Changes in Contemporary Form in Gangneung City through Cadastral Data Analysis and Application of the Spatial Politics Concept

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal changes in urban forms by analyzing the modern and contemporary development history of Gangneung City, one of the major cities in the Yeongdong county of Gangwon-do, South Korea; it has been a central city in the Yeongdong area since the Japanese colonial period. The study’s scope and analysis focused on a space centered in the old downtown area of Gangneung City. The time span under review was divided into three periods in terms of spatial politics. The original cadastral map, a contemporary cadastral map, and photographic data were analyzed, including the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) Programs, for characteristics corresponding to each period. A field investigation and interviews with residents were also conducted. The results confirmed changes in the spatial environment centered on roads, blocks, plots, and architecture that have historical significance. In particular, the study verified the characteristics of the physical environment of the original downtown area centered on Yonggang-dong, Myeongju-dong, and Seongnae-dong and changes in the form of Lake Gyeongpo. Finally, the study presents the implications of these changes by comprehensively summarizing the history of the modern and contemporary development of Gangneung City through changes in the surrounding area.

1. Introduction

Most small and medium cities worldwide lack systematic urban planning. A systematic and planned approach to the shape and density of cities is urgently needed [1,2]. Gangneung City in Gangwon-do—the subject of this study—falls in the category of small and medium cities. Its urban style mechanism is different from that of large cities; therefore, examining the daily life of its residents requires a new approach. Gangneung is a typical urban–rural complex city. Gangneung is a typical urban–rural complex city that includes an urban area (dong area) and a rural area (eup-myeon area); the characteristics of the spatial structure of Gangneung-si and Myeongju-gun were merged in 1995. In terms of the characteristics of its spatial structure, most of the population and industries are concentrated in urban areas. It is at the center of Yeongdong county in Gangwon-do province. It covers a total area of 1040 km² and reported a population of 213,189 in 2020 https://gn.go.kr (accessed on 7 March 2022) [3]. As a tourist city, it is rich in cultural historical sites and natural tourism resources. It has produced noteworthy scholars, artists, and philosophers, including Yulgok, Sinsaimdang, Heo Gyun, Heo Nanseolheon, and Kim Si-seup, and possesses tangible and intangible cultural assets, such as Ojukheon (Treasure No. 165), Gaeksamun (National Treasure No. 51), and the Gangneung Dano Festival (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Gangneung City’s social, historical, political, and economic values have made it truly representative of Yeongdong [4].

Being a representative city of Yeongdong brings with it considerable significance. However, there are limitations in examining the current state of the city through the history of modern and contemporary development and researching its future potential. Small and medium cities are often constrained in their administrative independence and ability to implement policies due to a continuous decline in population, an aging population, and a low degree of financial independence. As of 2021, Gangneung City’s financial independence was at 15.46%, ranking it 143rd among 243 local governments (e-country indicator). Ultimately, these factors hinder sustainability. Moreover, continuously declining urbanity presents many problems related to population and urban spaces. Thus, a low-growth development plan based on sustainability is essential for local small and medium cities. Exploring and recording the characteristics of local cities against this backdrop and predicting their future is an important exercise. It is especially important to document an area that is at the crossroads of rapid decline after playing a central role in the industry and economy during the process of modernization. Consequently, future potential can be predicted on the basis of the conclusions drawn from investigating the area [5]. Regarding the urban form in the modern and contemporary development process of local cities, this study establishes local values and draws a picture of the future; this is needed now when interest in the development history of the city is increasing socially, politically, and economically.

Regarding the characteristics of a city’s shape and dimension, each city has its own unique form in connection with its spatial structure and density. Furthermore, the form of a city can be described as an aggregation of the urban tissue that constitutes it, comprising four elements—roads, lots, blocks, and buildings [4]. There is a lack of sufficient research on the form of small and medium cities and the urban tissues that constitute them. Research is essential for sustainable urban management and the future development of these cities [4]. The present urban environment is the result of an accumulation of changes over time; an urban environment created in this way forms the urban tissue of a city. This urban tissue serves as an urban environment, which is the basis of the present life of city dwellers. Urban tissue refers to a morphological result that appears as an aggregate through a complex composition of the four elements mentioned earlier. These environmental characteristics are likely to be integrated and appear in small and medium cities such as Gangneung City; the impact on the region as a whole is also expected to be significant. Access to historical places and spaces in the region should be differentiated from that of new towns and newly developed areas [5]. Small and medium cities in the region have developed based on their historical significance since ancient times. Similarly, Gangneung City is a representative city of Gangwon Yeongdong, which is meaningful in highlighting the identity of the city. Therefore, finding a distinct development plan for Gangneung City is essential in an era of low-growth forecasts.

This study examines the process of modern and contemporary urban changes in Gangneung City and identifies the unique characteristics of the city and the principles of city formation. Through this, it records the development process of the city, and its results can be used as basic data for seeking urban management and development plans for the urban area of Gangneung City.

This study targets the urbanization surrounding the original downtown area centering on Gangneung City’s main area, which has played a central role in Yeongdong, Gangwon-do. The total area of Gangneung City is 1040 km² with a population of 213,189 in 2020. The administrative district consists of 1 eup, 7 myeon, and 13 administrative dong. The subject central urban area of this study is approximately 1.99 km². Gangneung City Hall moved from the old city center to its current location in 2001. (Figure 1). After serving as a myeongju in the 9 Ju 5 Sogyeong of the Silla Dynasty, it served as a representative city in the Yeongdong region of Gangwon-do during its historical development. Even today, it has great significance as a coastal tourism city. To verify the changes in its modern and contemporary urban form, the study first divided its modern and contemporary history by periods, to establish a spatial and political framework. Second, it analyzed the characteristics of urban formation by period, focusing on Gangneung City’s urban area. Third, it explored the implications by analyzing the characteristics of the built environment of urban space formation in urbanized areas. For verification, geographic information data, photographs, and other data—such as cadastral sources and maps—were collected to analyze urban changes and development processes. The cadastral floor plan involved conducting a land survey project from 1910 to 1918 for the purpose of seizing Korean land and turning it into a logistical base during the Japanese colonial period. Through the land survey project, the Land Investigation, Forest Field Survey, Cadastral Floor Plan, Forest Field Map, Land Tax Record, and Forest Field Tax Record were recorded. The scale of the cadastral floor plan was 1/600 for urban areas. A large-scale map of this size easily classifies the boundaries of land ownership and can be used in connection with the current KLIS serial cadastral map and other numerical maps. Information on the use, type, and owner of the land was recorded in the Land Investigation, and the address and type of the relevant land can be identified in the cadastral map. In some cases, the name of the owner is indicated on the cadastral floor plan [6]. Later, in the case of local small cities in Korea, modern cadastral work was carried out in the 1960s [7]. In this study, the first period was analyzed through the cadastral floor plan and cadastral maps prepared by the Japanese imperialists, and the second and third periods were analyzed through modern cadastral data, map data, and photographic data. Through this, the significance of historical places and spaces can be revealed and documented; changes in the street system formed in the process of urban development and changes in urban form can also be confirmed. Furthermore, in the process of historical development, we tried to confirm the change in urban form through changes in blocks, architecture, and streets. The photographic data were used as the main data to confirm the three-dimensional change in the city, and it is meaningful to grasp the change of the urban form through three-dimensional analysis as the urban space is a three-dimensional spatial structure. The data used in this study were based on data optimized for detail and scale depending on the purpose. Changes at an urban architectural level in the political, economic, and social development sphere were also identified. Additionally, more granular details were added to the records through interviews with local residents, drawings through field surveys, and Geographic Information System (GIS) programs. The study’s scope and detailed research methods are summarized in

Table 1. Scope and method of the study.

