Reports

• Topic Climate Change/ Environment
• AuthorKyungwon Kim, Hyomi Kim, Suhan Ham

• 조회수32
• 등록일2026-04-17

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Since buildings account for approximately 67% of the city’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the building sector represents a critical target for emission reduction. To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 compared to 2005 levels, active participation by private buildings is essential. However, while a significant portion of public buildings currently fall within energy efficiency grades D–E, and private buildings make up the majority of the stock, institutional mechanisms for their management and participation remain insufficient. Accordingly, the Seoul ESG Building Evaluation System has been designed as a voluntary framework to enhance reduction effectiveness and encourage private sector participation, closely linked with the city’s building-level GHG cap system. This initiative simultaneously pursues two integrated objectives—achieving carbon neutrality and expanding private engagement—by ensuring policy coherence with existing programs such as the Building GHG Cap and the Energy Performance Reporting Scheme. The system strengthens policy persuasiveness through a logical structure of problem recognition → institutional design → implementation mechanism → expected outcomes. Starting from real-world challenges such as weak participation from private buildings and the imbalance of responsibility between landlords and tenants, the system operationalizes the ESG framework and connects it to practical mechanisms: financial incentives, contractual instruments, third-party verification, and digital platforms. These mechanisms aim to secure tangible emission reductions, broaden private involvement, and enhance institutional credibility. The evaluation framework combines the strengths of GRESB (performance- based relative ESG assessment) and BREEAM (criterion-based absolute assessment). It assesses both quantitative performance (energy, GHG, water, and waste) and qualitative ESG structure (policy, stakeholder engagement, health and welfare), enabling Seoul to secure both international credibility and domestic administrative compatibility. The evaluation is primarily absolute verifying compliance with criteria while incorporating relative elements to promote competition across rating tiers, ensuring fairness and effective incentive design. A key principle of the system is that building emission reductions cannot be achieved by landlords alone; tenant participation is essential. Based on the ‘polluter pays’ principle, the framework encourages collaboration between landlords who integrate low-carbon materials and efficient systems during design and construction and tenants who practice energy-saving and low-carbon operations during occupancy. The system operates as a non-regulatory, voluntary program with annual applications. To achieve the top (Grade 1) rating, a building must attain A–B grades in most of the 30 detailed indicators. Landlords are encouraged to adopt low-carbon materials and high-efficiency facilities during design or renovation, while tenants contribute through energy-saving and eco-friendly practices, jointly achieving the building’s GHG reduction targets. The system institutionalizes emission reduction efforts through lease contract clauses that specify ‘GHG reduction targets’ and performance-linked management fee adjustments, ensuring that reductions translate into cost savings. Financial incentives play a pivotal role in promoting voluntary participation. Both landlords and tenants can receive benefits such as preferential deposit and loan rates, low-interest financing, and subsidy support. Top-rated buildings may display a certification plaque and command rental premiums, creating tangible market advantages. Financial institutions, in turn, can expand their ESG disclosure portfolios by offering linked financial products, establishing a virtuous cycle in which private capital supports emission reduction policies. Given the need for stakeholder learning and market adaptation, the policy assumes a gradual, phased diffusion trajectory. For administrative efficiency, the ESG Building Evaluation System integrates results from existing certification programs (G-SEED, ZEB, and BF) to minimize time and cost burdens. Existing buildings may use self-assessment results to reduce participation costs. The scoring methodology allows annual adjustment of indicator weightings to reflect evolving policy priorities, ensuring flexibility and policy alignment. Evaluation and verification are conducted by independent professional institutions to ensure objectivity and credibility, with the Seoul Metropolitan Government acting as facilitator and coordinator to support voluntary ESG management in the private sector. To demonstrate policy effectiveness, quantitative evidence and simulations are provided such as the expected energy reduction rate of Grade 1 buildings and anticipated performance by building size to enhance realism and feasibility. Participation incentives are clearly differentiated by stakeholder: Landlords benefit from rental premiums, financial and tax incentives, and publicity effects from certification. Tenants benefit from lower utility costs and access to financial incentives. Financial institutions gain ESG disclosure performance and opportunities to expand green finance portfolios. The Seoul Metropolitan Government achieves its GHG reduction targets and promotes autonomous market diffusion. These structured, stakeholder-specific benefit schemes strengthen the motivational foundation of the policy. To ensure continuity and adaptability, the system introduces a feedback-driven ESG governance loop ‘evaluation → feedback → indicator adjustment → re-evaluation’ allowing dynamic refinement of weightings and incentives each year and supporting the institutional evolution of ESG governance. In summary, the Seoul ESG Building Evaluation System serves as a voluntary, incentive-based platform for cooperative emission reduction. By integrating shared responsibility between landlords and tenants, linking with private ESG finance, combining quantitative and qualitative assessment, and aligning with existing certification schemes, it provides a core mechanism for achieving carbon neutrality in Seoul’s building sector by 2050.

