The Multidimensional Structure of Youth Migration in a Depopulating Region and Its Implications for Regional Crisis Management: The Case of Nonsan City

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Youth migration has become a critical issue for regional sustainability in depopulating areas. This study examines life-stage differences in migration behavior, migration reasons, and factors associated with settlement intention in Nonsan, a depopulating city in Chungcheongnam-do. Using domestic migration statistics and a survey of 245 young residents, the study estimates a pooled logistic regression model of settlement intention. Administrative data show life-stage differences: early-stage youth are more strongly associated with education- and job-related out-migration, whereas later-stage youth show more housing-related mobility. In the survey analysis, women had lower settlement intention than men (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.23–0.76), whereas residents with seven or more years of residence reported higher settlement intention than those with shorter residence (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.13–4.00). Although life stage showed no independent effect, adding satisfaction with youth policy, local living infrastructure, and quality of life improved model fit, highlighting the importance of living conditions in shaping settlement intention. These findings highlight the importance of local living conditions for youth settlement in depopulating regions.