The purpose of this study was to empirically analyze the effect of structural differences in regional cultural capital on population dynamics, specifically focusing on population inflow and outflow, changes in the youth population, and the settlement ...
The purpose of this study was to empirically analyze the effect of structural differences in regional cultural capital on population dynamics, specifically focusing on population inflow and outflow, changes in the youth population, and the settlement patterns of multicultural and foreign populations. Confronted with the escalating crisis of regional depopulation and regional shrinkage, previous studies on inter-regional migration and settlement had primarily focused on economic factors or housing and employment conditions. Furthermore, cultural policies had largely been discussed in terms of cultural outcomes, such as expanding cultural enjoyment, improving regional image, and promoting cultural welfare. This study, in contrast, established cultural policy and cultural resources as primary explanatory variables for changes in regional demographic structures. This study, by analyzing the structural effects of the composition and distribution of regional cultural capital on migration and settlement, provided a distinct perspective that distinguished itself from previous studies.
For this purpose, an analytical framework was constructed to categorize regional cultural capital into six categories: cultural institutions, cultural organizations, cultural finance, cultural projects, cultural resources, and cultural activities. These categories were established to comprehensively reflect the institutional foundation, organizational implementation structure, financial input levels, and actual operational patterns of regional cultural policies. This study utilized quantitative data on the scale of basic-level local governments nationwide and, through multiple regression analysis and comparative analysis, examined the relationship between elements of cultural capital and population indicators. Furthermore, a multi-layered analysis was conducted for a more precise identification of differences across regional contexts. This analysis cross-applied classifications of metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, the designation status of depopulated areas, and regions categorized as 'vulnerable and stagnant population' and 'concentrated and growing population' types identified through cluster analysis.
The analysis revealed that the impact of regional cultural capital on population changes is not determined independently by individual elements such as spatial capital (cultural facilities), professional personnel (arts educators and curators), and organization-based capital (cultural entities and corporations). Rather, it varies according to their structural arrangement and combination. In particular, local cultural facilities and professional personnel were identified as key factors that repeatedly influence changes in youth, foreign, and multicultural populations. These findings imply that the role of cultural policy extends beyond merely providing leisure activities or opportunities for cultural participation; it functions as a life-infrastructure factor that forms a basis for daily settlement, builds social networks, and influences individual identity and the perception of quality of life within the community.
The settlement tendencies of the youth population were found to be relatively stronger in regions with higher activity potential, superior accessibility to facilities, and more abundant opportunities for cultural self-actualization. This suggests that youth migration is not merely an outcome of economic choices, but is deeply linked to spatial selections for lifestyle and value realization. Similarly, for foreign and multicultural populations, the foundation of local cultural facilities and activities was found to function as an integration facilitator by mitigating linguistic, cultural, and relational barriers, thereby enhancing the potential for their successful incorporation into the community.
In contrast, organization-based cultural capital, such as cultural entities and corporations, showed a negative correlation with population influx under various region types. This suggests that an organization-centered cultural ecosystem may lead to a concentration of cultural resources and the formation of closed networks; such a structure could, in turn, restrict residents' cultural accessibility and strengthen cultural entry barriers, thereby weakening the foundation for settlement. In other words, a quantitative expansion of regional cultural capital or an increase in the number of organizations does not automatically translate into regional cultural revitalization or population policy effects. Instead, the findings confirm that such outcomes must be predicated on the qualitative characteristics, openness, accessibility, and community-oriented operational methods of cultural capital.
In the analysis of total in-migration, out-migration, and net migration, it is noteworthy that the cultural capital elements exert opposing effects depending on regional conditions. For instance, while the accumulation of professional personnel and facilities served as a driver for inward migration in some regions, it prompted outward migration in metropolitan areas or growth regions by expanding external opportunities and facilitating increased cultural mobility. These findings illustrate the dual nature of cultural policy, which can be linked not only to residential settlement but also to the enhancement of mobility. Furthermore, this reveals the inherent limitations of conventional narrow perspectives that view cultural policy as a mere instrument for population recruitment.
Furthermore, ordinances related to the cultural industry exhibited negative trends across various region types, suggesting that industry-oriented cultural policies decoupled from the enhancement of residents' daily living foundations may exacerbate cultural inequality, concentration in core cities, and structural dependence on external factors. In contrast, while ordinances related to culture and arts showed limited impact on their own, their policy influence tended to strengthen when combined with implementation foundations such as facilities, professional personnel, and cultural activities.
These results demonstrate that the differences in types of regional cultural capital exert a structural influence on regional population indicators as a whole, confirming that cultural policy serves as a pivotal axis in overarching population strategies including ones aimed at regional extinction responses, youth settlement, and the community incorporation of foreign and multicultural populations. Furthermore, this study suggests that cultural policy exerts substantial effects on facilitating population influx and settlement, as well as mitigating out-migration, only when it is designed to move beyond the mere quantitative expansion of assets toward greater resident accessibility, the accumulation of participatory experiences, and the reinforcement of daily utilization structures. This study holds significant academic and policy implications by proposing an analytical framework that interprets regional cultural capital as a determinant of population change and empirically verifying the structural linkage between cultural policy and demographic dynamics.