Location: Daijeon, South Korea

In 2004 the South Korean Prime Minister, Lee Hae-chan announced that the country’s capital would be moved from Seoul to Gongju and Yeongi.  A 71km² (17,540 acre) site was chosen for the project, which was scheduled to be completed by 2030.  Government and administrative functions would move to the new capital, along with the parliament and Supreme Court, although no sizable relocation was expected until completion of the first phase of the project around 2012.  An international competition was held to solicit design ideas for the project.  

The site chosen is centrally located within Korea near Daejeon in Chungcheongnam province. With a population of 1.8 million, Daejeon is the 5th largest city in South Korea and a major transportation hub. Here, the two main development corridors in South Korea cross on their way to and from Seoul. The anticipated population of New City is planned for 500,000 people.  The location enjoys an appealing lifestyle and healthy regional economy that is sustained by a diversity of historical and recreational sites. 

Feng Shui design principles were used to determine the layout of New City. The principal access is located at the west from the existing National Road 36.  Location of mountains, drainage, and topography determines the location of the government center and the main development core area.  The blocks are oriented east-west to allow most of the façade to have a southern solar orientation. Principal views such as lakes, parks and river would be located east and west to allow viewing through the spatial corridors that form between blocks.  In addition to Feng Shui, the master plan employees the principles of Transect Neighborhood Design.  New City is structured around 21 neighborhoods, each with its own centre, mix of uses and housing, civic buildings, and open space network.  The higher density neighborhoods at the centre form the CBD and government precincts.  All the neighborhoods are a five minute walk from their centre to their edge, making transit and other alternatives to car use practical and desirable.