| Title |
Diagnosing Potential Vulnerability in Non?Population-Decline Regions - An Analysis of Jobs, Economic Structure, and Functional Living Areas across 22 Local Governments in Gyeongsangbuk-do |
| Authors |
김유란(Kim, Yu-Ran); 김선영(Kim, Sun-Young); 정석(Jeong, Seok) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.38195/judik.2026.02.27.1.133 |
| Keywords |
비인구감소지역; 인구감소지역; 경상북도 Non-depopulated Areas; Depopulated Areas; Gyeongsanbuk-do |
| Abstract |
This study argues that effective responses to local population decline require not only support systems for officially designated depopulation regions but also a proactive framework that classifies and differentiates non-depopulation regions. Non-depopulation regions are not a uniform group of “strong” areas; rather, they comprise heterogeneous localities sustained by distinct population-maintenance mechanisms. Focusing on 22 cities and counties in Gyeongsangbuk-do (Korea), we examine the 2024 population change rate alongside 11 economic indicators to identify structural characteristics. Depopulation and non-depopulation regions are compared and standardized across four dimensions: the labor market, job structure and stability, the regional economy(scale and density), and functional living areas measured by internal and external commuting flows. The analysis identifies three types of non-depopulation regions: (1)hub?metropolitan linkage(Pohang, Gumi, Gyeongsan), (2)industrial hub?commuting zone(Gyeongju, Gimcheon, Chilgok), and (3)high-density?stable linkage(Yecheon). A survey of 526 respondents in seven non-depopulation localities complements the quantitative results by capturing perceived persistence factors. The findings provide a mechanism-based |