This study examines the measures aimed at boosting the creative economy by giving consideration to regional features. These measures emphasize the importance of organic combination between strategies for the facilitation of creative economy and strategies for regional development, as well as the promotion of regional industry in accordance with the systematic implementation of the creative economy policies being pushed forward by the Korean government to achieve initial realization of the policy outcomes.

To this end, this study set up a framework for the regional creative economy by reviewing the theoretical trends of the creative economy, new paradigm shift in the regional and industrial development and the cases and the implications of the regional creative economy in foreign
countries. In addition, this study categorized the framework for the creative economy into 3 major types in consideration of regional features. Based on this categorization, we suggest measures for the facilitation of the creative economy for individual regions in cities and provinces. Finally, we present implementation strategies and policy tasks for the facilitation of the regional creative economy from the perspectives of the central and local governments.

In this study, section II examined the theoretical trends and key elements of the regional creative economy while section III set up the framework for the regional creative economy, suitable for the situation in Korea based on the regional creative economy policies of advanced
countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. The framework for the Korean regional creative economy aims to create new growth engines for individual regions and strengthen the global competitiveness of regional industry by boosting convergence between
regional industries and improving association and collaboration between the industries. This is to promote the sustainable development of regional economy through “smart regional innovation” based on the conditions and capacity of individual regions. In other words, the goal
is sustainable development of the regional economy through the establishment of the Smart Regional Creative Innovation System.

In addition, the framework for the regional creative economy requires classification to reflect the regional conditions and features such as current status and innovation capability of individual regional economies, and to implement policies in a efficient manner. The regional creative
economy framework for the reflection of regional features, was categorized into 3 types. Type I was defined as the “type for new growth engine creation”while types II and III were defined as “the type for the structural advancement of existing industries”, and the“type for improvement
of the creative economy system”, respectively.

Type I of the regional creative economy framework is a strategy to vitalize regional creative economy by improving the creative capability of individual regions, and boosting the growth of existing industries through the selection and promotion of new industrial sectors in the regional economies. The cities and provinces corresponding with type I are the cities of Busan, Daejeon and Ulsan, and Gyeonggi, Gangwon and South Jeollah Provinces. Type I includes measures to create new growth engine sectors, focusing primarily on the following industries for the 6 individual regions: 12 sectors(including fashion, publication, craft, R&D, film and visual sectors, etc.) in Busan intellectual property service sector in Daejeon; logistics and financial industries in Ulsan; software convergence industry in Gyeonggi; amenity industry in Gangwon; and the ocean energy industry in South Jeollah Province.

The regional creative economy framework type II, as a type for structural advancement of the regional economy, is a strategy to vitalize the creative economy by selecting and promoting some industrial groups among existing leading industries in the regional economies. The cities
and provinces corresponding with type II are the cities of Incheon, Seoul, Gwangju, the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Region, North Chungcheong Provinces, North Jollah Province, and South Gyeongsang Region. Type II includes measures to advance the structure of regional economies, focusing primarily on the promotion of the following industries for the individual regions.: root industry in Incheon; mobile convergence, automotive convergence parts, and energy parts and materials industries in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Region; new renewable energy parts and materials industry in Gwangju; bio-pharmaceutical industry in North Chungcheong
Province; agricultural and life science industry in North Jeollah Province; shipbuilding offshore plant, machinery convergence materials and aerospace industries in South Gyeongsang Province; and IT convergence, cultural contents and fashion design industries in Seoul.

Type III, as a type for improvement of the creative economy system, is a strategy to facilitate the creative economy by realizing the efficiency of the support system for regional economies and industries rather than focusing on the selection of creative industries or the promotion of certain industries. The pertinent regions are South Chungcheong and Jeju Provinces. Type III includes measures to vitalize the regional creative economy through the following: establishment and operation of the integrated business support system for South Chungcheong Province and establishment of the creative economy system focusing primarily on convergence tourism in Jeju Province.

Based on theoretical reviews, examination of the cases of policy implementation in foreign countries and research on the measures for the vitalization of the regional creative economy, this study suggests the following strategies and policy tasks for the facilitation of regional
creative economy : first, it is necessary to reorganize and reform the regional industry promotion system into a Hub and Spoke Type for the promotion of regional industries adequate for the creative economy and the improvement of the industries’ global competitiveness. Second, it is necessary to newly establish a regional economy analysis system appropriate for the indigenous regional development that forms the basis for the regional creative economy. Third, it is crucial to set up the status of regional creative industries and prepare measures to select creative industries in a systematic way through consultations between the central and local governments. Fourth, it is necessary to reorganize the models of regional industry promotion projects into entrepreneurial discovery process-based association and collaboration project models. In addition, it is essential to set up governance to realize organic association
between strategic planning projects and demand adhesive projects, through the function of a network hub. Finally, it is important to improve measures to supply industrial sites appropriate for the era of the creative economy. In regards to the measures, this study suggests the
designation and operation of a creative industry cluster, vitalization of an urban high-end industrial complex through the use of high-density land, and the preparation of new measures to supply industrial sites in response to the trend of industrial convergence.