• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.643-663
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• 2008

The rural area of S. Korea has been excluded from the process of industrialization and urbanization, and is to be faced with a serious crisis in the context of recent globalization/localization with a rapid economic and political change. And hence it is required to give a active attention to community-based welfare for rural areas. The status of welfare of Koryung-gun as such a rural area adjacent to Daegu city is still low, even though recently it has been improved dramatically, and the welfare policy seems not to reflect the rapidly changing conditions of reality, though it has been institutionalized systematically. What is more, the number of dwellers who demand basic welfare has been increased, as welfare services seem not to delivered to them. In order to improve this totally low level of social welfare, major tasks should be pursued to formulate as basic principles an integral approach for community-based welfare and ultimately a restoration of rural community; to construct a mobilization system of diverse resources within community, to develop connections between welfare demanders and providers, and networks of institutes and facilities for community welfare; and to find out and to extend financial sources for welfare policies.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.239-253
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• 2008

This paper aims to explore the viability of a rural-industrial complex neighbouring in the metropolitan area and suggest policy implications for the restructuring of the rural industrial complex. In particular, the paper focuses on the location and management practices of the firms operating in the industrial complex. Research shows that the key elements of the viability of the rural industrial complex in Koryung-Gun are the geographical and relational proximities to the metropolitan city of Daegu and the decentralization of urban industries towards rural areas neighbouring in the large city as a result of the deterioration of location conditions in the large city. It is revealed that the major pull factors of location are 'availability of cheap industrial sites', 'agglomeration in a specialized industry' and 'proximity to major customers and suppliers' rather than 'availability of labour pool'. However, it shows that 'weak university-industry linkages' and 'insufficiency of cooperation culture' are the major limitations to attracting firms. In the context of pub1ic policy, the author argues that the restructuring of the rural industrial complex should be sought to promote social infrastructures centered on networks and learning rather than firm centered financial and tax incentives.