A Phenomenological Study on the Experiences of Participants in Resident Empowerment Programs

This study explored the daily experiences of participants in a resident empowerment program linked to an urban regeneration project (New Village Creation Project) from a phenomenological perspective and reveal the structural significance of these experiences for the mental health recovery and physical activity of the super-elderly.To this end, 15 residents who participated in the resident empowerment program at G Village in the G region were selected as research participants, and in-depth interviews and field observations were conducted from March to June 2026.The collected data were analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological analysis method.As a result of the analysis, the participants' experiences were derived into four categories: 'recovery of pain perception and physical competence,' 'rediscovery of the autonomous self through being called by name,' 'securing a sense of environmental control and self-governance capacity through digital mapping,' and 'expansion of community wellness through advanced healing experiences.'This study holds policy and practical implications in that it goes beyond the limitations of existing urban regeneration projects, which focused primarily on improving the physical residential environment, by empirically demonstrating that a resident empowerment program integrating health, psychology, and welfare acts as a powerful 'social prescription' and a mechanism for strengthening resilience for the super-aged and marginalized.