Utilising the Just City Theory in the Context of South Korean Cities

Introduction: The concept of justice, its definitions, and how to realise it in the city have long been the concerns of thinkers of different ages. In this regard, various concepts, such as equality and justice, have been mentioned among the normative theories of the urban planning paradigm. One of the most important and challenging ideas in urban planning is the just city. Susan Feinstein, one of the contemporary planners, proposed the theory of the just city and defined three basic principles: democracy, diversity, and equity. However, if these three principles are followed, failure is still possible. For example, the value of democracy will be problematic when democratic participation leads to the exclusion and protection of people with special conditions.
The Purpose of the Research: The present study tries to review the literature related to the concept of justice, the just city and its characteristics, and then evaluate the application of this theory in the towns of South Korea. In this context, this country, as one of the essential countries of East Asia, has developed significantly in recent years, and in a short period, it has turned from a country with an undeveloped economy into one of the most advanced economies in the world. This country is one of the most active countries to bring its economy to the level of developed countries in the world in a short period. However, after the industry's significant growth in South Korea, its negative consequences also caused concern for the country's politicians. This country also faced social, cultural, and spatial issues, especially concerning the issue of justice in its planning system. Therefore, the question arises whether development, especially from an economic point of view, can express other dimensions of development concerning justice. This research reviews the concept of justice and its relationship with the city by emphasising Feinstein's just city theory. It will examine its relationship with three major cities in South Korea: Seoul, Busan and Daegu.
Methodology: This research is in the applied research category, and its research design is qualitative. According to Creswell, the current research was conducted using one of the qualitative design methods: the case study. In this study, three metropolises in South Korea have been examined from the perspective of the theory of the just city.
Findings and Discussion: The problems that arise in times of crisis in Asian countries such as South Korea are caused by the consequences of a less democratic government. Too much focus on the city of Seoul and the unbalanced distribution of facilities shows the incompatibility of the principles of democracy with this country's political system and planning. However, practical efforts in cities like Busan promise the existence of people's capacities to expand justice and diversity. In the equity issue, the forced displacement of citizens for construction and the indiscriminate expansion of foreign companies and investors. In the issue of diversity, the imbalance in the distribution of various services in the country and the monocentricity of Seoul are evident. Regarding democracy, most policies are regulated by the central government, and local governments do not have enough power. In general, the cities of South Korea are taking a step toward justice, but they have a long way to go before they reach the concept of a just city.
Conclusion: A review of historical events indicates that South Korea is a country under many attacks and damage, and security and stability in this country do not have a long history. Therefore, after establishing the republic, the desire for rapid development with an ambitious view spread among its rulers. Most of these governments also had military commanders, and the influence of this view is evident in the desire to reform by force. In this country, economic development casts a shadow over everything and other aspects of development are placed at the following levels of importance. A review of the state of significant cities in this country shows that the unfair distribution of resources and excessive attention to Seoul as a global city has caused the capacities of other towns to be ignored. If some measures are not taken in this regard, considering the capacity, this city will face environmental, social and economic consequences due to Seoul's limited geography.