbors, as well as inspection and maintenance. Industrial infrastructure units are programs for industrial facilities centering on the designated special economic zone in the western part of the border area. Life infrastructure units are programs for infrastructure facilities such as large, complex facilities and residential facilities for the eastern tourist belt side.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.51-61
• /
• 2012

Kyong-Eui Railway used to be one of the major cross-country railways connecting Busan and Shineuiju. Being the central axis of logistics and transportation in Korea, it also signifies a symbolic meaning of the people's desire for the unification of divided Korean peninsula. A steam locomotive that had stopped in Jangdan Station was bombed out during the Korean War. The locomotive has been neglected and covered with rust in DMZ over a half century, and now is becoming a historic reminder of divided Korea. The initial design approach was based on the three main perspectives of the relocation plan of the steam locomotive in Jangdan Station which is designated as the registered cultural asset no. 78: historical significance, role of a monumental space, and influence on and from the local culture and tourism. Three design subjects were especially highlighted which would represent the identity of the cultural asset, the stream locomotive. First, a vertical watching deck was installed to provide various view points toward the locomotive while ensuring the security of visitors as well as the cultural asset. Second, the Dokgae bride area has good design potentials being on the railway. However, the site is too narrow. Thus, a new ramp and a stairway were placed responding to the existing topography so that the pedestrian environment could be secured last, to respect the local context where the locomotive was originally located, mulberry trees in the locomotive were transplanted as well. Flowering plants were planted around the display area for better ventilation to minimize the negative impact on the locomotive.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.875-886
• /
• 2015

By promoting the international transportation and the improvement of advanced exchange between South and North Korea, the Asian Highway plan was expected to make considerable economical effects in the North-East Asian region. This study focuses on a part of AH6 route (i.e., South Korea-North Korea-China-Far East Russia) and aims to analyze the behavioral change of international passenger transport around the Korean Peninsula by assuming the non-existent North Korea land transport network connectivity. The study was performed using two main methods. First, a stated preference survey was performed to derive the actual modal share of each travel mode. Second, a disaggregate analysis was performed to develop possible mode-choice models for international passenger travel and find out the suitable choice. Based on the results of the model estimation, it is found that over 90% of the international passenger transport would be converted to land transport (rail+highway). In addition, international railroad modal share rate would be increased from 62.8% to 66.1% and international bus would be decreased from 29.6% to 21.9% as the distance lengthened (903km~1,631km).

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.272-287
• /
• 2019

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established in 1953 by the Korean War Armistice Agreement. It extends from the estuary of the Imjin River, in the west, to the coast of the East Sea. It is 4 km in width and 148 km in length. However, the ecosystems of the civilian control zone (CCZ) located between the southern border of the DMZ and the civilian control line (CCL) and the CCZ in the estuary of the Han River and the Yellow Sea are similar to those in the DMZ, and, therefore, the ecosystems of the DMZ and the CCZ are collectively known as the "ecosystems of the DMZ and its vicinities." The flora in the DMZ and its vicinities is composed of 1,864 species, which accounts for about 42% of all the vascular plant species on the Korean Peninsula and its affiliated islands. Conducting a detailed survey on the vegetation, flora, and fauna in the DMZ is almost impossible due to the presence of landmines and limitations on the time allowed to be spent in the DMZ. However, to assess the environmental impact of the Munsan-Gaesong railroad reconstruction project, it was possible to undertake a limited vegetation survey within the DMZ in 2001. The vegetation in Jangdan-myeon, in Paju City within the DMZ, was very simple. It was mostly secondary forests dominated by oaks such as Quercus mongolica, Q. acutissima, and Q. variabilis. The other half of the DMZ in Jangdan-myeon was occupied by grassland composed of tall grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis, M. sacchariflorus, and Phragmites japonica. Contrary to the expectation that the DMZ may be covered with pristine mature forests due to more than 60 years of no human interference, the vegetation in the DMZ was composed of simple secondary forests and grasslands formed on former rice paddies and agricultural fields. At present, the only legal protection system planned for the DMZ is the Natural Environment Conservation Act, which ensures that the DMZ would be managed as a nature reserve for only two years following Korean reunification. Therefore, firstly, the DMZ should be designated as a site of domestic legally protected areas such as nature reserve (natural monument), scenic site, national park, etc. In addition, we need to try to designate the DMZ as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve or as a World Heritage site, or as a Ramsar international wetland for international cooperation. For nomination as a world heritage site, we can emphasize the ecological and landscape value of the wetlands converted from the former rice paddies and the secondary forests maintained by frequent fires initiated by military activities. If the two Koreas unexpectedly reunite without any measures in place for the protection of nature in the DMZ, the conditions prior to the Korean War, such as rice paddies and villages, will return. In order to maintain the current condition of the ecosystems in the DMZ, we have to discuss and prepare for measures including the retention of mines and barbed-wire fences, the construction of roads and railroads in the form of tunnels or bridges, and the maintenance of the current fire regime in the DMZ.

• Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.328-338
• /
• 2018

Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) is a hot and arid continental climate, with most areas (68%) consisting of barren vegetation, desert, and meadows. The main agricultural areas for crop production include irrigated farmland, non-irrigated farmland, grassland, prairie and mountain. We are experiencing climate change with recent climate variability increasing. Agriculture is one of major economic sectors and provides a means of livings for the rural population of Central Asia, especially the poor. In the past two decades, Central Asia has experienced a high population growth rate, with Kazakhstan at 16.8%, Uzbekistan at 34.5% and Kyrgyzstan at 28.4%. As a major industry, Kazakhstan has the largest share of exports of agricultural products followed by petroleum, mineral resources, steel, and chemicals. Uzbekistan is the fifth largest cotton exporter as well as the sixth largest cotton producer in the world. Kyrgyzstan exports ores, stones, cultured pearls, and minerals. These three countries are rich in mineral resources, agricultural products, and energy resources. However, not only do they have difficulties in economic development due to the weakness of logistics and industrial infrastructure, but they also have imperceptible cooperation and investment among countries due to insufficient research and development. Through this study, we will investigate national outlook, economic indicators, major agricultural products, import and export status, and agricultural technology cooperation status, and study how Korean agricultural industry advances into these countries through SWOT analysis. Through this, we hope to contribute to the basic data of Central Asian studies and cooperation and investment in agriculture in each country. In addition, in order to increase cooperative exchange and investment in these countries, we will prepare a Central Asia logistics hub for the rapidly changing interKorean railroad era.