Does Urbanization Indeed Increase Disaster Damages? - Lessons from Gyeonggi Province, South Korea

초록

This study empirically investigates whether urbanization triggers urban disaster damages in the metropolitan areas of Korea by applying panel data analysis. Issues are approached with respect to the perspective that increased natural disaster damages are closely related with urbanization. This paper describes the conceptual framework of disaster management to understand the factors that determine urban disaster damages in Korea. This study used a simplified model with some key factors for analysis, because flood damage factors in urban areas are too diverse, and a full understanding of every cause is not feasible. The results indicate that urbanization does not necessarily lead to increasing urban disaster damages and if properly managed, urbanization can actually reduce urban disaster damage. The vulnerability of disaster damages can be reduced by urban land use controls, even if the population density increases. Planned urbanization with proper land use regulations will be able to help cities become less vulnerable to urban disasters, which can be useful in making an adaptation policy to climate change.

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