Climate-resilient housing and subjective wellbeing: urban–rural, housing type, and income differences in Korea

Climate-related hazards have increased the urgency of climate-resilient housing to ensure physical safety and support subjective wellbeing (SWB). Despite growing policy interest, little empirical evidence has examined how specific resilience features affect wellbeing. This study examines the relationship between three dimensions of housing climate resilience—disaster resilience, fire safety, and evacuation safety—and two SWB outcomes: residential satisfaction and life satisfaction. Using 17 years of nationally representative panel data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study (2005–2021; N = 221,695), fixed effects models were employed to estimate within-individual changes over time. Additional analyses distinguish resilience improvements associated with residential relocation from those occurring within the same dwelling. Improvements in all three resilience features are positively associated with higher SWB, with fire safety showing the strongest effects. Interaction models reveal that benefits are greater for low-income households, residents of single- or multi-family homes, and those in rural areas—groups likely to gain most from resilience-enhancing interventions. These findings highlight the need for targeted housing policies that address socio-spatial disparities and promote wellbeing in the face of climate change.