KOTI - Korea Transport institute

 『K-Transport』 

[Preface]

 This publication has been developed with the objective of systematically presenting the Republic of Korea’s experience in the implementation of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models in the road infrastructure sector to an international readership. While Korea has accumulated considerable institutional knowledge and practical expertise in this field over the past three decades, a significant portion of the existing literature has remained accessible only in the Korean language. Accordingly, this volume has been conceived as a curated English-language resource that compiles and adapts key findings from domestic research, policy reports, and 
expert analyses, with the aim of supporting global dialogue and knowledge sharing in PPP policy and practice.

This book does not seek to present a purely academic or theoretical perspective. Rather, it has been structured to provide a practical, policyorientedoverview that reflects the legal, institutional, and operational dimensions of PPP road development in Korea. The contents have been selected from a range of authoritative Korean sources, including publications by the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI), the Center for PPP Highway Support (CEPHIS), and contributions from domain experts. Each chapter has been carefully translated, edited, and reorganized to ensure clarity, internal coherence, and contextual relevance for an international audience.

The volume is organized into five chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the basic concept of PPPs and outlines the Korean government’s policy efforts to revitalize private-sector participation in infrastructure. Chapter 2 focuses on the application of PPPs within the road sector, covering project types, toll systems, legal and institutional frameworks, the evolution of PPP models, and implementation procedures. Chapter 3 examines the governance structures and operational systems that distinguish public and PPP road management in Korea, while Chapter 4 introduces the mandate and organizational role of CEPHIS. Finally, Chapter 5 addresses the performance of PPP roads and reviews key public interest policies and recommendations.

To maintain scholarly integrity and transparency, attribution for each section—indicating original sources and authors—has been clearly provided at the end of this volume. It is my sincere hope that this publication will serve as a valuable reference for policymakers, infrastructure professionals, and researchers seeking to enhance their understanding of PPPs and to apply Korea’s institutional lessons within their own contexts.

Hyunjung LEE
Editor, Research Specialist
Korea Transport Institute

Chapter 1. | Public-Private Partnerships 
1. The Concept of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) 2
2. Measures to Revitalize PPPs 10

Chapter 2. | PPPs in the Road Sector
1. Overview of PPPs in Roads 18
2. Evolution of PPP Highways 23
3. Changes in PPP Highway Models 34
4. Current Status of PPP Expressways 43
5. Procedures and Agencies for PPP Highway Implementation 52

Chapter 3. | Institutional Frameworks, Agencies and Operations Management System
1. Institutional Frameworks and Agencies in Public and 
PPP Expressways 62
2. Operations Management System for Public and 
PPP Expressways 78

Chapter 4. | Center for PPP Highway Support (CEPHIS)
1. Purpose and Role of Establishment 108
2. Work Procedures and Methods 111

Chapter 5. | Evaluation of PPP Expressways
1. Outcomes 124
2. Review of Public Interest Policies 128
3. Recommendations for Public Interest Policies 137

References for Compilation and Adaptation 143