Road Infrastructure, Inclusive Development and Traffic Safety in Korea
Transport infrastructure opens new routes and creates connections. It increases prosperity
by generating economic opportunities, reducing transport costs and supporting agglomeration
economies. However, the increased traffic flows also generate environmental and social
costs. In Korea, the amount of paved roads increased dramatically between 1951 and
2014, from 580 kilometres to over 87 000 kilometres. This expansion of Korea’s expressway,
highway and major road network has created benefits for cities and rural areas across
the country, contributing to both economic growth and inclusiveness. This rapid development
of road infrastructure and motorisation has also resulted in relatively high traffic
fatality rates. This report combines empirical research on the relationship between
road infrastructure, inclusive economic development and traffic safety with an assessment
of policies and governance structures to help governments find ways to create effective,
safe and inclusive transport infrastructures.
Published on April 22, 2016