Title Urban Identity Formation through Mega Events
Authors 신한나(Shin, Han-Na) ; 백승만(Baek, Seung-Man)
DOI https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2026.42.4.167
Page pp.167-176
ISSN 2733-6247
Keywords Paris Olympics; Grand Paris; mega-events; sustainability; urban regeneration; urban identity
Abstract Since the mid-nineteenth century, Paris has continually redefined its urban identity through large-scale international events such as the Universal Expositions and the Olympic Games. From the 1855 Industrial Palace and the 1889 Eiffel Tower to the 2024 Paris Olympics, these events have marked pivotal moments of architectural innovation and urban transformation. The 2024 Paris Olympics, aligned with the Grand Paris metropolitan project, introduces a regenerative model of mega-event urbanism. This approach emphasizes the reuse of 95 percent of existing facilities, limited new construction of 5 percent, and broad citizen participation. This study examines the spatial and governance strategies of Paris 2024, highlighting coordination across multiple scales, including central Paris, the Grand Paris periphery, and regional cities. The analysis shows how this strategy shifts the traditional model of event-driven urban expansion toward a more sustainable and inclusive framework for long-term metropolitan development. Finally, the study considers how this regenerative approach may inform Seoul’s future planning for global events, emphasizing adaptive reuse, ecological resilience, and civic engagement as essential drivers of twenty-first-century urban identity.