Title A Study on the Role and Policy Direction of Urban Infrastructure for Global Competitiveness
Authors 정재용(Chung, Jae-Yong) ; 심현지(Shim, Hyun-Ji)
DOI https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2026.42.4.261
Page pp.261-272
ISSN 2733-6247
Keywords Global Competitiveness; Urban Infrastructure; Global Competitive Power Index; Urban Regeneration
Abstract The global competitiveness of cities has increasingly become a foundation for national economic growth amid intensified competition for capital investment and tourism. In response, many countries have oriented urban development strategies toward attracting global corporations to establish business hubs in major cities, particularly capital cities. As Korea’s only major global city, Seoul must compete for foreign direct investment, global services, and tourism to strengthen its position in the global market. In recent years, Korea has shown notable improvement in global competitiveness rankings, particularly in the Global Power City Index (GPCI), where it reached sixth place in 2024. Despite this progress, Seoul continues to face challenges in several areas that affect its overall global competitiveness. This study examines the role of urban infrastructure as a key factor shaping Seoul’s global competitiveness. The analysis focuses on the Global Power City Index and its subcategories to identify physical urban infrastructure elements that influence competitiveness. Within this framework, a comparative analysis of infrastructure development in three case study cities, London, Tokyo, and Singapore, is conducted to assess Seoul’s relative position and to discuss the role and policy direction of urban infrastructure in enhancing global competitiveness.