How studentification reshapes social vulnerability in urban Korea: Impressions based on regeneration and shrinkage

Abstract

This work examines to what degree studentification may be associated with social vulnerability and be influenced by urban regeneration and shrinkage across four anchor institutions and their surrounding areas. Focusing on four South Korean metropolitan cities and utilizing longitudinal secondary data concerning studentification, social vulnerability, and shrinkage, we conducted correlation analysis and comparative case studies. Our findings demonstrate that each campus and surrounding areas reflected distinct urban phenomenon, particularly in terms of the relationships among studentification, social vulnerability, urban shrinkage, and urban regeneration. Of notable concern, student influx (as a representative studentification outcome) was determined to be a driver in influencing lower social vulnerability and less shrinkage. In this vein, our study provides initial insights for policymakers and urban residents in potentially addressing urban challenges and studentification in combination with urban regeneration and shrinkage.