Seoul’s Connectivity in Asian City System through Air Passenger Flows

• In Event: 563 - Section on Community and Urban Sociology Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Section on Community and Urban Sociology Roundtables (one-hour). Table 01. Global Urbanization and Space

Abstract

This study examines the change in urban connections of Seoul with international cities in the Asian city system. By observing the pattern of air passenger flows between 2002 and 2012, it describes the increase of air traffic volume and number of inter-city pairs of Seoul, and provides its implications for the rising urban connectivity and tourism industry in the region. The study expects that the Seoul’s connection to Asian cities becomes much denser, and the number of city-pairs is growing during the period. The study focuses on how Seoul is linked to big cities in Asia and other regions of North America and Europe. In particular, an analysis will be offered regarding Seoul’s major connections with Japanese cities of Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, and those in China, such as Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, which demonstrates Korea’s current intermediate status in the global economy based on the assumption that the increased number of tourists and city contacts reflecting the dynamism of rising Asian economy in general. As the future research agenda, an implication is drawn that examining not only the status of Seoul within the city system but also analysis of the cliques that Seoul belongs to as both a destination and an origin city of tourist groups are necessary.

Author

• Kyoung-ho Shin, Northwest Missouri State University