Seoul Area Research Articles

Migrant placemaking as a response to governing through mobility‐making: An ethnic enclave and a digital community in South Korea

AbstractThis paper examines migrant placemaking in South Korea as a proactive response to governing power that works through making (im)mobilities. Unlike previous discussions that have viewed migrants' empowerment in political activities and identity‐related in a particular type of enclaves, this study sees migrant placemaking as a proactive response to governing through mobilities and comprehensively embraces various types of placemaking in South Korea. Based on mix‐up of various qualitative research methods, this study documents the migrant placemaking practices over time of two representative and quite different migrant groups: Chosǒnjok's enclave in Kuro‐Taerim area of Seoul and Latin Americans' digital communities. The former represents a big migrant group's physical and discursive migrant placemaking. Chosǒnjok migrants struggled with their stigmatised images and mistrust towards both China and Korea. The latter represents a small migrant group's digital placemaking. Latin American migrants were left without much knowledge about and recognition from the Korean society. We demonstrate how in seeking a community for themselves they adapt their environment, thereby empowering themselves. In demonstrating the interrelation of migrant placemaking and governing power, this study contributes to the understanding of the circuits of power, mobility and place in the case of migrants in South Korea.

Digitally accessible space: Discovery of the distinctive locational characteristics of restaurants with online reservation

The widespread adoption of ICT including mobile apps and their online services has significantly reshaped human activities in urban spaces. The complex interaction between ICT on urban space presents challenges in understanding their relationships. This study aims to discover the empirical evidence of the spatial variance of urban space linked to ICT. To pursue this objective, this study defines spaces that leverage ICT-based activities as Digitally Accessible Spaces (DAS), and choose restaurants that provide online reservation services through NAVER, which is the most dominant search engine in South Korea. Based on fundamental measurements in location theory, we stratified the entire area in Seoul into four groups in order of profitability. Using the location quotient (LQ), we quantified the locational characteristics of DAS compared to overall restaurants. Consequently, three measurements, which are density of marketplace, distance from public transit, and proper land use, indicate that the second-tier profitable areas commonly possess the largest portion of DAS. These characteristics provided empirical evidence supporting previous studies highlighting the liberation effect and altered travel behavior resulting from ICT-based activity through qualitative and theoretical approaches. We expect that this study can contribute to further research related to the interaction between digital space and physical space.

The Content and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals and Sulfur Dioxide in Herbs for Food and Medicine in Seoul Area (2019-2023)

The Content and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals and Sulfur Dioxide in Herbs for Food and Medicine in Seoul Area (2019-2023)

Balance point concentration: An indicator for classroom performance against outdoor PM2.5

Indoor air quality significantly affects occupants' health, making it crucial to evaluate a building's vulnerability to air pollution. In this study, 17 classrooms in urban areas of Seoul, Korea were monitored to determine how long a clean air environment can be maintained. We propose the balance point concentration (BPC) as the threshold value of outdoor PM2.5 concentration that can maintain PM2.5 in classrooms at the target value of 15 μg/m3. Based on the mass-balance equation, BPC is a comprehensive indicator that considers PM2.5 that can penetrate through building envelope, be generated from indoor activities, and be removed by an air purification system. For non-occupied classrooms, the BPC ranged from 20.6 to 34.3 μg/m3. We find that better airtightness reduced air pollution in buildings. However, due to students' activities, BPC decreased to 7.6–12.0 μg/m3. Lastly, in classrooms with mechanical ventilation systems in operation, the BPC ranged from 24.3 to 34.2 μg/m3, showing improved performance. Under such conditions, students can spend more than 88 % of the year in a classroom environment with clean air. In areas with low outdoor pollution levels, satisfaction can be even higher. Evaluating buildings performance using BPC allows for a more intuitive and clear assessment compared to existing indicators. When outdoor concentrations exceed BPC, additional air quality management in the classroom is necessary. This can be widely utilized when planning improvements to the environment or the operation of air purification system.

