Over the past 50 years, industrial complexes have played an important role in industrial development and national economic growth, functioning as a regional economic base and contributing toward balanced national development. However, over 50 years, the need for regenerating decrepit industrial complexes have increased due to facility deterioration, changes in industrial structure, and conflicts with surrounding areas due to urban expansion. In particular, decrepit industrial complexes that are more than 20 years old were initially planned only for production purposes, neglecting the spatial need for catering toward working and living environments, and even the minimum infrastructure that had been installed, have aged considerably. In view of this, the government is promoting the industrial complex structure improvement project, the old industrial complex regeneration project, and the old industrial complex competitiveness enhancement project. However, the spatial improvement agenda, especially with regards to public areas, is severely lacking even in these projects.

Against this background, this study aims to understand the current status and problems of the built environment (e.g., street and public areas) of industrial complexes, and this study aims to identify improvement measures and future implications in order to improve the working environment of decrepit industrial complexes. First, the study analyzed legislations regarding industrial complex development and regeneration and its implementation, the built environment of decrepit industrial complexes including streetscapes, public areas, and crime prevention measures. Second, the study conducted a general public survey and case studies of domestic and overseas industrial complex spatial improvement measures. Third, the study proposed system improvement and policy directions to improve the built environment of industrial complexes. Fourth, the study suggested planning guidelines for spatially improving decrepit industrial complexes and a model for a pilot project.