• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.267-286
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• 2017

The main purpose of this paper is to identify the spatiality of North Korea and China border regions through investigating the exceptional characteristics of the regions with the concept of positionality, which allows us to realize the relative position between subject and object. Border regions could be identified appropriately by considering the concept of switching positionality, as it is a kind of multiple space in which its sudden closure and opening should be configured in accordance with geopolitical and geoeconomic changes centering around border line. The main arguments of this research concerned with border regions with the concept of switching positionality are fallen into three. Firstly, changes in border regions should be analyzed by investigating more broader contexts and conjunctural perspectives, and even an internal condition stemmed from locality. Secondly, trajectories of border regions could be analyzed by the assemblages of various powers. Finally, the positionality of economic actors should be examined by identifying dynamic relations between geoeconomics and geopolitics. In particular, the concept of positionality has led to a number of insights into discussions on time-space, and spatiality in relational-dialectical, socio-spatial, and power-topological perspectives. Based upon this concept of positionality, the research has identified exceptional characteristics in North Korea and China border regions. It argues that the exceptionality of the region has stemmed from the intersection between the unstability of geopolitical security and various geoeconomic benefits.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.287-306
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• 2017

Since the 1990s, political geographers have focused on the study of the process of border construction. They have shifted from the old morphological and functional approaches to boundary that have focused on the types and functions of boundaries. Recent scholarship on border studies understand boundaries and the border regions as entities with overlapping and competing relationships not as manifestation of territoriality. There has been the emphasis on the multidimensional actors and the historical and cultural legacies inherent in the border region as well. Based on these recent discussions, this study examines how the border region has been constructed by various actors and strategies in Dandong China, the border city between North Korea and China. Several sanctions including UN Security Council have been resolved and implemented in accordance with North Korea's nuclear and missile development, which is a relevant example to examine the "border as relationships" in which strategies of various actors are competing. In addition, this paper has a significance as a case study on the construction process of border and the characteristics of its materiality, which is a way to overcome the limitation of discourse-oriented critical geopolitical research.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.568-582
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• 2022

This study identifies regional problems caused by the relocation and dismantlement of military units by the government's Defense Reform 2.0 and examines the current situation. This study provides policy implications for future regional development by discussing the use of military idle land in the border region and seeking how to revitalize the region through urban regeneration. In order to utilize and manage the military idle land, first, the mutually beneficial development of the military unit and the local community must be achieved through the establishment of governance between private, government, and military sectors. Second, review and improvement of laws and systems related to border regions and military idle lands should be accompanied. Third, the various ideas and policies that reflect the uniqueness of the border region must be established. Finally, this study provided implications for the efficient utilization and management of sustainable idle land by reflecting the specificity of the border region in the future.

• Proceedings of the KGS Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.25-30
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• 2003

경기북부의 접경지역은 우리나라의 왜곡된 정치 현실과 경제적 상황을 가장 극명하게 담아내는 공간이라 할 수 있다. 이 지역은 1955년 이후 국토의 분단으로 인한 인위적인 공간적 단절로 한반도 중심부적 입지에서 대한민국 의 변방으로 입지여건이 수정된 곳이며 군사적, 정치적 이유로 주민들의 공간 행태에 많은 제약과 왜곡을 불러일으키는 공간이다. 접경지역은 서울 성장의 파급효과는 제대로 누리지 못하면서 도리어 과밀방지를 위한 규제의 불이익을 감당해야하는 이중적 제약이 나타나는 공간이다. (중략)

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.638-651
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• 2022

Last year, a new perception of the right to peace on the Korean Peninsula was adopted: DMZ Yanggu Peace Declaration 2021. The Declaration reflects that there is a raising of necessity for a new perception and approach from the perspective of DMZ-related laws, sustainable ecological environment and security. Gangwon is making considerable efforts to make the border area in DMZ as an area of peace by continuously enhancing publicity on the establishment of the 'Peace Special Self-Governing Province'. This study suggests the necessity of a paradigm shift towards the significance of the interkorean border region that it should function as a passage between the South and the North rather than a dam. For, to be renewed as a sustainably developing region through newly constructed flow of communication, the wall of hostility must preliminarily fall dawn. Then a question arises about how Gangwon is, out of other border region, most eligible for the reconsideration of its significance as a border area. The answer relies on the newly established agenda and understandings towards the right to peace in the perspective of founding the policy for the Unification of the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, the conservation of DMZ ecological environment through enlistment of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve should go hand in hand with the ultimate value of global agenda of the conservation and protection of the environment. The study insists that the peace zone is a prerequisite for the adaption of the era of future-oriented glocalization featured by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Up to this date, the border area was an area of pain and agony. It is time for Gangwon to be reborn as an area of peace and coexistence. The aim of this study is to point a direction for Gangwon to become a sustainably developing region by illuminating the value of the Gangwon border area as a new area of peace.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.227-244
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to analyze the spatial characteristics of inter-firm linkages and innovation networks of firms which are located in Gyeonggi border regions. Through this analysis, this study aims at understanding the spatial characteristics of economic activities of firms in Gyeonggi border regions. More importantly, this study focuses on revealing how the spatial characteristics of economic activities of firms affect future growth potentials of firms and regional economic growth. The main findings of this study are as follows. According to the analysis of spatial material linkages, the firms in both footloose location and industrial complex are all proven to be strongly dependent on the Capital Region. Owing to the weak level of the local material linkages, the effects on regional economic growth are limited. But firms in industrial complex contribute more to regional economic growth. The analysis of spatial employment linkages shows that the local linkages are comparatively strong. But the differentiation of residences weaken the positive effects on regional economy. As a concluding remark, the harmony with local linkages and non-local linkages is required to promote future growth potentials of firms and regional economic growth.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.675-687
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• 2023