Category	Content
Research content	Morphological development history of the urban architecture of Gangneung City. Urban morphology based on flow over time in terms of spatial politics.
Spatial scope	Main city center with a focus on the original city center (first). Central area of Gangneung City (second).
Research method	Classification of the modern and contemporary history of Gangneung City through the concept of spatial politics by period. Collection and analysis of geographic information, such as cadastral sources and cadastral maps, photos, and other data from the literature. Conduction of research by interviewing local residents, making drawings through field surveys, and utilizing GIS programs.

.

2. Review of Previous Studies and Theories

2.1. Review of Previous Studies

2.1.1. Research on Urban Tissue and Urban Form

Several studies on urban forms have been conducted in Korea and worldwide. In foreign countries, some studies have examined sustainability through the relationship between urban form and density [8], whereas others have analyzed the relationship between the urban environment and urban forms [9,10] and between sustainable development and urban forms [11]. Studies have also examined the theory of urban forms and morphological change patterns [12,13,14,15,16,17]. In South Korea, in addition to the study by Park [18], which investigated and analyzed the modern and contemporary development history of Samcheok, Gangwon-do, the study by Park [19] on 18 cities and counties in Gangwon-do is a representative example. These studies are meaningful as they focus on Gangwon and other local small and medium cities. Park [20] and Park and Jeong [21] conducted research on historical cities. Choi et al. [22], Min [23], and Jeong [24] studied the Namchon area of Seoul, Sadaemunan, and the urban tissue of the Hügelland residence, respectively. Studies have also revealed the historical significance of the urban tissue in small, medium, and large cities in provinces such as Gunsan, Mokpo, and Busan. They are valuable in terms of city morphology.

2.1.2. Studies Related to Gangneung City

Shim [25,26] conducted a literature review from a historical perspective based on archaeological data on Jeonyegukgoseong in Gangneung City’s original downtown area. Park [27] presented the characteristics of Gangneung City as reflected in its historical development from ancient times to the late Joseon Dynasty and described the transition process of the administrative districts in each period. Park [28] cataloged the modern buildings in Gangneung City and presented the implications by examining the characteristics of the city’s built environment. However, in terms of analyzing the spatial characteristics of buildings, this study differs from the previous ones in that it is an image-oriented study that focuses on the evaluation of materials and structures, and therefore, the significance of Gangneung as a small and medium city is considerable. Nevertheless, there is still insufficient diversity in the research. In particular, studies that explore the significance of the area in terms of urban architecture and the characteristics of the area in the development process are needed (

Table 2. Characteristics of leading local studies related to Gangneung City.

Researcher	Content
Park [19]	Analyzed the morphological development process of 18 cities and counties in Gangwon-do, focusing on cadastral data, derived characteristics, and presented implications. The study covered a vast geographic area and focused on deriving the tangible and morphological characteristics of small and medium cities in Gangwon-do.
Shim [25,26]	Conducted a literature review based on archaeological data concerning Jeonyegukgoseong in the original downtown area of Gangneung. The study suggested that it was located in the original downtown area of Gangneung City.
Park [28]	Cataloged the modern buildings of Gangneung City, classified their types, and discussed the implications, focusing on the built environment such as materials and structures. However, it omitted a significant number of target structures and provided a photo-centric modification.
Park [27]	Explained the historical development of Gangneung from ancient times to the late Joseon Dynasty. Described the transition process of administrative districts by era from a diachronic perspective.
Lim [29]	Analyzed the urban spatial structure of Gangneung City in terms of real estate and predicted future value through development patterns.

).

2.2. Outstanding Issues of Small and Medium Regional Cities; Study of the Development History and the Significance of Gangneung City

Low birth rates and aging populations are intensifying in the social structure characterizing the slow-growth era; the problem of decline in local small cities, in particular, is leading to the social issue of local extinction. As of 2018, all “provinces” in Korea’s non-metropolitan area had entered the extinction warning stage, with 57.8% identified as extinction-risk areas. Moreover, when regional cities are subdivided into eup, myeon, and dong units, the problem of population decline becomes more serious [30]. Despite these issues, urban planning for city management does not differ significantly from plans from the growth period and the reality is that social costs are continuously absorbed. Furthermore, a study on small and medium-sized cities in Gangwon’s Yeongdong region, such as Sokcho City and Samcheok City, which are adjacent to Gangneung City, revealed a similar decline and a more direct cause due to regional characteristics. A number of studies have been conducted as an improvement measure to suggest the continuity of small and medium-sized cities through the concept of compressed cities, as well as urban management by district [3]. Besides, studies have been conducted to diagnose the problem of decline in the region and to propose policy prescriptions to address it. As the benefits of a city are concentrated in its metropolitan areas, studies on cities and regions are also increasing. Small and medium cities generally refer to cities of a certain size based on the distribution and size of the population in the urban system. As the city system has recently been reorganized from the unit city center to the city region, a new concept for small and medium cities is necessary [16]. Regions and cities that have played an active role in the historical development of Korean society have undergone modern and contemporary development. Their role and importance have continuously reduced and sometimes declined. Changes and characteristics appear differently in the development history of small and medium-sized cities depending on regional, social, and environmental characteristics, which can also determine the city’s future. Typically, Samcheok City, near Gangneung City, is at the crossroads of stagnation and decline because of the reorganization of the industrial structure and administrative districts [5], whereas Sokcho City is experiencing population growth as a result of the revitalization of the tourism industry and the expansion of urban infrastructure [10]. In addition, 18 small and medium-sized cities in Gangwon-do are experiencing changes in the urban environment in a short period; these are manifesting as various urban problems and changes in shape depending on changes in the density of the city’s population and industry. In urban spaces, various aspects may be observed according to regional characteristics. A direction and strategy for the present and the future that is informed by the past is required along with the historical significance of leaving a record of urban development and decline in the past [18]. The year 1940, during the Japanese colonial period, is considered the starting point of urban planning in Gangneung City, which is the subject of this study. Urban planning during that time was restricted to 6.54 km² of Gangneung-total eup’s area of 21.57 km². Gangneung City had 3798 households and a population of 19,205 at the time. According to urban planning, converting the saturation density to 100 m² per person results in a scale that can accommodate 57,000 people. By the end of 1966, the population had grown to 65,422 with 10,846 households, and the population was concentrated in the city center, resulting in the centripetal development of the villages. This can be considered the beginning of modern urban planning in Gangneung City. In 1967, the urban planning reorganization project was expanded to include the entire city of Gangneung (75.06 km²). The use zones were first implemented by dividing them into residential, commercial, industrial, and green areas at rates of 13.7%, 2.5%, 4.7%, and 79.1%, respectively, with green areas accounting for the absolute majority. A planned approach to rational city management has gradually been implemented since then.

