A Study on Population Effects on Small and Medium-sized Cities Surrounding Government-led Planned Cities -Focusing on Gongjusi –

It is crucial to understand various factors of depopulation when studying population changes.The aim of this study is to examine population changes of small and medium-sized cities generated by planned cities under government-led projects and to present policy alternatives.The study set Gongju City as a study area since it experienced the most severe depopulation among surrounding cities around Sejong Special Autonomous City developed under government-led projects.In addition, it conducted a comparative analysis by dividing each of the seven local governments into both content range (Yeosu City, Jeongeup City, and Haenam County) and spatial range (Gongju City, Hongseong County, Buyeo County, Yesan County, and Mungyeong City).Three local governments sorted as the content range were continuously experienced depopulation due to main factors such as low birth late or aging.There were three common factors to explain the depopulation in local governments belonging to the content range.First, the lack of jobs was one of the factors of depopulation.Since conglomerates and public enterprises which the younger generations wanted to work for were mostly located in capital or metropolitan areas, the population ratios in small and medium were aging and the population of the younger people kept decreasing.Second, the qualities of education systems were one of the factors of depopulation.Educational systems in small and medium-sized cities were inferior to local metropolitan cities so people moved to bigger cities to have better educational services and it caused continuous depopulation.Third, insufficient public facilities were one of the factors of depopulation.Since the local governments could not fully provide facilities needed, residents whose needs were not met with this moved to other areas and it caused continuous depopulation.Regarding the spatial range, this study categorized societies, institutions, and policies largely into four factors about five local governments including the study area, Gongju City, and presented policy alternatives on populations of Gongju City.