KJCKorea
Journal Central

In recent years, the compact city strategy has gained attention in South Korea as a solution to social issues from population decline and aging in regional cities. This study explores the application of the compact city strategy in declining population areas by measuring urban compactness based on population distribution patterns in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam metropolitan area, using data for the years 2015 and 2020. Compactness was assessed through four indicators: density, clustering, equal distribution, and dispersiveness. The analysis was conducted at both the neighborhood and city-wide levels. Findings showed a positive correlation between population change and compactness, suggesting that regions with declining populations might experience further compactness reduction. Compactness increased at the neighborhood level due to the redevelopment of single-family homes into multi-family apartments, but decreased at the city-wide level, likely due to suburban development. This study highlights the need to evaluate compactness at different scales and suggests prioritizing compact city strategies in areas experiencing population decline, with adjustments at the city-wide level.

The outflow of population from cities accelerates urban decline, spatial inequality, and economic stagnation. This study aims to estimate the effective population size required for the stable operation of urban functions in order to mitigate the issue of regional extinction and maintain urban functions. To do this, we employ the Inverted Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (I2SFCA) method that can consider the suppliers’ competition and travel costs from demand location to suppliers. The findings reveal significant variations in effective population size depending on the level and regional characteristics of urban functions. High-order urban functions such as tertiary hospitals and department stores require a larger population to sustain their operations, whereas low-order urban functions like pharmacies and convenience stores can operate with a relatively smaller population. These results can help local governments to establish region-specific policy directions and identify optimal locations and develop efficient strategies. Furthermore, the study contributes to balanced regional development and the prevention of regional extinction by providing policy implications in the Korean context.

This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing housing costs and housing cost to income ratio for employed youth in single-person households, using data from the 18th wave of the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS). The analysis targeted 232 employed youths between the ages of 19 and 34. Their average monthly housing cost was approximately 486,000 KRW, and the housing cost burden (defined as the ratio of housing cost to earned income) was found to be 16.5%. Employed youth in single-person households residing in Seoul and the metropolitan area were spending higher amounts on housing costs and experiencing a higher housing cost burden compared to those living in other regions. While higher earned income was associated with higher housing expenditure, the housing cost burden, as defined in this study, was lower for those with higher incomes. Additionally, those working for relatively larger businesses had lower housing costs and lower housing cost burdens. Based on these findings, the study highlighted the need for greater attention to regional imbalances and the issue of youth housing.