Impact of vehicles at the roadside of expressway in urban area: Simultaneous measurement of particle size distribution and positive matrix factorization

This study conducted real-time monitoring of size-resolved particle concentrations ranging from 9 nm to 10 μm simultaneously at four sites on the park ground and the roof of a five-story apartment buildings in the upwind and downwind areas of the Olympic Expressway next to apartment complex areas of Seoul, Korea. Using a positive matrix factorization model for source apportionment, eight factors were resolved at each monitoring site: four exhaust emissions of vehicles, one non-exhaust emission of vehicle, two regional sources, and one unknown source. After categorizing monitoring data into three cases by wind conditions, impact and contribution of each vehicle-related source on the local road to the roadside pollution was quantified and characterized by subtracting the urban background concentrations. Throughout the measurement period, the contribution of vehicle-related sources to the particle number concentration at each monitoring site ranged from 61 % to 69 %, while that to the particle mass concentration ranged from 39 % to 87 %. During periods of steady traffic flow and wind blowing from the road to three downwind sites at speeds exceeding >0.5 m/s during working hours, the particle number concentrations at the downwind sites were 2.2–2.5 times higher than the average levels. Among vehicle-related sources, gasoline vehicles with multiple injections or high-emitting diesel vehicles showed the highest contribution to particle number concentrations at all sites. As wind speed increased, the number concentrations of particles from vehicle exhaust and non-exhaust emissions decreased and increased, respectively, probably due to enhanced dilution and transport, respectively. In addition, particle number concentrations showed a parabolic curve-like trend with traffic volumes increasing to approximately 10,000 vehicles/h, and then decreasing for both vehicle exhaust and non-exhaust emissions. These results can be utilized in numerical modeling studies and in establishing traffic-related environmental policies to reduce seasonal and temporal particle exposure near the roadsides.

A Study on the Impact of Home Occupant Characteristics on Housing Renewal and Improvement in Management-type Residential Environment Improvement Project Areas in Seoul: Focusing on the Moderating Effect of Home Occupancy Status

A Study on the Impact of Home Occupant Characteristics on Housing Renewal and Improvement in Management-type Residential Environment Improvement Project Areas in Seoul: Focusing on the Moderating Effect of Home Occupancy Status

A Study on Youth Experiences of Mixed Face-to-Face and Non-Face-to-Face Activities during COVID-19: Focusing on the S Center College Student Planning Group in the Seoul Area

A Study on Youth Experiences of Mixed Face-to-Face and Non-Face-to-Face Activities during COVID-19: Focusing on the S Center College Student Planning Group in the Seoul Area

A Survey on Pesticide Residues and Risk Assessment for Agricultural Products Marketed in the Northern Area of Seoul from 2022 to 2023

A Survey on Pesticide Residues and Risk Assessment for Agricultural Products Marketed in the Northern Area of Seoul from 2022 to 2023

Predictive Geogenic Radon Potential (P-GRP): A novel approach for comprehensive hazard assessment and risk modeling in subsurface environment

Geogenic radon potential (GRP) is traditionally used for mapping radon-prone areas. However, this has challenges in the accurate assessment of radon risk because of limitations such as oversimplified soil measurements and lack of geological profiles. This study presents predictive geogenic radon potential (P-GRP), integrating geological characterization and advanced modeling for the emanation and transport of radon in the subsurface environment. Seoul, South Korea, was selected as the research area for the evaluation of hazards using P-GRP, while subway station A was selected for the assessment of indoor health risks. The geology was characterized by the layers of bedrock and soil using uranium contents and porosity. The emanation of radon was modeled considering the radioactive decay chain of uranium and the pore structures. The vertical transport of radon was modeled considering the porosity variation within geological media, which was used for the calculation of P-GRP. Without loss of continuity, the P-GRP map was constructed by calculating P-GRP at a specific depth over the Seoul area. The calculation of P-GRP in the case of subway station A demonstrates that the radon concentration in the bedrock at the platform depth was expected to be 382 million Bqm−3. The indoor radon risk was calculated using the P-GRP by coupling the vapor intrusion process. This presented a high cancer risk for the employees as well as commuters. The P-GRP map of Seoul demonstrated higher hazards in granite zones compared to banded gneiss zones. These results have demonstrated that the P-GRP could be a novel and promising approach for assessing hazard and risk by geogenic radon during subsurface development.

