This study aims to establish effective strategies to enhance settlement intention in regions with pronounced intra-resional disparities. Accordingly, this study analyzed the relationship between living environment satisfaction and settlement intention...
This study aims to establish effective strategies to enhance settlement intention in regions with pronounced intra-resional disparities. Accordingly, this study analyzed the relationship between living environment satisfaction and settlement intention, using Incheon Metropolitan City as the case study area. Based on a synthesis of prior studies, this study categorized living environment satisfaction into six sub-dimensions—economic, housing, medical/public health, educational, natural, and cultural/sports—and adopted the residential environment satisfaction model by Amérigo and Aragones as its theoretical framework. Data from the 2023 Social Survey of Incheon Metropolitan City were analyzed using multiple regression analysis with R software.
Incheon Metropolitan City has experienced demographic and economic growth following its designation as a Free Economic Zones(FEZ). However, this growth has been unevenly distributed, exacerbating regional disparities. If such imbalances persist, they may erode community cohesion and diminish residents’ sense of belonging and intention to settle. Despite these concerns, prior studies have mainly relied on traditional regional categorizations—such as metropolitan and non-metropolitan or large and small cities—when analyzing settlement intention. In contrast, this study focuses on intra-regional disparities between city centers to explore strategies for fostering more balanced settlement intention within a single region.
Key findings of this study are as follows: First, all six sub-dimensions of living environment satisfaction positively influenced settlement intention among Incheon Metropolitan City residents. Among these, satisfaction with medical/public health environment had the strongest impact, followed by housing, educational, economic, cultural/sports, and natural factors. These results suggest that enhancing healthcare services and improving residents’ awareness through active communication and outreach by local governments are critical to increasing settlement intention.
Second, satisfaction with economic, educational, and cultural/sports environments positively influenced settlement intention regardless of city center classification. Notably, satisfaction with educational environment had the most significant effect. In contrast, the relationships between satisfaction with medical/public health, housing, and natural environment and settlement intention varied depending on whether residents lived in the old or new city center. Residents in the old city center prioritized medical/public health environment, while those in the new city center valued housing and natural environments more. Based on these findings, this study proposes a dual-track policy approach: while improvements related to the educational environment should be promoted citywide, tailored strategies that reflect the unique context of each city center are also necessary.
Third, the three dimensions that showed moderating effects by city center classification.—satisfaction with medical/public health, housing, and natural environment—were also those with higher satisfaction levels in their respective areas. Residents in the old city center reported higher satisfaction with medical/public health environment and placed greater importance on it in forming their settlement intention. Conversely, those in the new city center expressed higher satisfaction with housing and natural environments, which significantly influenced their intention to settle. These results underscore the necessity of introducing specialized strategies that leverage each city center’s strengths to enhance settlement intention more effectively.
In conclusion, this study provides a more nuanced understanding of the multidimensional nature of settlement intention by subdividing living environment satisfaction into six factors. Furthermore, it empirically demonstrates the need for customized policies tailored to the specific regional contexts by integrating intra-regional perspectives into the analysis. It is anticipated that these findings will contribute to the development of effective, resident-centered strategies for fostering settlement intention.