8th Korea-China-Japan Joint Symposium in Incheon
"Policies for Raising City Competiveness"
Summary
The Incheon Development Institute organized "8th Korea-China-Japan Joint Symposium, "Policies for Raising City Competiveness" was held on September 24, 2009.
Mori Memorial Foundation director Hiroo Ichikawa and senior researcher Yasuyuki Miwa were invited to participate in the symposium where they gave a presentation on the Global Power City Index (GPCI) and its related research findings.
The Incheon Development Institute (IDI) is a public sector think tank established with funding from the Incheon Metropolitan Government. It examines and analyzes various urban problems and policies of concern to the metropolitan government, and contributes to the city's policy making and implementation efforts.
The IDI plays host to an annual symposium targeting a wide-range of issues besetting the cities of East Asia such as those concerning urban policy, regional economics, city planning, transportation, and the environment. The theme for this year's symposium was "Policies for Raising the Competitiveness of Cities in Korea, China, and Japan." Researchers and authorities specializing in city assessment and in the competitiveness of cities in the aforementioned three countries gathered, and research presentations and discussions concerning each country and its cities took place.
An outline of the symposium follows below.
 Development is progressing in the Songdo area of Incheon which served as the symposium venue |
 Inside the Symposium Conference Hall |
- Date and Time
- September 24, 2009 14:00 - 18:00
- Venue
- Songdo Park Hotel in Incheon City, Korea
- Participants
- Approximately 100 persons made up of people related with the Incheon metropolitan area and researchers from Seoul and Incheon who deal with city assessments and competitiveness.
- Symposium Program
-
- Opening Remarks : Eo Yeon-Duk (President, Incheon Development Institute)
- Welcome Speech : Ann Sang-Soo (Mayor of Incheon)
- Participants' Representative's Greeting: Pei Chang-Hong (President, Financial Affairs, Trade and Economics Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
- Presentations :
Theme Presenter IPS City Competitiveness Assessment Model Cho Dong Sung Strategic Management of City Brands Kim Yoo Kyung Comparative Research on Chinese City Competitiveness Ni Peng Fei Global Power City Index Ichikawa Hiroo Present Situation and Challenges: Incheon's Competitiveness Kang Seung Ho - Discussion:
MC Hur Jae Wan Speakers Pei Chang Hong
Kim Chung Il
Lee In Jae
Lee Cheol Seon
Yasuyuki Miwa
Outline of Presentations
Professor Hiroo Ichikawa: GPCI Results
Amidst competition between cities that is developing on a global scale, the Global Power City Index (GPCI) is a survey which aims to clarify policy on the best ways for individual cities to raise their levels of attractiveness in order that they may draw in greater amounts of capital, businesses, skilled individuals, visitors and such. As the symposium on this occasion was a platform for researchers from the three East Asian Countries of Japan, China, and Korea to speak about urban challenges, Professor Ichikawa focused on the major cities of Asia covered by the GPCI and offered a detailed analysis of their results.
When examining the major Asian cities of Seoul, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, the GPCI showed that although those cities ranked high in the functional category "economy", they placed poorly in the areas of "Livability / Environment" and "Space / Accessibility". Furthermore the index revealed that the cities remained in the lower ranks of the comprehensive power score which also takes into account creative aspects.
Based on this, Professor Ichikawa identified the following four points as areas in which Asian cites needed policies for strengthening their global international competitiveness: 1) Environmental improvements for enhancing economic strength, 2) Promotion of environmental measures in tandem with economic growth, 3) Enhancement of content promoting exchange and culture, 4) Further improvement of accessibility functions through the betterment of transportation infrastructure.
 Title of GPCI Presentation |
 Local Media Interviews Professor Ichikawa |
Senior Researcher Yasuyuki Miwa: Recent Trends in Yokohama's Urban Planning
Prior to the discussion segment of the symposium senior researcher Yasuyuki Miwa reported on Yokohama's urban planning. As many of the geographical conditions of Incheon such as its proximity to Seoul, its international port and harbor, and its regional characteristics make it very similar to Yokohama and its relationship with Tokyo, there was great interest shown in the topic of Yokohama's urban planning. As a discussion topic from Japan, a presentation on Yokohama's history and recent trends was carried out.
"Recent Trends in Yokohama's Urban Planning" Presentation
Outline of Presentations Given by Chinese and Korean Experts
Seoul National University Professor Cho Dung Song, who is leading research on international competitiveness at The Institute for Industrial Policy Studies (IPS) in Korea, reported on a city competiveness assessment model. Additionally, Dr. Ni Peng Fei of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, which is assessing the competiveness of 500 cities around the globe using a ranking format, reported on results for approximately 200 Chinese cities garnered from the "Global City Competitiveness Report". Along with the GPCI rankings produced by the Mori Memorial Foundation's Institute for Urban Strategies, the symposium provided the opportunity for all these Asian-based rankings to be brought together for the first time.
Regarding city brands which are emerging as an important element of city competitiveness, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Professor and Planning Committee Member of Korea's National Brand Commission, Dr. Kim Yoo Kyung, spoke about the role of local government and strategic processes in city brand management in relation to raising city competitiveness.
Lastly, Incheon Development Institute Researcher Kang Seung Ho, reported on the current state of Incheon's city competitiveness and issues related to its improvement. Regarding polices for raising the strength and competitiveness of major Asian cities, researchers from each of the three countries were able to participate in a beneficial symposium that allowed them to discuss the issues from varying points of view.
Commemorative Picture of the Symposium's Speakers
With the opening of the Incheon International Airport the Incheon metropolitan area is entering a new age. Amidst remarkable construction activity in the Songo, Eongjong and Cheongna regions of its first free economic zone, Korea’s first, the metropolis is developing itself into a world leading city.
Further developments and trends in Incheon shall be closely monitored from the perceptive of the symposium's theme "The International Competitiveness of Asian Cities."
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