Table 3. Gangneung City’s major urban planning issues.

Time	Administrative Unit	Improvement in Physical Environment	Other Factors
1940	Gangneung-eup (6.540 km2)	City planning Set up the city planning street Set up a land readjustment district	Establishment of the Urban Planning Foundation
1955	Promoted to Gangneung City (expanded to 75.064 km2)	Water and sewage and road maintenance center Improvement of public health environment Maintenance of waterfront spaces such as beaches	Urban restoration development of the entire Gangneung City
1965		Urban planning maintenance with 13 items including land use survey, land price survey, building status survey, urban development history survey, etc.	Urban planning, development
1967		Expansion as an urban planning redevelopment project Altitude conception of land use Redevelopment into residential, commercial, industrial, and green areas
1995	Gangneung-si and Myeongju-gun combined	Expansion of housing quantitative supply through housing site development (development of 6 complexes including Gyo-dong housing site development district) Redevelopment of the old original city center	Reorganization of urban planning through the introduction of sustainability

summarizes the major urban planning issues in Gangneung City. The urban environment of the Japanese colonial period, the Korean War and recovery period, the compressed high growth period, and the rapid low-growth period that began in the 2000s are social and environmental characteristics that can only be experienced in Korea; they appear as limitations in the systematic urban development process. Gangneung City’s population was 70,990 in 1970, 116,903 in 1980, 152,605 in 1990, 233,816 in 2000, 220,121 in 2010, and 233,812 in 2020; it has been stagnant since 2000. An examination of the population status of Gangneung City by administrative district since 1995 indicates that it is concentrated in the city center, particularly the original city center (Figure 2). Gangneung City was consolidated with Myeongju-gun with the reform of administrative districts in 1995, under which its area expanded from 75.06 km² to 1040.79 km². From this perspective, Gangneung City represents the Yeongdong region of Gangwon-do. Environmental, locational, and policy dimension changes have occurred in the process of modern and contemporary development. As a result, the city’s structure and environment have changed.

2.3. The Necessity of Applying the Concept of Spatial Politics and Classification of Gangneung City by Period

Many small and medium cities have historically played a significant role in the development of society but are now experiencing difficulties owing to their reduced role in modern and contemporary processes or changes in urban function. An approach to spaces in small and medium cities differentiated from that for large ones is necessary [28]. To this end, this study explores the concept of spatial politics, which is suitable for explaining the complexity and diversity of contemporary society. Applying the spatial politics concept is appropriate because many small and medium cities in Korea are facing problems at a political and economic level, such as industrial structure reorganization, the decline of the original downtown area due to the development of new towns, a decrease in the population, and an increase in the older population. The spatial politics that take place in the urban spaces of a city are similar to the pattern of urban politics. This is because urban politics are used to characterize the political phenomena existing in a spatial domain called a city. Urban and spatial politics are used interchangeably. Furthermore, Park [4] conducted a contemporary urban analysis of 12 spatial practice concepts in terms of urban spatial politics, confirming its suitability as a theory that can respond flexibly to the diversity of space [18]. In addition, the spatial politics of difference, which creates differences between regions, takes place through the production of spatially differentiated otherness [18]. Examining the concept of spatial politics of a local city by focusing on “difference” as the theoretical basis for the study of small and medium-sized cities is required. Moreover, when investigating urban space using the concept of spatial politics, the frameworks of change in the rapidly changing urban environment could be distinguished through changes in political, economic, and social aspects. According to Park [3], an approach using spatial politics is needed to understand the rapidly changing contemporary urban environment. Through this, the characteristics of the physical, humanistic, and social environment can be comprehensively analyzed. These content characteristics possess a theoretical background suitable for research on areas that have a dynamic modern and contemporary history, such as Gangneung City. The modern and contemporary history of Gangneung City can be divided into three periods according to political, economic, and environmental changes, based on the concept of spatial politics. In particular, the study was conducted by classifying the periods of rapid changes in the urban environment of Gangneung City due to economic changes (

Table 4. Classification of the modern and contemporary history of Samcheok City.

Category	Classification of Time via Aspects of Publication Politics	Characteristic (1)	Characteristic (2)	Subject of Analysis
Early primary stage: 1910–1954	Gangneung-eup	Classification of periods in relation to changes in administrative districts. Strengthening its function as a historical city. Formative period of the basic structure of the city.	Change in the size of Gyeongpo Lake. Changes in the flow of Namdaecheon. Formation of a city road centered on the original city center.	Cadastral map and cadastral floor plan analysis.
Mid-secondary stage: 1955–1994 (inner expander)	Promotion of Gangneung-eup as a city	Establishment of urban functions such as administrative autonomy. Change in the center in the direction of Gyeongpodae. Change into a tourist city.	Change in the size of Gyeongpo Lake. Full-scale development of waterfront spaces, such as Gyeongpodae.	Cadastral floor plan analysis and GIS analysis.
Late tertiary stage: 1995–present (outer expander)	Integration of Gangneung City and Myeongju-gun	Strengthening the city’s character as a representative city of Yeongdong, Gangwon-do. Strengthening the city’s urban characteristics as a tourist city.	Continuous housing development and urban area expansion in Gangneung City’s suburbs. Seeking vitalization through downtown regeneration.	Cadastral floor plan analysis, GIS analysis, and numerical map analysis.

).