스크린골프 서비스품질과 인지적, 감정적 반응에 관한 태도 관계

The purpose of this study was to investigate relationship among screen golf service quality, cognitive and emotional responses on attitudes. The study recruited participants who had experience participating in screen golf facilities as the target population. Surveys were distributed primarily at screen golf facilities located in the capital area of Seoul and Gyeonggi province. A total surveys of 294 were used for analysis. The data processing methods included exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, frequency analysis, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling. Based on the above results, the following conclusions are suggested. First, it was found that the physical environment aspect of screen golf facilities' service quality influences cognitive responses. Second, the physical environment aspect of screen golf facilities' service quality influences emotional responses. Third, cognitive responses were found to influence attitudes. Screen golf facilities should devise measures to improve the physical environment aspect of service quality.

Microbiome of lovebug (Plecia longiforceps) in Seoul, South Korea.

Lovebugs appeared in large numbers across a wide area in Seoul, South Korea, in June 2023. The sudden appearance of exotic insects not only discomforts people but also fosters anxiety, as their potential for pathogen transmission would be unknown. In this study, targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the 16S rRNA gene V4 region was performed using iSeq 100 to screen for bacteria in lovebugs. Forty-one lovebugs (20 females and 21 males) collected in Seoul, Korea, were identified as Plecia longiforceps based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 sequencing data using PCR. We analyzed the microbiome of the lovebugs and detected 453 species of bacteria. Among all bacteria screened based on NGS, Rickettsia was detected in all samples with an average relative abundance of 80.40%, followed by Pandoraea and Ewingella. Diversity (alpha and beta) between females and males did not differ; however, only Tumebacillus showed a higher relative abundance in females. Sequencing analysis of Rickettsia using a gltA gene-specific primer by PCR showed that it had higher sequence similarity to the Rickettsia symbiont of arthropods than to the spotted fever group rickettsiae. Eleven samples in which Pandoraea was detected by iSeq 100 were confirmed by PCR and exhibited 100% sequence identity to Pandoraea oxalativorans strain DSM 23570. Consequently, the likelihood of pathogen transmission to humans is low. The applied method may play a crucial role in swiftly identifying bacterial species in the event of future outbreaks of exotic insects that may be harmful to humans.IMPORTANCELovebugs have recently emerged in large numbers in Seoul, causing major concern regarding potential health risks. By performing the next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V4 region, we comprehensively examined the microbiome of these insects. We identified the presence of numerous bacteria, including Rickettsia and Pandoraea. Reassuringly, subsequent tests confirmed that these detected bacteria were not pathogenic. The present study addresses health concerns related to lovebugs and shows the accuracy and efficiency of our detection technique. Such methods prove invaluable for rapidly identifying bacterial species during potential outbreaks of unfamiliar insects, thereby ensuring public safety.

An Assessment of Landscape Perception Using a Normalised Naturalness Index in the Greater Seoul Area

