Change Pattern of Residential Areas in Seoul: Based on Detached Houses Case Studies between 2000 and 2010

Abstract

In South Korea, problems such as low fertility, aging population, and income polarization have recently become more serious. In this time of social change, it is necessary to examine the current changes occurring to residences in order to improve the stability and health of residential areas. The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes of residential areas that occurred between 2000 and 2010 based on detached houses, which are the foundation of residential areas in Seoul. Changes in residential areas can be observed by examining changes in the type of housing and the characteristics of the residents. Since the type of housing and the characteristics of the residents change in the same area, it is necessary to study them together, not as individual elements. Census data is suitable for this purpose, because it can show the changes that have occurred to the housing type and the residents characteristics within the neighborhood unit. Among the census output areas identified as residential areas based on detached houses, six sites were selected as the case study area based on the rate of change of detached houses. From the result of the case study using the census data, the study area was categorized into three regional types: (i) an urban development and redevelopment area; (ii) an area with a concentration or increasing number of detached houses; (iii) an area with an increasing number of multi-family houses based on detached houses.