A Comparative Analysis of Revitalization Strategies for Special Street Zones in South Korea : Focusing on Domestic and International Case Studies

Purpose: Recently, the Special Street Zone, first introduced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in connection with specialized streets, is gradually spreading to local governments nationwide. Each region is modifying and operating the system according to its unique urban structure and characteristics. Within this trend, there is an urgent need to examine the actual effect of the Special Street Zone on urban publicness and to prepare institutional complementary measures. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to propose a practical and effective basic plan for the creation of Special Street Zones by conducting a comparative study of the characteristics of designated or planned Special Street Zones and specialized streets in South Korea and major specialized urban streets overseas. Method: The research compares Two designated special street zones in Korea and eight international examples, examining factors such as the presence of guidelines, regulatory levels, implementation bodies, public contributions, incentives, and application points. Key elements for revitalization include façade design, pedestrian space enhancement, public-private collaboration, regulatory flexibility, and incentive provision. Among these, public-private partnership models proved to be the most effective. Result: The study contributes to the development of integrated guidelines and policy improvements for special street zones, suggesting tailored revitalization strategies that reflect local culture and spatial characteristics.