Effects of Relaxing the Urban Growth Management Policy: Greenbelt Policy of Seoul Metropolitan Area, South Korea

This study analyzes the effects of relaxing the greenbelt in the Seoul Metropolitan Area of South Korea. Ordinary least squares and generalized least squares regressions were employed to measure the policy’s effect on four sprawl measurement criteria: physical growth containment, land and housing values, community service provision cost, and commuting cost. Relaxing the greenbelt guided new development inside the greenbelt and decreased the percentage change in property tax and land price relative to the urban core throughout the region. The relaxation decreased fiscal burden in areas beyond the greenbelt; however, commuting data analyses showed that the commuting costs remained high.