A Study on Legal and Institutional Reforms of Urban Green Space Classification Systems† - A Comparative Study of Korea, Japan, Singapore, and the UK -

As urbanization and high-density development accelerate, the importance of the qualitative value of urban green spaces is growing. In Korea, the classification system for urban green spaces—centered on the “Act on Urban Parks and Green Spaces”—relies heavily on quantitative criteria such as the minimum area and service distance by type. This creates limitations in reflecting the ecological, social, and health functions of green spaces, as well as users’ lived experiences. This study conducts a comparative analysis of higher-level legal frameworks and key municipal plans related to urban green space in Korea, Japan, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, focusing on how each country classifies urban green spaces and links legal and planning systems. The results reveal that while Korea maintains an area-based hierarchical structure, its law-centered top-down planning system lacks flexibility in accommodating local needs and contextual characteristics. In contrast, other countries have adopted multidimensional classification systems based on function, use, and conservation status, employing quantitative indicators as tools to realize specific functions. A key feature of these systems is their recognition of urban green space as multifunctional infrastructure that supports ecosystem services, public health, social cohesion, and climate resilience, with management approaches tailored to each type’s role and purpose. Based on these findings, this study argues that Korea should shift toward a more function and value-oriented classification system, in which national legislation provides broad standards while urban planning articulates detailed, locally adaptive management strategies ultimately forming a complementary two-tiered framework.