ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the urbanisation process in the Seoul Metropolitan Region (SMR) since the 1960s, and explores housing issues and problems in the capital region. There are a multitude of problems degrading urban life in the SMR. A prime factor of the new towns decision of the government was to solve housing problems in the SMR. The SMR includes the city of Seoul itself, Kyonggi province and Inchon city. The industrial structure of SMR depends upon mainly secondary and tertiary sector, while the portion of the primrary industry is relatively small. The rapid urbanisation in the SMR and the migration form Seoul to Kyonggi province has created a big gap between housing needs and supply. The prime factor behind the new towns was to solve housing problems in the SMR. The emphasis on socially balanced communities is one of the most important justifications for the five new towns in the SMR.