This study analysed the greater Seoul area (GSA) in terms of naturalness, a representative indicator of natural scenic beauty, and created an assessment map, shifting from a traditional urban development perspective to a landscape perspective. It also developed a “normalised naturalness index” by combining the results of the expert metric score with the Hemeroby index, which was used as a naturalness assessment representative item. Then, it interpreted the naturalness status of the GSA landscape characteristics. As a result, the landscape of the GSA demonstrates the following five characteristics: First, the central business districts in the capital city of Seoul are densely developed areas with a very high degree of human intervention. Second, the satellite cities built to solve Seoul’s housing and logistics problems are rated as “a little less, but still heavily humanised” as a landscape characteristic. These areas are becoming increasingly humanised. Also, it is worth noting that the third characteristic, regarding moderate landscape areas, has a distinctly different meaning for areas outside of the city boundary, as well as those within the city boundary. Although these areas are in the same statistical category, they have two different meanings: one is the area where the average values converged on “moderate” by virtue of urban forests near the city centre, and the other is the area outside of Seoul that has a Hemeroby value of 0.5–0.6, which refers to open spaces such as agricultural lands, wetlands, or coastal areas. Fourth, suburban forests are reserved with legal restrictions to curb excessive urban sprawl, as well as parts of the demilitarised zone along the border areas of North and South Koreas. The last landscape characteristic is illustrated in the scenic area of the eastern woodlands. The normalised landscape naturalness index developed through this study provides an overall understanding of the environmental state of the GSA. Future research may build on the results of this study to refine methods for assessing public perceptions of naturalness.

로봇바리스타에 대한 경험이 관계의 질과 재이용의도에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of experience with robot baristas on the quality of relationships and intention to reuse. This study was limited to users with experience with robot baristas in the Seoul area and used a Judgment sampling method among non-probability sampling methods. The survey questions consisted of a total of 19 items, and an online survey was conducted using Google. The data used in this study was the SPSS 27.0 program. As a result of hypothesis testing, Hypothesis 1 experience had a positive (+) effect on the quality of relationships. Hypothesis 2 Relationship quality had a positive (+) effect on reuse intention. Hypothesis 3 Experience had a positive effect on intention to reuse. This study is different from existing research by conducting a study on the impact of experience with a robot barista on relationship quality and reuse intention. We hope that the analysis results will be used as basic academic data and achievements in food tech-related fields.

Temporal Variation and Spatial Heterogeneity in Boarding/Alighting Patterns at Urban Railway Stations: Implications for Estimating Optimal Construction Scale—A Case Study in Seoul, South Korea

Urban railways have become a prominent mode of public transportation within cities owing to their connectivity with other modes of transport and environmental friendliness. Various policies, such as the expansion of metropolitan areas and the development of megacities, have further emphasized the pivotal role of urban railways. Consequently, more railway stations are expected to be constructed in developed cities. However, the temporal variation in boarding and alighting patterns at each railway station is often overlooked. Failing to account for this variation, specifically the differences in peak-hour concentration rates, in railway station design may cause increased conflicts among users owing to concentrated demands during specific time periods, exacerbating congestion and diminishing the appeal of the urban railway systems. Therefore, this study investigated the correlation between the temporal variation in boarding and alighting patterns and the attributes (location) of railway stations in Seoul, South Korea, and analyzed the spatial heterogeneity of this correlation. Initially, the factors influencing the peak-hour concentration rates in railway stations were identified using a linear regression model. Peak hours were defined as morning and afternoon peaks and boarding and alighting were differentiated to account for the directional aspects of temporal variations in boarding and alighting patterns. The correlation between boarding and alighting patterns and the attributes of railway station influence zones was determined, and a geographically weighted regression model was estimated to analyze the spatial heterogeneity of this correlation based on railway station location. The analysis results revealed that railway stations in the southeastern and downtown areas of Seoul exhibited varying impacts of station attributes on boarding and alighting patterns even when the station attribute influence zones were identical. The contribution of this study is to evaluate the priorities of railway projects and its corresponding transportation policies. Regarding the policy goal recently announced by the Korean government, “Achieving Commute Times in 30-min range,” our finding will provide a good measure of accessibility whether it succeeds or not.