3. Analysis of Gangneung City’s Urban Formation before Modernization

3.1. Historical Development of Ancient Gangneung

Gangneung began to be influenced by Goguryeo and Silla after the formation of the Three Kingdoms. According to the geography of the Samguk Sagi, the eastern coastal regions, such as Ganseong, Goseong, Yeongdeok, Heunghae, Uljin, and Cheongha, which constituted Myeongju, and some regions of Yeongseo, such as Imha and Yeongwol, were originally Gunhyeons of Goguryeo [31]. Myeongju belonged to Goguryeo under the name of Haseoryang. The exact timeline during which the Yeongdong region was incorporated into the territory of Silla is not known, but Gangneung was first recorded as Silla territory in 387 CE (the 42nd year of King Naemul [32]). Thereafter, frequent clashes between Silla and Malgal of Goguryeo took place in the Gangneung area. Gangneung became a firmly governed territory of Silla from the period of King Jijeung, during which Hasla-ju was established and Sabu Lee was dispatched as a monarch. In 639 CE (the 8th year of Queen Seondeok), Hasla-ju was abolished and North-sogyung was established as a political and cultural center. The Hasla region, which was adjacent to Malgal, became an unstable state in 658 CE (the 5th year of King Muyeol). Subsequently, Sokyung was abolished, and a state system, with military characteristics, returned. The unification of Silla, which began during the reign of King Muyeol, achieved territorial unification by securing the area south of Wonsan Bay and the Taedong River by the time of King Munmu. Accordingly, in 685 CE (the 5th year of King Sinmun), nine statehoods were established. The Yeongdong region, including Gangneung, fell under the administration of Myeongju. There were nine Sok-gun and 25 Sok-hyeon within the jurisdiction. At that time, Myeongju had jurisdiction over most of the present-day east coast of Gangwon-do, Pyeongchang-gun, Yeongwol-gun, and Jeongseon-gun, and most of the coastal area of northern Gyeongsangbuk-do and part of South Hamgyong-do. Gangneung, Chiso of Myeongju, served as the center of the Yeongdong region (Figure 3).

Regarding the local system of the Goryeo period, 5-do yanggyea were established in Hyeonjong-cho after several administrative district changes. Most of the Yeongdong region belonged to Donggye. Myeongju was promoted to Dongwon-gyeong in 936 (the 19th year of King Taejo), when the first administrative reorganization took place in the Goryeo Dynasty and reverted to Myeongju in 940 (the 23rd year of King Taejo). Thereafter, Myeongju was renamed four times during King Sengjong’s period. Then, in 1261 (the 1st year of King Wonjong), Myeongju was promoted to Gyeongheung Dohobu as it was said to be the hometown of Hong-chi Kim, a public servant who served the king during the Mongol invasion. In 1308 (the 34th year of King Chungnyeol), it was renamed Gangneungbu, which is its present name. In 1389 (the 1st year of King Gongyang), Gangneung-bu was promoted to Gangneung Daedohobu, and for Byeolho, it was called Imyeong. Gangneung continuously played a central role in the Yeongdong region, even during the Joseon Dynasty. The jurisdiction of Gangneung Daedohobu was the largest among the 26 counties and prefectures in the province. When the 8-do system was abolished and the 23-bu system was implemented in 1895, Gangwon-do was divided into Yeong-dong and Yeong-seo, with the former belonging to Gangneung-buand and the latter to Chuncheon-bu. When the 23-bu system was abolished the following year, a 13-do system was implemented and Gangneung-bu was renamed Gangneung-gun [27].

3.2. Geographical Characteristics of “GangneungEupseong” and Changes in the Urban Structure of Gangneung City during the Japanese Colonial Period

Gangneung Eupseong is a west wall built in Eupchiso, where Gangneungbu was located during the Goryeo Dynasty. The East Sea was not far to the east, and to the west was Daegwallyeong, which corresponds to the sunken ridge of Baekdu-daegan. Transportation to and from Yeongseo, Yeongdong-ro, which corresponds to today’s Pyeonghae, and Uljin in Gyeongbuk to Hanyang via Gangneung—even during the Joseon Dynasty—was present; thus, it was located on a key transportation route. Gangneung Eupseong played a central role in Gangneung Daedohobu from the Goryeo Dynasty to the Joseon Dynasty. Gwanaji and GaeksamunImyeonggwanji are connected to local cultural assets. The fortress wall has been excavated three times in total; however, only a signboard was built, and it is not used for educational purposes. Museum of Gangneung National University, Gangneung Cultural Heritage Excavation Report (Procedures and the survey on emergency probation), the Academic Reference Books of the Museum of Gangneung National University, Vol. 14 [33]. The geographic conditions of Gangneung Eupseong are similar to those of Eupseong, except for some peculiarities [33]. Based on the land category on the cadastral map, the location of Gangneung Eupseong is roughly in the form of a rhombus with the former Nonghyup Yonggangbranch (Seobu Market Entrance, Yonggang 35-8) at the northern end, Myeongju Elementary School 3rd Intersection (Myeongju 63-5) at the southern end, the former Gangneung Theater (12-3 Seongnae) at the eastern end, and the Gangneung Girls’ Middle School (Yonggang 46-6) at the western end. The total length of Gangneung Eupseong is estimated to be 1.7 km². The Gangneung Eupseong area is shown in Figure 4 (left). The main buildings of Gwana forming Eupseong face south. The guesthouse building is not oriented to the south but is turned 22 degrees to the east. The Gwana building faces southeast, which is tilted further by 44 degrees to the east.

Shim [25,26] conducted research on Yeguk Goseong and Gangneung Eupseong, observing that there are almost no studies on Jeonje Gukgoseong based on specific archaeological research data and that fragmental comments have been made depending on the circumstances of the surrounding investigation. This is the extent to which possibilities have been presented in depth. As confirmed in this study, the construction of the Donghae Line that passes through the original city center of Gangneung City is presumed to have had a partial effect on the urban structure and has a close relationship with the line known as Wolhwa Road. Wolhwa road is a pedestrian public space that was promoted as a park project for idle railroad sites created by the construction of underground sections of the Wonju-Gangneung railroad. A revitalization of the downtown area was actively sought by providing a resting space for urban residents through the urban regeneration of the original downtown area and the restructuring of the city [18] (refer to the left side of Figure 5). Meanwhile, urban change was promoted in the original city center during the Japanese colonial period. The traditions of the region were destroyed, and the opinions of the local people were ignored [34]. Countless relics in the Gangneung region suffered great damage during this period. The road passing through Gangneung Eupseong was also constructed during this time, as well as major buildings, such as Gangneung Ordinary School and Gangneung Post Office. Looking at the changes in the watershed of the lower Namdaecheon Stream during the Japanese colonial period, changes to the flow path were promoted to secure water for the residential areas. This was aimed at providing satisfactory housing for the increasing number of Japanese residents and reorganizing the traditional spatial structure by the Japanese colonial rulers (Figure 6).