The border area between the South and North Korea is considered a stage for promoting Green Détent through the transformation of the Demilitarized Zone into the Green Peace Zone. This paper proposes 'Prosuming-index' composed of items to evaluate the multi-layered nature of industrial and infrastructure projects in the ecological and environmental fields planned in the border area. Based on the prosuming-index, we derived the following four types of potential for Green Detent practice in the border area-first, the Incheon and Ganghwa regions as 'a logistics/human network and agricultural/fishery production area', second, the northern Gyeonggi region as a 'cooperative network area based on the smart technology industries', third, the western Gangwon and the parts of nothern Gyeonggi region, as 'a multiple prosumer's area based on carbon neutral technologies', lastly, the eastern Gangwon region, as 'a transition area from idle or aged infrastructure to green infrastructure through the renewable energy industries'.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.178-188
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• 2022

This article cites examples of cultural heritages that urgently require protection measures, and the reinterpretation of beacons, fortresses, and extremities identified in the process of conducting a cultural heritage investigation of the DMZ and bordering areas. It is true that there are various difficulties involved in implementing thorough protection measures considering the reality of the two Koreas' division. Despite this, the "Ordinance for the Protection of Military Cultural Properties" and the "Act on the Protection and Investigation of Buried Cultural Heritage" have been enacted and are in effect. In particular, in the "Ordinance for the Protection of Military Cultural Properties," the value of protecting "military assets" is emphasized. The identification and investigation of cultural heritages in the DMZ and border areas must continue. Although field research is currently difficult, the primary investigation conducted by high-altitude terrain analysis and literature research is considered effective. Furthermore, there are parts that require correction and supplementation with future field investigations. Although some trial and error is expected during these various cultural heritage investigations, they need to continue.

• 주택과사람들
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• s.210
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• pp.64-67
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• 2007

남북 정상 회담을 계기로 파주 등 접경 지역 부동산 시장에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있다. 파주 교하지구를 중심으로 신규 분양에 대한 관심이 높아졌을 뿐만 아니라 호가도 강세를 보이고 있다. 그러나 다른 지역은 각종 규제 등으로 인해 차분한 모습을 보여 대조를 이루고 있다. 접경지 부동산에 대해 짚어본다.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.329-352
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• 2017

Since the late 2000s Korean foreign direct investors in North Korea and China border regions have gone through the closure of outward processing trade(OPT) networks and changes in their location due to UN security council resolution and Korean independent sanctions against North Korea's nuclear and missile tests. However, the introduction of new Chinese OPT policy has led to the invigoration of domestic market-based OPT networks towards North Korea. The main aim of this paper is to identify the exceptional characteristics of Dandong in Liaoning province, a North Korea and China border region by analyzing OPT networks towards North Korea. Fundamentally the establishment of OPT networks towards North Korea is likely to be based on the utilization of a plenty of low wages in North Korea. The main reasons for this are fallen into two perspectives: geo-economics and geo-politics. The first perspective is geo-economics centering on the consolidation of economic exchange between North Korea and China, and North Korean economic development. For example, the introduction of Chinese OPT in border region has enabled Chinese local firms based on domestic market to access a plenty of low wage in North Korea in formal and institutional contexts. The second is geo-politics for the stability of North Korean regime based on the means of geo-economics. As the invigoration of domestic market-based OPT networks might make North Korea possible promoting foreign money earning, it enable North Korea to be sustainable as a buffering region between capitalist and socialist regime for China. It shows Chinese geo-strategic attempts to deal with the economic and regime stability of North Korean as a buffering state. In other words, OPT networks in North Korea should be concerned with the discourse practice of geo-economics and geo-politics which might lead to various and contingent spatial economies in border region. As a consequence, North Korea and China border regions could defined as a space in which is applicable to exceptional institutions and policies, and an exploitative space in which create surplus and rents by utilizing a plenty of low wages in North Korea through OPT networks.