Evacuation information methodology that combined a flooded environment and pedestrian behavioral model

Disaster information influences decision-making. Wireless internet and location-based services, aided by recent technological advances, have laid the foundation for providing personalized disaster information. Despite the provision of simple disaster forecasts and warnings, provision of specific evacuation actions (“where” and “how,” i.e., location and reachability of safe areas) and location-based personalized information that consider real-time disaster situations are a pressing priority. Thus, this study proposed and developed a three-step methodology for providing disaster information during floods that combined a flooded environment and pedestrian behavioral model, namely, 1) prediction of the flooded environment, 2) analysis of evacuation routes based on the movement time of evacuees according to the flood depth, and 3) provision of evacuation information by selecting the optimal evacuation route. This model was demonstrated in the Gangnam Station area in Seoul, Korea. Flooded environment prediction modeling of the target area was performed by applying the 100-year rainfall design to the Storm Water Management Model. The optimal evacuation route, according to the flood depth, was selected by applying the behavioral model (movement time calculation formula) for each evacuee derived through an evacuation behavior experiment. The pre- and post-flooding age- and gender-wise total evacuation distance and time were compared and analyzed. Post-flooding, the evacuation distance and time increased by 168.3% (381.34 m) and 172.3% (3.16 min) on average, respectively, indicating that evacuees must travel farther and longer. The analysis of post-flooding evacuation route change types revealed changes in evacuation distance and time in cases where shelters and evacuation routes and time were significantly different depending on evacuee characteristics (age and gender). This indicated that specific and visual disaster information can be provided according to evacuees’ age and gender using the proposed methodology. This study can serve as the basis for designing an advanced and personalized disaster information system that can provide specific evacuation actions to aid fast evacuation decision-making during floods.

Survey and Investigation of Usage Status According to the Installation of Underground Fire Extinguisher Boxes in Korea’s Traditional Markets

Currently, traditional markets are structurally vulnerable to fire because of the dense concentration of old wooden buildings with tangled wires, such as aging facilities. Particularly in traditional markets, street vendors are usually disorderly located, and nearby roads are crowded due to illegal parking and vehicles stopping on the driveway. When a fire breaks out, it is difficult for the fire truck to enter, which is necessary to extinguish the fire in the early stages and prevent it from expanding into a large fire. With modernization, the number of fires is on the decline; however, fires in traditional markets continue to increase. According to the analysis of fire statistics from January to November 2023, 49 out of 819 fires in sales facilities were in traditional markets, accounting for 5.98% of fires in sales facilities. This is an increase of about 18 cases and an increase of 2.8% compared to fire statistics of about 3.19%, or 31 out of 972 fires at sales facilities as of 2017. Through these statistics, we can observe that the number of fires in sales facilities has decreased; however, the number of fires in traditional markets has increased. Traditional markets are at high risk of accidents due to the poor management of aging facilities and the lack of safety awareness among merchants. Specifically, in the event of a fire, which is likely to develop into a large fire in a short period due to structural problems, construction of high-density shopping malls, and mass loading of highly flammable goods, raising concerns about safety issues. As these problems have continued, the National Fire Agency has developed an emergency fire extinguisher box that could be buried underground in districts requiring fire prevention reinforcement, such as traditional markets and dosshouses. On January 20, 2018, and on May 2, 2018, ten units were first installed in the Seoul area. In this study, we conducted a survey on the current status of underground fire extinguishing systems boxed in traditional markets to identify the merchants' perceptions and analyze the operation of underground fire extinguishing systems boxed in the market.

Evaluation of urban nightlife attractiveness for Millennials and Generation Z

Nightlife attractiveness plays a significant role in the local economy as it contributes to various sectors such as hospitality, entertainment, and tourism. Millennials and Generation Z (Gen MZ) are the primary leaders of nightlife activities. This study aims to evaluate the nightlife attractiveness of Seoul focusing on Gen MZ all-nighters. Specifically, the nightlife attractiveness is evaluated based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) using smart card data and open data sources from Seoul. Nightlife attractiveness is defined as the number of Gen MZ floating population and their duration of stay, compared to the number of nightlife venues, i.e., bars, clubs, restaurants, karaokes, and cafes. The DEA model and Tobit regression model are used to evaluate the nightlife attractiveness of 161 Dong unit areas in Seoul and explore Gen MZ's preference for hotspots, respectively. The results show that, on average, the attractiveness score is estimated to be 0.87, suggesting a 0.13 increase in outputs to be the most attractive hotspot. Regarding individual preferences, Gen MZ all-nighters residing in rich suburban areas tend to spend their all-night at these hotspots. These findings provide insights into existing hotspots and areas with the potential to become hotspots in the future.

