Creator-Driven Urban Development for Regional Revitalization

Prof. Dr. Jongryn Mo (International Political Economy, Graduate School of International Studies, Yonsei University)

Lecture

As regional population decline accelerates across Korea, we must look to innovative urban development strategies for solutions. This approach begins with a fundamental shift in thinking: instead of merely injecting resources into declining regions, we need to first establish vibrant urban environments that naturally attract and productively engage new participants in the local economy.

The key to regional revitalization lies in creating neighborhoods where people want to live and spend time. Architecture and thoughtful urban design serve as the essential foundation for this transformation. When the built environment is carefully crafted first, it naturally attracts people and economic activities.

This pattern is evident in Korea's most successful alleyway commercial districts, which have predominantly emerged in areas featuring distinctive architectural character—traditional hanok neighborhoods, Japanese colonial-era buildings, and clusters of unique detached houses. These physical environments facilitate meaningful interactions and creative activities, generating a virtuous cycle of regional revitalization.

The most successful urban environments provide integrated living conditions where diverse populations—local residents, visitors with personal connections to the area, creators, young professionals, small business owners, and startup entrepreneurs—can all thrive with convenient access to work, living spaces, and leisure activities. Such environments are crucial for addressing Korea's regional crisis.

This lecture examines specific regional revitalization strategies through creator-focused urban development, with particular emphasis on local content towns and creator towns that harness the power of place-based identity and creative communities.

About the lecturer

Mo Jongryn is Professor of International Political Economy at the Graduate School of International Studies, Yonsei University. His research focuses on creator-driven urban development, specifically studying neighborhoods and districts where local creators thrive and build distinctive ecosystems.

He is the author of "The Rise of Creator Society" (2024) and "Alleyway Capitalism" (2017). His work demonstrates how cities that foster communities of startups, artists, and small businesses generate both cultural and economic value—a model he identifies as crucial for regional development in Korea. His research shows that recent shifts in lifestyle preferences and technological advancements have both increased demand for such creative urban environments and made them more feasible to establish.

Professor Mo holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Stanford University. His professional experience includes positions as Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin and Research Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. At Yonsei University, he has served in several leadership roles, including Dean of Underwood International College, Vice President of International Affairs, and Dean of the Graduate School of International Studies.