Neighborhoods in small regional cities are at risk for extinction, calling for tailored policy measures

Koo Hyeong Soo, Chief Researcher, KRIHS

Summary

1. The characteristics of neighborhoods at risk for extinction include population declines, aging, and collapse of community function. To resolve this chronic socioeconomic problem in regional areas, policy measures corresponding to neighborhoods’ needs are urgently needed.  

2. In small regional cities, 4.5% of the neighborhoods are at risk for extinction. Among them, 66.2% fall under semi-marginal neighborhoods, the second stage in the three-stage process of neighbourhood extinction.

- The three stages are: surviving neighborhoods, semi-marginal neighborhoods, and marginal neighborhoods

3. Urban neighborhoods at risk for extinction feature prevalence of old, deteriorated houses and idle sites. They also have poor accessibility to services related to citizens’ living.

- In urban neighborhoods at risk for extinction, 89.18% of the houses are detached houses, 31.69% are 40 years or older, and 87.68% of the lots do not border eight-meter-wide roads.

4. Other countries are developing countermeasures tailored to their extinction stages while ensuring continued residence in neighborhoods at risk for extinction.

Policy proposals

1. For surviving neighborhoods with a certain level of development potential, use idle land in creative ways or create new jobs to vitalize the neighborhoods. 

2. For semi-marginal neighborhoods with difficulties in sustaining life-related functions, ensure the quality of life above the minimum level so that residents can keep living there without the need to migrate.

3. For marginal neighborhoods that are unable to sustain life-related functions, focus on stabilizing the neighborhoods and encourage migration to other neighborhoods if residents wish.​