4. Characteristics of Changes in Urban Tissue by Period of Urbanization in Gangneung City

4.1. First Period: 1910–1954 (Gangneung-eup Period)

In the 1900s, the Gangneung region was developed with a focus on Gangneung Eupseong at the center of the original downtown area around Eupseong. The orientation of the city toward the west can be confirmed through floor plans made during the Japanese colonial period (Figure 7). In addition to the floor plans, the original cadastral map of the time—which detailed parcels, blocks, and roads—was also analyzed. The characteristics of major roads and urban tissue in the center of Gangneung City are shown in Figure 7. The lots of the original downtown area analyzed through the original cadastral map produced in 1915 covered an area of approximately 18.17 to 23.37 m², and the slenderness ratio was analyzed to be 18.97–0.02. The average value of the lot in the target area was 1167.83 m², and the average value of the slenderness ratio of urban lots was analyzed to be 1.29 (the dotted areas in Figure 8). Such physical environmental characteristics are significant factors affecting the living environment of a local community, including the living environment of the residences at the time. Spatial structure analysis can be used to determine the characteristics of a local built environment. In addition, this spatial environment is significant for capturing the historicity of the original downtown area of Gangneung City. A further exploration of the ways to utilize related information through recordings is possible.

The records of that time can be confirmed in the photographs showing the original downtown area of Gangneung in 1919 and the Gangneung urban area in the lower part of Namdaecheon in 1920. In photograph 1 of

Table 5. Changes in major urban landscapes and roads.

Category	Main Photo 1	Main Photo 2
View of Gangneung City
Main roads

Sources: Photo 1 Gangneung Cultural Center [37], Photo 2 Gangneung City History [38].

, there are government buildings of the traditional era, such as Gaeksamun, Imyeonggwan, Chilsadang, and Uiunru, and the Daeseonghwangteo forming a forest. The white building in the upper left of photograph 2 is the Gangneung garrison and Hasla Middle School (formerly Gangneung Girls’ Middle School). The importance of the place at the time is confirmed in an image of people gathering to attend the Gangneung Dano Festival (Table 5).

The urban area centered on the original downtown area was analyzed by focusing on roads. Along with the Gyeongrang-roon on an east–west axis, the Imyeong-ro connecting to the north, the Gangneung Ordinary School (1896), Gangneung Post Office (1898), and Jahye Clinic (1913) are also visible. With the promotion of the Gangneung-myeon to Gangneung-eup in 1931, the number of new roads in the city gradually increased (

Table 6. Historical development of Gangneung City around the city center (first period).

Period	Floor Plan Analysis	Characteristics
1915		Gangneung Ordinary School (currently Gangneung Elementary School) established in 1896 Gangneung Post Office opened in 1898 Jahye Clinic, the predecessor of Gangneung Medical Center, established in 1913
1933		Characteristics of the original downtown area in 1933 Started supplying electricity to Gangneung-eup in 1929 Gangneung-myeon was promoted to Gangneung-eup in 1931 Formation of new roads in the original city center

Source: Created through an analysis of the author’s floor plans.

).

4.2. Second Period: 1955–1994 (Gangneung City)

After liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Gangneung’s urban development process was divided into three periods. The first period was from 1955 to around 1980, when the fifth 5-year economic and social development plan and the second comprehensive national land development plan were finalized. The period of the second phase ended around 1990 when the third comprehensive national development plan was implemented. The city gradually expanded to Gangneung City Seongnam-dong central market (Gotgam Alley, Geumbang Alley Area, 1943).

The second market (currently Jungang Market, 1954) and third market (currently Seobu Market, 1956) focus on the original downtown area. The shape (landscape) of Gyeongpo Lake, located on the east coast of the original city center, changed continuously until around 1973, when it established its current size and appearance. Gyeongpoho Lake originates from Mumyeong 421, a lagoon created by a shoal or sandbank blocking the entrance to the bay due to the action of ocean currents along the coastline. It is 13.45 km long and has a basin area of 36.6 km². It has the largest watershed of all the major lagoons on the east coast. Currently (2021), the surface area of Gyeongpo Lake is 0.9 km², which makes it the third-largest lake after Hwajinpo and Yeongrang. In the past, it was nearly twice that size and the second-largest lake after Hwajinpo [36]. During the Joseon Dynasty, the Gyeongpo Lake was significantly larger. After the mid-1980s, when the shape and scale of Gyeongpo Lake began to reveal some consistency, the development of the area around Gyeongpo Lake began and the surrounding city gradually took shape. The natural shore is gradually transforming into an artificial lake, and there is continuous development around Gyeongpo Lake. Commercial facilities on the right bank of the lake constantly suffer from flood damage. Environment improvement through redevelopment is planned for the future. The gradual development of buildings around Gyeongpo Beach can be observed in

Table 7. Changes in major urban spatial structures.

Division	Main Photo 1	Main Photo 2
Gyeongpo Lake
Main roads

Source: Photo 1 Gangneung Cultural Center [37], Photo 2 Gangneung City History [38].

).

Next, changes in roads and buildings in the original downtown area during the second period were analyzed. Along with the differentiation of major roads and the subdivision of blocks, the continuous expansion of the city area brought about changes in the urban structure of the original downtown area [39]. A subdivision of roads and block systems based on the use of buildings can be observed. In addition, the expansion of public spaces, such as markets, occurred continuously (

Table 8. Historical development of Gangneung City, focusing on the city center (second period).

Period	Floor Plan Analysis	Characteristics
1966		First market (Gotgam Alley, Geumbang Alley area) established in Seongnam-dong, Gangneung City in 1943. Second market (Jungang Market) opened in Seongnam-dong, Gangneung City in 1954. Third market (Seobu Market) opened in Yonggang-dong, Gangneung City in 1956.
1973		Loss of Jaegeon Bridge (Namsan Bridge) in 1970. Completion of Gangneung Bridge expansion in 1971. Embankment construction between Gangneung Bridge and Seongdeok Elementary School in 1972.
1989		Work on the west market began in 1981. Formation of Nammun-dong Furniture Alley. Yeongdong-Donghae Expressway opened in 1988.

Source: Analysis of the map by the author.

).

4.3. Third Period: 1995–Present (Gangneung City and Myeongju-gun Integration Period)

In Gangneung City’s modern and contemporary development history, the third period can be seen as the period when Gangneung City and Myeongju-gun began to play the role of an integrated city–rural city in earnest, although they were already united in 1995. In 1995, Korea changed its administrative district reorganization policy from the existing city–county separation method to the city–county integration method. The government integrated about 40 cities and counties as a way of responding to changes in the domestic and foreign political and economic environment and to solve the problems of existing city and county separation. Issues related to the city and county separation include deteriorating financial power and deepening regional disparities; increasing costs due to the increase in the number of public servants and new and expanded administrative agencies; and conflict over the benefits and costs of installing metropolitan facilities such as water and sewage, and sewage treatment plants between cities and counties [40]. When the cadastral data of the original downtown area in 2020 were analyzed, the average area of a lot was 241.94 m² and the slenderness ratio was approximately 1.2. The areas ranged from a maximum of 26,040.79 m² to a minimum of 1.58 m², and the slenderness range of lots was 19.6–0.75. The characteristics of the cadastral form correlate with the type of architecture and patterns of space utilization. Significance can be examined in relation to changes in residential types in Gangneung. As confirmed in Figure 9,

Table 9. Historical development of Gangneung City, focusing on the city center (third period).

