How does Seoul’s greenbelt affect the growth of suburbs and satellite cities?

The greenbelt surrounding much of Seoul’s perimeter, established in the 1970s, serves to prohibit the further extension of the city's built-up area. By restricting development within these boundaries, the policy has effectively pushed urban sprawl beyond the greenbelt.1

This containment has directly influenced the growth of suburbs and satellite cities, such as Seongnam, Suwon, and Incheon, which have undergone considerable expansion. New residential areas have emerged primarily along the Seoul-Busan expressway to the south and along the Han River to the east and west. Since the mid-1980s, this dynamic has also encouraged upper-middle-class residents to relocate to more remote suburbs, resulting in longer daily commutes.1