Aims & Scope

The Journal of the Korea Planning Association (JKPA) is a double-blind, peer-reviewed journal. It serves as a platform for scholars of urban and regional planning to present significant research outcomes and help improve planning practices. The JKPA welcomes the submission of articles that employ multidisciplinary research methods and involve diverse geographical contexts including non-Korean cities and rural areas. Given the international scope of the journal, we invite submissions from places with urban development patterns that are similar or dissimilar to those of Korean cities, which are frequently characterized by rapid economic growth and urbanization. These experiences can provide valuable insights for spatial planning in developing regions such as Africa, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Scholars are encouraged to submit original research articles, including, but not limited to, quantitative and qualitative research, international comparative analyses, literature reviews, insight papers, and commentaries. The editorial board of the JKPA comprises renowned scholars from various countries, such as the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, France, Australia, Thailand, and Singapore. Papers can be written in either Korean or English. We suggest that the authors of insight papers and commentaries reach the JKPA editor prior to submission. The JKPA publishes articles on a diverse range of subjects, such as:

- Planning Theory - Transportation and Infrastructure Planning - Environmental Planning - Sustainable Development - Planning Education and Pedagogy - Planning Practice - Urban Regeneration and Renewal

- Regional Development and Planning - Urban Policy and Politics - Urban and Landscape Design - Real Estate Development - Housing and Community Development - Land Use Planning - Planning for Disasters and Public Safety

- Smart City - Spatial Analysis and GIS - Economic Development Planning - Public Administration, Finance, Budgeting - Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources

The advantages of the JKPA over other planning journals include the following: 1) user-friendly website for Koreans and non-Koreans; 2) wide Korean and international readership due to its online open-access policy; 3) peer review system with qualified South Korean and foreign reviewers; 4) quick publication duration through an online submission system; 5) bilingual submissions in Korean and English; 6) no article processing charge for articles written in English; and 7) financial support for translating Korean articles to English.

Brief history of the JKPA and its broad readership: The JKPA, the earliest urban planning journal in South Korea, was launched in 1966 by the Korea Planning Association (KPA) with the primary objective of establishing a Korean planning research community. Since then, the JKPA has made significant contributions not only to high-quality urban planning scholarship but also to the rapid progress of urban policy practices in South Korea. It has attracted a broad readership in South Korea as many papers have been written in Korean. Urban planning researchers, planning practitioners, engineers, public officers, developers, planning educators, and students in related fields are active readers of the JKPA. Although many papers in the JKPA are in Korean, it provides English abstracts, tables, and figures to enhance its international visibility and readership.

Multidisciplinary scope of the JKPA: As South Korea’s leading academic journal in urban and regional planning, the JKPA has embraced the field’s multidisciplinary nature. It publishes over 90 articles across seven issues annually. Beyond traditional planning-related topics, such as land use policy, spatial planning, and economic development, it covers emerging topics, such as smart city technology, hazard mitigation, information and communication technology, data analytics, and real estate finance.

Scholarly achievement and endeavor of JKPA: The Korea Citation Index (KCI) selected the JKPA as one of the best journals in 2015 and 2020 in view of its significant contribution to urban and regional planning. The JKPA’s impact factor ranking is among the highest in KCI. This demonstrates its consistent quality since 2015. It maintains strict ethical codes throughout the submission to final editorial decision process. It strives to improve the quality of articles and the credibility of journals through a fair and transparent publication process.