Category	Main Photo 1	Main Photo 2
Gangneung City’s original downtown in development
Main roads

Source: Photo 1, Gangneung Cultural Center [37], Photo 2, Gangneung City History [38], Photo 3, Gangneung Cultural Center [37], author’s photographs.

, the present-day Gangneung City urban structure takes a concrete form in the third phase.

As shown in

Table 10. Changes in major urban spatial structure.

Period	Floor Plan Analysis	Characteristics
1996		Songjeong District Housing Site Development Project in 1991 Integrated Gangneung City launched in 1995 Extension of Naegok Bridge completed in 1993 Completion of Gangneung Terminal (Hongje-dong) in 1995
2005		Opening of Gangneung Indoor Ice-Skating Stadium in 1998 Gangneung City’s new building in 2001 Completion of Solol district (Gyodong housing site) construction project in 2000 Yeongdong Expressway 4-lane extension in 2001

, and Figure 10, Gangneung City continuously developed housing sites to improve its housing problem, and new town developments expanded mainly to the northeast of the original city center. This quantitative expansion reflects urban policy in the period of high growth. Meanwhile, the decline and stagnation of the original downtown remained a structural problem for the local community, and a policy began to be implemented in earnest from the perspective of regeneration. Relocating the Wonju–Gangneung railway underground, the efforts to reorganize the urban environment through the regeneration of past industrialization facilities such as Wolhwa Road, and the continuous promotion of the Urban Regeneration New Deal had symbolic significance. Furthermore, along with the development of the original downtown area and the surrounding area around Gyeongpo Lake, the urban expansion triggered by the Pyeongchang Olympics could be seen as being a result of Gangneung City’s policy of continuous urban expansion (Figure 10).

In the 1910s, Gyeongpo Lake was about twice its current size. Ferryboats frequently came to Baedari, and Punghojeong Pavilion was located in Hashidong-ri, Gangdong-myeon; however, it has since been destroyed. In 1962, the Donghae Bukbu railway line was opened to the west of the lake. In the 1970s, the shape of the lake changed markedly because of construction activities on the Gyeongpo Lake’s shoreline. Roads were repaired and accommodation facilities were built on Gyeongpo Beach, along with the continuous dredging of the lake. The average water depth was maintained at 1.5–2.0 m and the surrounding agricultural and residential land was developed. The policy aimed to “promote the balanced development of the Gyeongpo district by creating a tourist destination around the lake with a dredging road and increase the income of residents by proliferating the fish stock in the lake” [39]. Since then, the number of surrounding roads and residential land development areas has increased, and the urban tissue has changed. Changes to the original downtown area of Gangneung and the areas surrounding Gyeongpo Lake are closely related to the changes in the physical environment of Gyeongpo Lake and the area’s subsequent development. The content of the comprehensive analysis, including the area of the shore and the length of the perimeter, is summarized in

Table 11. Changes in the shape and scale of Gyeongpo Lake.

Category	Analysis
Floor plans for analysis
Characteristic (1)	1915 Area: ~1.74 km2 Circumference: ~7.70 km	1966 area: ~1.17 km2 Circumference: ~6.86 km	1973 Area: ~1.00 km2 Circumference: ~4.28 km
Characteristic (2)	The surrounding area is used as agricultural land to secure agricultural crops.	Gyeongpo Beach Donghae Bukbu railway line opened in 1962 Gyeongpodae purification project in 1966 Gyeongpo Lake shoreline construction started in 1966	Gyeongpo Road construction in 1967 Gyeongpo Lake dredging work started in 1969 Gyeongpo Beach and Gyeongpo Lake designated as tourist destinations in 1969 Gyeongpo Beach Jungang Tong Shopping Mall completed in 1970 Gangneung Beach Hotel (currently Hotel Hyundai) completed in 1971
Floor plans for analysis
Characteristic (1)	1989 Area: about 0.93 km² 989 Area: about 0.93 km 4.21 km	1996 Area: about 0.93 km2 Circumference: about 4.20 km	2005 Area: about 1.00 km2 Circumference: about 4.29 km
Characteristic (2)	Demolition of Jungangtong Shopping Street at Gyeongpo Beach in 1980 Designated as Gyeongpo Provincial Park via Gangwon-do Public Notice No. 89 in 1982 Inundation damage at Gyeongpo Jinan Shopping Center due to the great flood in 1984	Gyeongpo Lake Dredging Project in 1991 Purification project, including the effluent channel improvement project, in 1991	Gyeongpo Beach New Millennium Sunrise Festival in 2000 Unification Park opened in 2001

Source: Author analysis based on cadastral floor plans and Gyeongpo Lake-related project report data for each period.

.

5. Characteristics of Changes in the Built Environment by Period of Urbanization

5.1. First Period: 1910–1954s (Gangneung-eup Period)

Examining the status of buildings in the first phase, as discussed earlier, revealed that urban areas were formed around the Eupseong area. In general, the buildings at the time were one and two stories high with a wooden structure as the centerpiece. Buildings completed before the 1930s accounted for 40.8%, and the tallest buildings were found to be completed in the 1940s (approximately 42%). The buildings completed in the 1910s accounted for only 3.4% of the stock because of the influence of the historical environmental factors of Gangneung; the management of buildings with historical significance is also believed to have had an impact. However, a significant number of buildings were not recorded at the time. Accordingly, the need to document this is urgent. During this study, many cases of loss or non-existence of a significant number of records confirming the characteristics of the built environment at the time were verified. Along with the search for preservation and utilization methods, several buildings, including Yonggang-dong houses, were investigated through actual measurements. In the future, additional research through direct field visits to the target area is required (

Table 12. Analysis of the physical and environmental characteristics of the original downtown of Gangneung City and Gyeongpo Lake area.

Category	Floor Plan Analysis	Characteristics	Category	Floor Plan Analysis	Characteristics	Legend
Original downtown area		Physical environment survey focusing on an area of ~357,000 m2 in Gangneung City’s original downtown area Residential environment that includes multi-generational, and multi-family households and market district centered around the central market Many traditional houses from the Japanese colonial period. Some buildings have been remodeled and are being used as cafés.	Gyeongpo Lake area		Changes in surrounding areas related to changes in the shape of Gyeongpo Lake Form and location of the building considering Gyeongpo Beach on the right and Gyeongpo Lake on the left Investigation of some residential buildings and commercial and leisure facilities as the main building use

Source: Investigation through an in-site survey (March–May 2021).

,

Table 13. The original downtown’s architectural style that demonstrates Gangneung City’s historicity.

