Exploring the Geography of Educational Segregation in Seoul, Korea

Abstract

This chapter examines changes in the spatial patterns of human capital segregation across neighborhoods in the Seoul metropolitan area during 2000–2010 and investigates the following three questions: (1) to what extent are highly educated individuals segregated from less-educated individuals across neighborhoods, (2) to what extent do highly educated and less-educated individuals live in isolated neighborhoods with individuals of similar educational status, and (3) to what extent can spatial clusters of highly educated or less-educated individuals be isolated across neighborhoods? Four major findings were obtained. First, the number and proportion of people with at least a college education increased markedly over time. Second, according to results of the dissimilarity index and the generalized dissimilarity index, the degree of segregation is highest for the group with more than a college education vis-a-vis the group with less than a high school education. Additionally, it is lowest for the group of high school graduates vis-a-vis the group with less than high school education in the Seoul metropolitan area over time. Third, the information theory index shows that the degree of diversity and human capital segregation steadily increased over time. Fourth, highly educated individuals tend to be clustered in the southern parts of the Seoul metropolitan area. By contrast, less-educated individuals were more likely to be concentrated in the mid-northern parts of the metropolitan area. The results of the empirical analysis in our study have implications for regional policies and can inform future research on the social processes and mechanisms of polarized educational segregation.