Gyeongbu Expressway: Political Economic Geography of Mobility and Demarcation

Abstract

This paper examines the Gyeongbu (Kyŏngbu) Expressway construction from the standpoint of the political economy pursued by President Park Chung-Hee (Pak Chŏng-hŭi) in the 1960s.

Specifically, I examine the politics of mobility and demarcation. I will argue that Gyeongbu Expressway was a powerful symbol to promote the socio-spatial integration of the population which enforced the authoritative political power of the Park regime through the creation of mobility. Moreover, it has had a strong impact on changing the physical landscape of national space and the spatio-temporal rhythm of everyday life by extending the machine space as a non-place. Finally, it has provided a physical infrastructure through which the capitals circulation could be reduced. But Gyeongbu Expressway has also led to serious problems such as uneven regional development, the expansion of non-place or alienated place, ecological destruction and pollution. In conclusion, a sustainable politics is suggested to overcome this kind of tragedy of highway to develop a highway as an integration and balance of politics and space.