Purpose: This study examines the effects of regional cultural specialization on sports event legacy perception and development support in the context of the 2027 Chungcheong Universiade, based on the stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) framework. Method: Survey data collected from residents and visitors in the Chungcheong region were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) with R (using the lavaan, psych, and semTools packages). The conceptual model included three stimulus variables (cultural resource attractiveness, regional identity, and cultural program diversity), four organism variables (economic, socio- cultural, sports, and environmental/infrastructure legacy perception), and one response variable (legacy development support). Results: The findings revealed that cultural resource attractiveness and cultural program diversity had significant positive effects on all four legacy perception dimensions. Regional identity demonstrated positive effects on most dimensions, with the exception of sports legacy perception. Among the legacy perception dimensions, socio-cultural legacy perception exerted the strongest influence on legacy development support, whereas environmental/infrastructure legacy perception showed no significant effect.Overall, 14 of the 16 proposed hypotheses were supported. Conclusion: Regional cultural specialization functions as a key driver of legacy perception and development support for major sports events. In particular, socio-cultural legacy perception plays a central mediating role in shaping public support for legacy development, with meaningful implications for sustainable legacy planning of the 2027 Chungcheong Universiade.
Young-Jin Choi (Thu,) studied this question.