외식기업 관리자의 감성리더십이 자기효능감과 고객지향성에 미치는 영향

The basic purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the emotional leadership of restaurant business managers and its influence on self-efficacy and customer orientation. This study was limited to restaurant- related employees in the Seoul area and used convenience sampling among non-probability sampling methods. Hypothesis verification results Hypothesis 1 Among the components of emotional leadership, self-awareness ability and relationship management ability influenced self-efficacy. Hypothesis 2 Self-efficacy influenced customer orientation. Hypothesis 3 Among emotional leadership components, self-awareness ability and social awareness ability influenced customer orientation. This study is different from existing research by conducting a study on the impact of restaurant managers' emotional leadership on self-efficacy and customer orientation. Based on the analysis results, basic data on human resource management and leadership research in restaurant companies and practical measures on the management aspects of restaurant companies were presented.

Occupying Shops to Defend Spaces of Livelihoods: From Tenant Shopkeepers’ Fragmentation to Collective Consciousness in Urban Korea

Abstract When commercial real estate becomes a highly coveted investment commodity, tensions intensify between those whose interest lies in extracting maximum profits from their properties and those who utilize the very same spaces for making a livelihood. Through ethnographic research with a tenant shopkeepers’ social movement organization (SMO) in Korea, I analyze the new collective consciousness forming among tenant shopkeepers who are defending their livelihoods against their landlords’ rapacious use of rent hikes and evictions to fully realize the speculative potential of their properties. Examining how the SMO brings together geographically scattered tenant shopkeepers based primarily in the larger metropolitan area of Seoul, I ask, more broadly: How can the self-employed facing precaritization overcome their fragmentation and generate a new collective consciousness based on a politics of solidarity? Drawing from my case study of tenant shopkeepers and the literature on livelihood struggles elsewhere around the globe, I identify the practice of occupying livelihood spaces as playing a pivotal role in the development of a sense of collective among those previously atomized in their struggles. I advance existing scholarship by scrutinizing both the challenges and the transformative potential of the solidarity cultivated through the occupy sites in bridging divergent interests, cultural sensibilities, and political beliefs of the previously unorganized.

Distribution of microplastics in soil by types of land use in metropolitan area of Seoul

Plastic pollution is becoming a significant problem in urban areas due to excessive use and careless disposal. While studies on microplastics are increasingly being conducted across various environments, research on microplastics in soil is limited compared to other areas. Microplastics entering the soil through various routes can stay there for a long period of time, threatening soil organisms and eventually humans. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the distribution characteristics of microplastics according to types of land use. For this purpose, a total of 54 soil samples were collected from agricultural land, residential areas, roadsides, parks, and forests. The analysis of microplastics in the soil by stereo microscopy showed that the average numbers of microplastics (particles/kg) in agricultural land, residential areas, roadsides, parks, and forests were 5047, 3646, 4987, 2673, and 1097, respectively. Various colors (black, red, green, blue, yellow, white, and transparent) and shapes (fragment, fiber, film, and sphere) of microplastics were found in soils. The combination of black x fragment plastics showed the highest frequency. Microplastics in soil samples from agricultural land, roadside, and residential areas with sizes between 20 µm and 500 µm were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and analyzed by MP finder. The number of microplastics detected in the soil with sizes ranging between 20 µm and 500 µm was in the order of roadside > residential areas > agricultural land, which was different from the results by stereomicroscopy. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were detected in soils from roadsides. Polyurethane (PU), cellulose acetate (CA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), PP, and polystyrene (PS) were detected in soils from residential areas, with PU being the most frequently detected.