Abstract
This study examines individual occupancy of unused space from an urban management perspective. It also identifies measures for sustainable city management by exploring the changes in unused space and relationships between various stakeholders based on personal occupancy processes. The target area of this study is Janghang, which has been characterized by population decline and economic recession over the past decade. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling and informal interviews, and data were analyzed using the open coding method. The results of the study show that unused space was occupied for various purposes such as to harvest food, pursue leisure activities, and alleviate the adverse effects of spaces remaining unused for extensive periods. The results identified owners, occupants, public organizations, and neighborhoods as stakeholders in unused spaces. Moreover, the neglected unused space was maintained as a managed space through tacit consent as well as flexible negotiation and stakeholders’ collective consciousness. Agreement and coordination among stakeholders and the physical environment of the unused space are crucial factors in managing unused space and landscapes because of the differences between landowners and occupants in a shrinking city.
Highlights
The demand for urban space is evolving because an increasing number of cities are experiencing continuous population decline and economic recession, resulting in a rapid increase in unused space
This study explores the process of changes in unused spaces in Janghang, which has long experienced population decline and economic downturn, where individuals have occupied previously unused spaces
This study examined the conversion process, management, and utilization of unused spaces based on the occupancy activities of individuals in a small-sized provincial city that has long experienced population decline and economic downturn
Summary
The demand for urban space is evolving because an increasing number of cities are experiencing continuous population decline and economic recession, resulting in a rapid increase in unused space. Research highlights the management of unused and/or neglected private spaces as a key factor in the sustainable management of urban areas [8]. Despite the adverse effects of abundant unused or neglected spaces, small and medium-sized cities in South Korea have maintained cleanliness and peace among residents [9]. Studies have shown that the utilization of unused space had social, psychological, and environmental effects. Because private unused spaces in small and medium-sized provincial cities are being converted according to the complex interactions of interests due to the absence of landowners, the processes used to convert them must be closely examined. The results of the study can be used as baseline data to develop methods to efficiently and sustainably utilize unused spaces in small and medium-sized provincial cities. Methods to improve the existing systems and institutions are explored in this study
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