Characteristics of the Main Buildings

Source: Investigation through an in-site survey (March–May 2021).

,

Table 14. Analysis of the built landscape characteristics of municipalized areas by each period (1).

Division	Urban Space Locations					Analysis					Features
						Division	Building		Floor area
	Division	Building		Floor area
Primary stages:1910–1954	Year	B (EA)	Ratio (%)	Total (m2)	Mean (m2)	Year	B (EA)	Ratio (%)	Total (m2)	Mean (m2)
	1910s	33	3.4	2762.3	83.7	Industrial facilities	14	1.4	4364.2	311.7	Analysis of residential and business facilities as a leading architectural type. Actual construction types were limitedly investigated. One-story architecture is the centerpiece.
	1920s	113	11.6	7960.8	70.5	Cultural gathering facilities	5	0.5	739.5	147.9
	1930s	251	25.8	19,830.4	79	Business facilities	4	0.4	697.4	174.4
	1940s	411	42.2	33,416.5	81.3	Education and welfare facilities	1	0.1	78.9	78.9
	–1954	166	17	9618	57.9	Neighborhood living facilities	136	14	14,532.4	106.9
	total	974	100	73,588.0	74.5	Residential business facilities	814	83.6	53,175.5	65.3
						Total	974	100	73,588.0	147.5
						Division Year	Building		Floor area		Wooden architecture is the focus, and some masonry and steel-framed constructions have been investigated.
							B (EA)	Ratio (%)	Total (m2)	Mean (m2)
						1F	924	94.9	64,301.5	69.6
						2F	46	4.7	7526.9	163.6
						3F	4	0.4	1759.5	439.9
						Total	974	100	73,588.0	224.4
						Division year	Building		Floor area		Single-story housing type is related to the dominant characteristic.
							B (EA)	Ratio (%)	Total (m2)	Mean (m2)
						Masonry	90	9.2	8772.8	97.5
						Concrete	6	0.6	2090.8	348.5
						Steel frame	23	2.4	6322.6	274.9
						Woodcarving	854	87.7	56,343.5	66
						Other	1	0.1	58.4	58.4
						Total	974	100	73,588.0	169
						Division	Building		Floor area
	Division	Building		Floor area
Secondary stages:1957–1981	Year	B (EA)	Ratio (%)	Total (m2)	Mean (m2)	Year	B (EA)	Ratio (%)	Total (m2)	Mean (m2)
	–1959	261	2.4	20,197.1	77.4	Automobile related facilities	69	0.6	73,911.7	1071.2	Residential business type architecture was the center, and the type of neighborhood living facility gradually increased.
	1960s	432	4.1	38,046.7	88.1	Industrial facilities	204	1.9	443,314.4	2173.1
	1970s	2793	26.2	441 361.9	158	Telecommunication facilities	10	0.1	16,229.5	1623
	1980s	4787	44.9	2,306,966.5	481.9	Cultural gathering facilities	69	0.6	85,997.4	1246.3
	–1994	2393	22.4	2,577,412.0	1077.1	Business facilities	202	1.9	221,486.3	1096.5
	Total	10,666	100	5,383,984.2	376.5	Education and welfare facilities	236	2.2	1,613,461.0	6836.7
						Neighborhood living facilities	1889	17.7	788,017.4	417.2
						Residential business facilities	7962	74.6	2,138,219.8	268.6
						Other facilities	25	0.2	3346.8	133.9
						Total	10,666	100	5,383,984.2	1651.8
						Division	Building		Floor area
						Year	B (EA)	Ratio (%)	Total (m2)	Mean (m2)
						1F	4615	43.3	417,317.3	90.4	Residential types of the first and second floors were mainly observed.
						2F	3888	36.5	830,558.5	213.6
						3F	1108	10.4	732,841.4	661.4
						4F	606	5.7	1,781,554.9	2939.9
						More than 5F	449	4.2	1,621,712.2	3611.8
						Total	10,666	100	5,383,984.2	1503.4
						Division	Building		Floor area
						Year	B (EA)	Ratio (%)		Mean (m2)
						Masonry	6190	58	791,585.7	127.9	The architecture of masonry and the concrete structure were analyzed as the central structural form. This is related to the residential and work-oriented tangible characteristics.
						Concrete	2546	23.9	4,006,839.4	1573.8
						Steel frame	571	5.4	485,954.6	851.1
						Reinforced Concrete	9	0.1	18,326.4	2036.3
						Woodcarving	1349	12.6	81,183.0	60.2
						Other	1	0	95	95
						Total	10,666	100	5,383,984.2	790.7

Source: As for data analysis, the urban area of Gangneung City was the spatial scope of this study. GIS analysis data and existing data on the building register were combined and implemented. As a significant amount of data were lost, data that could be analyzed were targeted.

and

Table 15. Analysis of the built landscape characteristics of municipalized areas by each period (2).

Division	Urban Space Locations					Analysis					Features
						Division	Building		Floor area
	Division	Building		Floor area
Tertiary stages: 1995–now	Year	B (EA)	Ratio (%)	Total (m2)	Mean (m2)	Year	B (EA)	Ratio (%)	Total (m2)	Mean (m2)
	–1999	1841	29	2,644,696	1436.6	Automobile related facilities	93	1.5	98,452.0	1058.6	The number of building types for residential work increased continuously, and the number of diversified building types such as neighborhood living facilities, industrial facilities, and education and welfare facilities increased.
	2000s	2675	42.2	3,245,999	1213.5	Industrial facilities	298	4.7	95,780.2	321.4
	2010s	1776	28	753,662.9	424.4	Telecommunication facilities	6	0.1	13,634.1	2272.4
	2020	48	0.8	51,325.1	1069.3	Cultural gathering facilities	85	1.3	110,005.7	1294.2
	Total	6340	100	6,695,682.8	1035.9	Business facilities	170	2.7	1,310,196.6	7707
						Education and welfare facilities	268	4.2	726,036.5	2709.1
						Neighborhood living facilities	1899	30	905,173.1	476.7
						Residential business facilities	3498	55.2	3,431,201.6	980.9
						Other facilities	23	0.4	5203	226.2
						Total	6340	100	6,695,682.8	1894.1
						Division	Building		Floor area
						Year	B (EA)	Ratio (%)	Total (m2)	Mean (m2)
						1F	1780	28.1	262,946.5	147.7	The scale of buildings with one to three stories increased evenly, and buildings with four and five stories showed an increasing trend.
						2F	1528	24.1	481,927.7	315.4
						3F	1684	26.6	870,387.3	516.9
						4F	660	10.4	636,200.9	963.9
						Greater than 5F	688	10.9	4,444,220.4	6459.6
						Total	6340	100	6,695,682.8	1680.7
						Division	Building		Floor area
						Year	B (EA)	Ratio (%)	Total (m2)	Mean (m2)	As the diversification of types and the number of stories increased, the number of concrete and steel frame structures also increased, including some masonry and wooden structures.
						Masonry	450	7.1	64 943.6	144.3
						Concrete	3770	59.5	4 853 973.6	1287.5
						Steel frame	1839	29	584 619.3	317.9
						Reinforced Concrete	47	0.7	1 161 032.3	24 702.8
						Woodcarving	225	3.5	30 581.9	135.9
						Other	9	0.1	532.1	59.1
						Total	6340	100	6 695 682.8	4441.3

Source: As for data analysis, the urban area of Gangneung City was the spatial scope of the study. GIS analysis data and existing data on the building register were combined and implemented. As a significant amount of data were lost, data that could be analyzed were targeted.