• Topic Climate Change/ Environment
• AuthorHyunseok Moon, Sojin Lee, Jung-Min Yu, Hyejin Lee

• 조회수48
• 등록일2026-04-16

As the global climate crisis has intensified and the transition toward 2050 carbon neutrality has accelerated, energy policy has been required to shift from supply-oriented expansion to demand-side efficiency. In Seoul, 86% of total greenhouse gas emissions originate from the energy sector, and 68% of these emissions come from the building and residential sectors, making demand management in daily life a core strategy for achieving carbon neutrality. In this context, Seoul first introduced DR in 2021 through the Magok Plus-Energy Town pilot project targeting apartment complexes, and subsequently expanded it into the official “Residential DR” program in 2023. However, low AMI deployment, limited participation, the apartment-centered operational structure, the involvement of multiple agencies, and fixed incentives that provide insufficient motivation have hindered the program’s broader adoption. This study aimed to identify policy and technical improvements that could enhance citizen participation and program effectiveness by analyzing the operational status and performance of Seoul’s Residential DR system. Based on the national DR framework and Seoul’s performance data, the study proposed short-term measures to improve operational efficiency and expand participation. These measures included establishing a Seoul-specific dispatch system reflecting local load characteristics, introducing weekend and weather-linked DR, adopting a reduction-rate-based incentive structure, simplifying procedures, integrating publicity efforts, and improving program naming. In the mid- to long-term, the study suggested establishing a unified Residential DR platform to integrate enrollment, data linkage, dispatch, performance verification, and settlement, enhancing information services through linkage with aggregators’ platforms, and expanding the program from electricity-only DR to multi-energy DR using AMI-based datasets for electricity, hot water, water, heating, and gas. The study also identified the need to introduce DR for common areas in apartment complexes, expand participation across diverse housing types, and link DR reduction volumes with the forthcoming building greenhouse-gas cap system and voluntary carbon markets such as K-VER. In the short term, these improvements are expected to increase participation, enhance program understanding, and strengthen the effectiveness of DR dispatch. In the mid- to long-term, platform development and systemic advancement will structurally improve city-wide energy efficiency, and linking DR reductions with carbon-policy mechanisms will enable Residential DR to serve as a key instrument supporting Seoul’s transition to carbon neutrality.

• Topic Social Affairs/ Welfare
• AuthorSoo Beom Choi, Inuk Hwang, Jin Young Moon, Dong Yeol Jang

• 조회수77
• 등록일2026-04-06

Urinary disorders are a complex set of conditions that go beyond simple inconvenience and may lead to secondary health issues such as reduced quality of life, social isolation, depression, falls, and infections—especially among the elderly. Severe cases, in particular, are difficult to treat in the short term and require consistent long-term management, including regular medication and appropriate urinary care. In Korea, urinary care still heavily relies on passive methods such as diapers and incontinence pads, while active approaches like self-catheterization and professional intervention remain underutilized. As a result, the quality of urinary care services is deteriorating, and the associated medical costs are steadily increasing. According to an analysis of Big Data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), the number of patients diagnosed with urinary disorders in Seoul increased by approximately 2.1 times over the past 10 years. In 2023, 14.7% of medical aid recipients and 6.0% of non-recipients in Seoul were diagnosed with urinary disorders, highlighting significant disparities in prevalence between vulnerable and general populations—particularly among the elderly and residents of northern autonomous districts. The number of patients aged 80 and older increased by approximately 3.7 times compared to 2014, and those in their 60s increased by 2.3 times. Despite this trend, few dedicated municipal-level policies or support programs currently exist. Among home health care recipients, nearly two-thirds were identified as experiencing symptoms of urinary disorders, yet 93.5% reported having little to no knowledge of prevention or management. Notably, single-person households composed of women aged 80 and older showed high dependence on diapers and urinary devices, with 18.1% reporting regular diaper use. A focus group interview with visiting nurses revealed that many older adults in the community experience urinary symptoms but do not perceive them as medical conditions, often neglecting appropriate care. Structural barriers were identified, including the absence of standardized screening tools, limited access to urinary supplies, lack of community education resources, and insufficient private-sector support. These findings point to an urgent need for institutional intervention through standardization of care guidelines and professional training for nurses and caregivers. In response, this study proposes an integrated three-stage system of screening, referral, and feedback to strengthen community-level urinary care. The first stage involves visiting nurses screening for symptoms using standardized tools and preparing formal requests for care coordination. The second stage connects patients with partnering clinics, and the results are reported back to public health centers. The third stage enables visiting nurses to provide tailored education and lifestyle guidance based on the medical institutions’ treatment plans. This system, implemented in partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and local healthcare providers, aims to establish a sustainable and equitable model for urinary disorder management in the aging urban population.

