[JIRO at the Conference] Enhancing Metropolitan Governance for Sustainable Urban Models in 2026

Hello~ this is JIRO~^^!

On March 25, JIRO attended the

“Conference on Enhancing Metropolitan Governance for Sustainable Urban Models” held in Daejeon.

Mokwon University Concert Hall, where the conference was held.

Enhancing Metropolitan Governance for Sustainable Urban Models

Date & Time | March 25, 2026 (Wed) 13:30–17:00

Venue | Mokwon University Concert Hall, Daejeon

Hosts | Daejeon Metropolitan City, Daejeon Urban Regeneration Support Center, Mokwon University, Korea Urban Regeneration Society

At the conference, discussions focused on what changes are needed for Korea’s urban regeneration projects— which have grown significantly in scale over the past few years— to become truly sustainable. Rather than focusing solely on physical redevelopment, the sessions explored broader perspectives on the long-term sustainability of cities, featuring both presentations and in-depth discussions.

While the conference offered valuable insights overall, there were also a few aspects that felt somewhat disappointing.

A considerable amount of time was allocated to opening ceremonies, including congratulatory remarks, opening speeches, and welcome addresses by various dignitaries. Additionally, there were quite a few attendees who left immediately after taking commemorative photos without participating in the actual conference.

Of course, maintaining a certain level of formality is important for such events. However, it would be great to see future regional revitalization events move beyond a focus on formality or the number of events held, and instead become platforms for more practical and meaningful discussions.

With that said, I’ll briefly wrap up the points of concern here and move on to sharing the key discussions from the conference in more detail!

Conference Schedule and Program Details

Time	Session	Details
14:20–15:30	Special Seminar 1	Strengthening Expertise in Urban Regeneration Workforce and OrganizationsPresentation 1: Training Urban Regeneration Professionals – Current Status and ChallengesLee Myung-hoon (Korea University, Professor)Presentation 2: Developing Region-Specific Experts and the Role of Metropolitan CentersJung Ki-uk (Busan Urban Corporation, Assistant Manager)
14:20–15:30	Panel Discussion	Moderator: Choi Bong-moon (Mokwon University, Professor)Panelists: Yoon Cheol-jae (Kyungpook National University, Professor)Shin Woo-hwa (Daegu Creative Urban Regeneration Support Center, Director)Lee Yong-hyun (Gyeongsan City, Construction Dept.)Kim Jin-hee (Daejeon Urban Regeneration Support Center, Team Lead)
15:30–15:40	Break	Break & Venue Arrangement
15:40–16:50	Special Seminar 2	Public-Private Partnership for Low-Rise Aging Residential AreasPresentation 1: PPP-Based Home Repair & Housing Improvement ModelJung Hu (Korea Habitat, Manager)Presentation 2: Private-Led Improvement of Low-Rise Old Housing Areas: Public Support & ChallengesKang Dong-gu (Urban Platform, CEO)
15:40–16:50	Panel Discussion	Moderator: Kim Ho-cheol (Dankook University, Professor)Panelists: Kim Ju-jin (LHRI Researcher)Jang Min-young (AURI Researcher)Lee Jong-hyuk (Dookabiseasang, Head of HQ)Kim Jae-seung (HUG, Deputy Director)

Here’s a recap of the key presentations and discussions from the conference, captured through JIRO’s perspective.

Shall we take a look together?

Special Seminar 1_Presentation 1: Training Urban Regeneration Professionals and the Role of Hub Universities

The first session focused on the most important element we need to consider—people.

While urban regeneration in Korea has expanded significantly in scale, the presentation provided a detailed and step-by-step overview of the human resource development system needed to support this growth.

Topic	Details
Gap Between Theory and Practice	Current education is heavily theory-oriented (8:2), but in practice, skills such as conflict mediation, administrative work, and data-driven regional analysis are essential. Therefore, a shift toward a more balanced 5:5 ratio between theory and practice was proposed.
Unstable Employment and Certification System	The absence of a national certification system has led to a proliferation of private certifications, while unclear hiring standards make it difficult to build consistent professional expertise. As a solution, a three-tier national certification system for professionals was proposed.
Limitations of Hub Universities	Although six hub universities are currently in operation nationwide, their expertise is dispersed. Additionally, some regions such as Chungnam and Sejong lack designated hubs, making it difficult to achieve full regional coverage.

2. Special Seminar 1_Presentation 2: Developing Region-Specific Talent and the Role of Metropolitan Governance (Busan Case)

The second session provided insights into the concrete direction that metropolitan centers should pursue, using the case of Busan as an example.

Topic	Details
Institutionalization of Education and Collaboration	In Busan, administrative and civil servant training has been institutionalized and designated as mandatory. The city also collaborates with universities to train “young urban regeneration professionals,” focusing on developing job-ready talent.
Field-Oriented Projects	Projects such as “Community Filmmaking” and “Repair Shipbuilding School” emphasize resident-led participation, offering specialized training that enhances practical, on-site capabilities in real time.
Transformation of Metropolitan Center Functions	Beyond serving as a support organization, metropolitan centers are expected to take on a leading role in project selection and evaluation processes, requiring a shift toward functioning as performance-evaluating regional support institutions.

Among the field-oriented projects introduced, one in particular stood out to me.

I was especially impressed by the idea of turning an entire neighborhood into a film set, where local residents receive acting training and participate as actors in the production.

Even within a single city like Busan, each neighborhood has its own unique history and background—sometimes even between neighboring houses.

What made this project truly memorable was how it creates connections across diverse communities, allowing people to share experiences and emotions in meaningful ways.

3. Special Seminar 2_Presentation 1: Public-Private Housing Improvement and the Habitat Case

This session introduced a model for residential regeneration from the perspective of the non-profit organization (NGO), Habitat.

Topic	Details
Restoring Relationships	As seen in the “Ttuktas” case in Anseong, it is important to implement community programs where residents go beyond being simple beneficiaries and become active leaders of the project. Sustainability comes not only from improving buildings, but also from strengthening relationships between people.
Insights from Global Cases	Examples such as the “Core House” model in Latin America and the “home equity building” model in the U.S. Rust Belt highlight the importance of intermediary roles and the time required for people to truly change.
Need for Practical Home Repairs	Current government-led home repair programs are, in reality, limited to superficial improvements. Beyond adjusting cost-sharing ratios, there is a need for meaningful upgrades that address actual interior living conditions.

Through this conference, JIRO had the opportunity to hear a wide range of insights and discussions from experts in Korea’s urban regeneration field. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who planned and organized this meaningful event!!

As you read this post, which speaker’s perspective do you think is most needed in your own community? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments—JIRO would love to reflect on them together with you!

Thank you for reading this blog post!

Wishing you all a wonderful rest of the spring season. 

See you in the next post—thank you!