).

5.2. Second Period: 1955–1994 (Gangneung City)

Looking at the characteristics of the built environment in the second period, residential and business facilities accounted for the majority (74.6%) of buildings, while neighborhood living facilities accounted for 17.7% of the total. These buildings were mainly developed on the scale of one and two stories, and the structures were analyzed in terms of masonry, concrete, and wooden structures. Due to the effect of high-rise buildings, the number of steel-framed and reinforced concrete constructions increased in the second half of the period. These characteristics are closely related to the building type, structural form, and status of each floor. In particular, the Jinan Shopping Center in Anhyeon-dong and neighborhood living facilities in Gangmun-dong—which were surveyed in this study—are typical commercial facilities built during the high growth period of Gangneung. They have great significance as architectural types based on regional and spatial characteristics. The spatial structure and specificity of the elevation can be confirmed. This type of local architecture is at the crossroads of change for political and environmental reasons, and efforts to document local architecture are necessary (Table 12, Table 13, Table 14 and Table 15).

5.3. Third Period: 1995–Present (Gangneung City and Myeongju-gun Integration Period)

During the third phase, the number of residential and business facilities increased continuously and accounted for the highest proportion of buildings (55.2%), and the ratio of neighborhood living facilities was analyzed as a leading building type (30%). The ratio of other facilities was not high at less than 5%. This is meaningful as an indicator of the urban characteristics of Gangneung. The nature of a coastal tourism city centered on historicity is reflected in the characteristics of the physical environment (Table 12, Table 13, Table 14 and Table 15). A summary of the spatial characteristics of the aforementioned built environment through the ArcGIS program is shown in Figure 11.

6. Results and Discussion

6.1. Results

Human activity, economics, politics, and environmental factors have all influenced urban development throughout history. These characteristics have combined to form the city’s basic physical unit, which consists of various built environments ranging from roads to lots, blocks, and individual buildings. This study examined the urban significance and characteristics of Gangneung City.

First, there were many spaces and places with historical significance centered on the original downtown area. These were largely lost in the process of expansion following the development of the city, but their value and context were confirmed through an analysis of the cadastral data. In particular, the changes in the urban structure that can be confirmed in the expansion process of roads provide significant and important data that identify the modern and contemporary history of Gangneung, along with the components of the city with historicity. Thus, it is crucial to create drawings through location tracking surveys of Gangneung Eupseong and Yeguk Goseong.

Furthermore, by identifying the characteristics of Gyeongpo Lake, which has changed continuously in size and shape since the late Joseon Dynasty, the process of change was established and the relationship with changes in surrounding cities was confirmed. Based on this, changes in the urban form of the current urban area centered on the original downtown area and Gyeongpo Lake can be verified. Additional research that identifies the historical value through a detailed investigation based on the change data of the spatial environment is needed.

Second, starting with the region where Eupseong was located in the past, the economic center of the Gangneung region gradually expanded to the east where Gyeongpo Lake is located. This continuous space expansion was completed by the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics; moreover, plane expansion gradually occurred based on policies such as residential area expansion through continuous housing site development outside the city. The urban area of Gangneung has adopted its urban shape based on the image of a multifaceted city where the past, present, and future coexist through the urban regeneration of the original downtown area, which occurred in the third period. Based on this analysis, concrete change was identified in the area of Gyeongpo Lake, and the characteristics of the physical environmental factors of architectural structures were confirmed.

Third, the characteristics and significance of urban tissue were verified. Regarding the city’s original city center, roads created in the process of modern and contemporary development were added to the road systems of the late Joseon Dynasty and the Japanese colonial period to form the present road system of the original downtown area. Some sections are being used as roads through stream covering. Traces of Eupseong’s past can be confirmed in the foundation of the building and the retaining wall of the parking lot. Some of the remaining Jeoksan houses confirm the spatial significance of the original downtown area. The factors centered on the built environment of the city’s modern and contemporary development history derived from this study should be explored to seek a development plan and systematic management strategy. In addition, the characteristics of urban tissue, including lots in the original downtown area presented in this study, are significant as data resources as they indicate the historical significance of Gangneung. Thus, continuous data documentation is needed.

6.2. Limitations and Recommendations for Future Studies

This study focused on physical environmental changes based on the analysis of an original cadastral map, a contemporary cadastral map, and photographic data. While the urban organization encompassing these is based on the results of the analysis, further research on the causes and process is necessary. This study confirmed that a city evolves toward differentiation due to a variety of factors. While this study focused on Gangneung City, it was determined that additional studies of small and medium-sized cities in the vicinity, as well as changes in the urban landscape, are required to compare the process of mutual urban formation and change patterns. In addition, a study that considers the historical, environmental, and social characteristics of Gangneung City can serve as a model study for other small and medium-sized cities; we intend to conduct follow-up studies in this regard.

7. Conclusions

The reorganization of administrative districts during historical development created opportunities to promote changes in the physical environment of Gangneung. Today, there is an opportunity to transform the city into an urban–rural integration city. This study analyzed the expansion process of the city over time based on the environmental and regional characteristics, especially for the center of the current city area, which is a former Myeongju-gun area. Based on this, there is a need to establish the value of the original downtown area and seek conservation and development plans. Furthermore, the findings of this study will be critical in developing a plan for Gangneung City’s future differentiated development. Identifying the value of a space and place that has historical and spatial significance in the region centered on the organization of the city, and designing the relevant programs considering the above, is more important than creating a built environment, and will become a driving force for practicing sustainable urban development. Active utilization through contemporary interpretation by exploring the space of life through local development history and discovering stories is expected to be helpful in finding a differentiated development plan for Gangneung City.

Small and medium-sized regional cities, such as Gangneung City, experienced rapid change as a result of the growth-oriented urban policy but were unable to focus on analyzing and recording the patterns that emerged during the change process.

Significant changes in the city (region), such as population decline and changes in the urban environment, are expected to continue in the future. The process of deep thinking about future management of the city in the context of past developments and changes is necessary in the face of the low-growth era of cities. In particular, continuous interest in cities (regions) that contain unique historical and spatial significance is needed.