Title Spatial Patterns of Underground Housing and Gosiwon as Vulnerable Housing and Their Socioeconomic Correlates
Authors 정기성(Jeong, Kiseong) ; 송기욱(Song, Ki-Wook)
DOI https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2026.42.4.273
Page pp.273-284
ISSN 2733-6247
Keywords Underground housing; Gosiwon; Incheon metropolitan city; Old city centers; Free economic zones Spatial autocorrelation analysis
Abstract This study investigates the spatial associations between vulnerable housing concentrations, including underground housing and gosiwon, and socio-economic polarization within Incheon Metropolitan City, in the context of growing inequality between old city centers and IFEZ new towns. Drawing on Seumter building registry data(2022), MOLIT housing price data (2022?2024), KOSIS, and Incheon public datasets(2023), we map spatial clustering patterns of major variables and apply Global, Local, Bivariate Moran’s I analysis. Key findings are as follows. First, underground housing shows a statistically significant positive spatial association with vulnerable class, concentrated in old-city centers, indicating spatial concentration of compounded vulnerability. Second, Gosiwon shows significant positive spatial associations with single-person households and vulnerable groups, but its clustering is relatively weak and locally differentiated, reflecting a dispersed distribution around transit-oriented areas and IFEZ new towns rather than concentration in old central areas. Third, neither underground housing nor gosiwon shows a clear spatial relationship with housing prices at the citywide level, as vulnerable housing is found in both low- and high-price areas. This suggests that housing inequality in Incheon cannot be explained solely by a simple price divide between old city centers and new towns, but instead reflects more complex social and spatial factors. These results call for place-based housing welfare strategies that prioritize areas where vulnerable housing and disadvantaged groups overlap.