• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.275-298
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• 2014

This paper aims to delineate Central Business District(CBD) and subcentres of Seoul and compare the functional differences of them by spatial scan statistics. Most existing studies to delimit Seoul CBD have two limits in the methods to make boundaries. First, most Seoul CBD-defining studies presuppose some central area contains CBD and look into just that area in a concentrating manner because it is too difficult to collect the data in a whole city boundary. Therefore the CBD areas have been localized in that study areas. But I analysed the data of the whole area of Seoul and was able to define the CBD and subcentres of Seoul. Second, I analysed the data by a spatial scan statistics technique and was able to minimize the number of subjective items in constructing some conditions for CBD. The CBD area in this study is enlarged eastward over East Gate, a national treasure in Seoul, than the areas in existing studies. In the contrary, westwardly, our CBD is set back a little. The two competing central places in Seoul, CBD and Gangnam have some different specialized subareas. CBD has more governing authorities and wholesale stores and Gangnam has many conglomerates HQs, Offices and cosmetic clinics.