• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.39 no.5 s.104
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• pp.768-785
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• 2004

Although it is widely accepted that housing agents and institutions play a crucial role in (re)configuring the internal structure of housing markets, there is no much literature on the power relations among housing agents and institutions in the (re)production of housing space in the non-Western context. In this paper, founded theoretically on institutional approaches to housing, I investigate the structure of housing production and allocation, and the housing market system in South Korea. In addition, this research explores the characteristics of Korean housing policies in conjunction with the roles of and the interrelationships among housing agents in the (re)production of housing space in the Korean context. Based on the analysis of the structure of housing production and allocation in Korea, I argue that institutional approaches are valuable in investigating the housing market system in which political power relations among agents play more significant roles than pure market mechanisms in the (re)production of housing space.

• Architectural research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.139-147
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to explore institutional frameworks to professionalize housing management in Korea. In particular, this research reviews the evolution of professional housing management and its institutional measures in a social constructionist perspective. The main method employed in the study is content analysis in which historical pathways in institutionalization of professional housing management are examined and a wide array of indices from secondary data are drawn out in relation to various actors. The findings show that a series of institutional measures were taken from 1970s to secure the professionalization of housing management ranging from introduction of housing management bylaws, placement of licensed housing managers, legal requirements of professionally managed housing estates, compulsory operation of long-term reserve funds, formation of residents' association, mandatory establishment of long-range maintenance planning, to standardization of multifamily housing management bylaws. Since the Multifamily Housing Management Ordinance of 1979 amended in 1980s, many institutional measures have been legally enforced and shaped contemporary practices of professional housing management such as an association for housing management companies, qualification of on-site housing management agents, national licensing examination for housing managers, an organization for licensed housing mangers, mandatory registration of housing management companies, disclosure of monthly housing management fees, and formalization of public assessment of housing management. In spite of the distinctive marks in the professionalization of housing management, more proactive and competitive approaches to the international professionalization need to be considered.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.31-39
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• 2019

Singapore, a city state with less than 6 million population, has continued successful cooperative development and become one of the most successful Asian countries in exporting expertise in urban and real estate development. This research aims to analyze Singapore's cooperative development with socialist countries including China and Vietnam from Singapore's perspective as an investor. For cooperative development projects in China, Singapore adopted Singapore-style physical urban planning concepts as well as its own institutional and administrative systems. Singapore-Vietnam cooperative development managed to acquire profitable land and diversify its portfolio in terms of industry types and rents. This made Singapore's industrial parks more competitive than other parks in Vietnam. By showcasing successful project implementation in China and Vietnam, Singapore has proved that its model for industrial park and urban development is transferable. Singapore's success in cooperative development with socialist countries provides important implications for future cooperative development between South and North Korea. For example, phased development approaches starting from individual industrial parks expanding to mixed-use townships will be very useful to realize sustainable urban planning in North Korea and reduce financial risks. Singapore dominated development opportunities in advance when socialist countries opened their economy. To pattern ourselves after Singapore, we should not only improve our relationship with North Korea but also prepare with practical components such as financing and organizational structure.