Recognition and Improvement of Rural Landscape Management System

Land development policy in Korea, characterized by its supply-oriented policy, has driven rapid economic development. However, it has a negative impact on the natural environment across the country. Especially, as the introduction of quashi-farmland system with the deregulation of agricultural land development in the late 1990s, numerous unfavorable landscape features such as road, motels and apartment have emerged in the rural area. As those interfered irreversible rural landscapes have been expanded, the demand for well preserved rural landscapes have been increased. The objectives of this study, thus, is to suggest the mitigations between the land development and conservation of natural landscape. As such, this study examines the recognition of current rural landscape management status through 118 students with two groups of landscape architecture majored (50 people) and non-landscape majored (68). Both group express the negative impression of current rural landscape management system in general and they pointed out the major landscape problems are caused from inappropriate land use. However, in detail those two groups respond differently, for example, the first group selected the damaged landscape is the second cause of the landscape problem, while the other group selected the poorly maintained settlements. Based on the analysis of the survey, this study suggests 3 recommendations in order to improve the sustainable rural landscape as establishing the proper rural land use planning system, building local governments' capacity to actively participate in the rural landscape management, and preparing the landscape management plans considering area distinctive characteristics.