Abstract
In the present circumstance of exploring measures for sustainable development, finding and using planning elements of historical city is getting important as a urban planning tool. Thus this study aims to examine the characters of Korean traditional urban form through three periods, Josun, modern and contemporary eras. Three urban centers representing different characteristics were selected; historical center based on 14th century's traditional planning, modern period urban center, which is related with development of railway, and contemporary urban center of late 20th century. Analyse of urban tissue, composed with form and scale of street network, blocks and plots, shows that each urban center of Seoul has certain common attributes in terms of morphology in spite of the difference of formation and development period. However this historical urban forms are rarely applicated in the current urban planning, such as new-town planning or district unit plan. This shows the necessity of modification of urban regulation for preserving the identity of our city and pursuing sustainable development.