This paper aims to clarify the actual conditions of commercial zone designation in major provincial cities. As an initial analysis, this study examines the trends in commercial zone designation across 40 cities and considers the relationship between designated zone size and various data. And, focusing on 10 cities with distinctive commercial zone designations, this study analyzes the authorities’ policies and the reactions of local stakeholders based on the proceedings of the City Planning Committee. Through these analyses, this study aims to clarify the process by which commercial zones, as the backbone of urban structure, were designated in each city.
