Research

“It should not surprise us that each and every place is different or even unique in some ways – this is idiosyncratic nature of place. What begs our attention is why separate places can be very similar in certain respects.”

Jan Nijman, 2007. Introduction — Comparative Urbanism.

The Sustainable Localities Lab is engaged in research on the transformation and sustainable development of localities within the context of Korean and East Asian cities. Our main focus is on comparative and cross-cultural research, which follows a qualitative research approach.Specifically, our researchers conduct in-depth interviews, organise focus discussion groups or participate in ethnographic field research in various localities, cities and countries.

Our research projects include the following:

  • Blaž Križnik, 2019. Research on community movements and sustainable urban development in Seoul (서울의 지역사회운동과 지속가능한 도시개발 연구). Supported by Industry-University Cooperation Foundation of Hanyang University.
  • Blaž Križnik and Kim Su, 2017. From State-led towards Community-driven Placemaking? Locating Traditions and Practices of Community Building in Seoul (정부주도형에서 공동체주도형 마을만들기로의 변화? 서울의 마을공동체 역사 및 실천현황). Supported by National Research Foundation of Korea.
  • Blaž Križnik, Cho Im Sik and Lee Taehee, 2017. Towards a Post-Developmental City in East Asia? Comparing Everyday Practices and Policies of Community Building in Seoul and Singapore (동아시아는 후기 개발주의 도시로 향해가고 있는가? 서울과 싱가폴의 공동체 정책 및 실천양식 비교 연구). Supported by Seoul National University Asia Center.
  • Benjamin Joinau, Blaž Križnik and Lee Hyeong-ju. 2017. Re-thinking Community through Urban Agriculture: A Case Study of Urban Gardening in Seochon in Seoul (도시농업을 통한 <도시 공동체> 재고(再考): 서울 서촌에서 도시 정원과 텃밭 가꾸기 에 대한 연구). Supported by National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Members of our lab have presented our research at numerous international conferences and publications (and received several best paper awards for their excellence!).

And here are some of our most recent publications:

  • Kim Kon, Blaž Križnik and Krystallia Kamvasinou, 2021. Between the state and citizens: Changing governance of intermediary organisations for inclusive and sustainable urban regeneration in Seoul. Land Use Policy, 105. doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105433
  • Blaž Križnik, 2021. Social mobilisation in localities and urban change in South Korea: The evolution of the Geumho-Haengdang-Hawangsimni community movement in Seoul. Asian Studies, 9(1). doi.org/10.4312/as.2021.9.1.317-343
  • Blaž Križnik and Kim Su, 2021. From commodities to community engagement: Localities and urban development in Seoul, Korea. In Exporting Urban Korea? Reconsidering the Korean Urban Development Experience, edited by Park Se Hoon, Shin Hyun Bang, Kang Hyun Soo. London: Routledge. doi.org/10.4324/9781003047599
  • Cho Im Sik and Blaž Križnik, 2020. Sharing Seoul: Appropriating alleys as communal space through localized sharing practices. Built Environment, 46(1). doi.org/10.2148/benv.46.1.99
  • Blaž Križnik, Cho Im Sik and Kim Su. 2019. Deciding together: Citizen participation in planning the neighbourhood improvement in Seoul and Singapore. Asia Review, 8(2).  doi.org/10.24987/SNUACAR.2019.02.8.2.65
  • Blaž Križnik, 2018. Streets as spaces of community building: A case study of urban regeneration in Samdeok Maeul, Seoul. Asian Studies, 6(2). doi.org/10.4312/as.2018.6.2.231-251
  • Cho Im Sik and Blaž Križnik, 2017. Community-based urban development: Evolving urban paradigms in Singapore and Seoul. Singapore: Springer Nature. doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1987-6

Most of these publications are accessible online. If you cannot access them, let us know and we can find a copy for you.