• Topic Climate Change/ Environment
• AuthorSujin Kim, Jung Ok Kim, Min Young Song, Ga Young Cho, Joohyoung Lee

• 조회수63
• 등록일2026-04-06

The continuous expansion of underground space development in Seoul has led to a significant increase in artificially discharged groundwater and fluctuating groundwater levels. Nationwide, approximately 140 million tons of discharged groundwater were recorded in 2020, and Seoul has shown a consistent rise due to the cumulative impact of multiple underground construction projects. The city’s groundwater utilization rate has reached 72.2 percent of its available development capacity, higher than the national average of 67.2 percent, indicating substantial pressure on groundwater resources. Excessive fluctuations in groundwater levels can have serious implications for urban safety and the environment. A declining groundwater level may cause soil shrinkage, land subsidence, and sinkhole formation, while rising groundwater levels can lead to flooding of underground facilities such as subway stations, underground shopping centers, and tunnels, threatening the structural stability of subsurface infrastructure. Continuous and systematic monitoring of groundwater levels is therefore essential. Japan successfully reduced annual land subsidence from over 5 cm to less than 1 mm through strict groundwater abstraction regulations and a dense observation network since the 1950s, while Houston, USA, restored its groundwater levels by enforcing pumping restrictions and strengthening monitoring programs. According to the Groundwater Act, local governments are required to install observation wells when groundwater hazards are anticipated. Since 1996, Seoul has operated its auxiliary groundwater level observation network, managing 269 wells as of July 2025. However, this number remains insufficient compared to the city’s scale, accounting for only about 8 percent of the 3,366 observation wells operated by local governments nationwide. Although the network spans all 25 districts, spatial gaps still exist in certain areas. Furthermore, limited linkage with the national observation network and the absence of integrated management for discharged?groundwater information have reduced the efficiency and utility of monitoring data. The central government’s Fourth Master Plan for Groundwater Management (2020) calls for a substantial expansion of both national and local observation networks. The Ministry of Environment plans to increase the number of national groundwater monitoring wells from 688 in 2021 to 4,219 by 2045 and expand the local auxiliary networks from approximately 3,366 to 10,000 sites (including 2,000 auxiliary groundwater level observation wells). While the national network monitors long? term nationwide trends in groundwater levels and quality, Seoul’s auxiliary network functions as a complementary system that provides continuous, fine?scale monitoring at the local level. In alignment with this policy direction, Seoul urgently needs to establish a proactive expansion plan to enhance urban safety and achieve sustainable water management. This study developed site?selection criteria for new observation wells that optimize limited municipal resources and reflect the city’s unique subsurface characteristics. Based on scientific and objective indicators, priorities for network expansion were identified, and seven categories of high?priority installation areas were selected. These criteria are expected to improve monitoring efficiency and serve as a practical foundation for Seoul’s future expansion plan. Building upon the proposed criteria, a phased implementation strategy for the auxiliary observation network should be established. In the short term, new wells should be installed in areas with rapid groundwater fluctuations and insufficient coverage; in the medium and long term, the network should be gradually expanded in accordance with urban development trends through the 2040s. Alongside expansion, qualitative improvement is essential?integrating monitoring data management systems, linking discharged?groundwater databases, conducting regular instrument calibration, and strengthening interdepartmental cooperation for broader data utilization. Policy measures such as mandating pre?installation of observation wells in large?scale development projects, promoting interdepartmental collaboration for the reuse of discharged groundwater, and developing open?access data platforms are also recommended. The expanded network will generate data that can be strategically utilized across multiple domains, including subsidence risk mapping, structural safety assessments of underground facilities, long?term water?resource management under climate change, and protection of groundwater quality through coupled surface?groundwater monitoring. These efforts will minimize adverse impacts from discharged groundwater, promote efficient use of groundwater resources, and reinforce Seoul’s foundation for sustainable water management while enhancing the resilience and safety of its urban infrastructure.

• Topic Transportation
• AuthorYoungJun Han, Youngbeom Kim, Sehyun Park

• 조회수61
• 등록일2026-04-03

Accessibility, traditionally defined as "the degree of proximity to a specific area or facility," has often been quantified through physical distance. This study, however, redefines accessibility from an individualized perspective, incorporating factors such as transportation modes, travel time, destination attractiveness, personal characteristics, and travel purposes. This approach aims to provide a comprehensive metric that transcends conventional distance-based measures, with implications for urban planning, transportation, real estate, and other fields. Utilizing SK Telecom’s LITMUS data, which records 365 days of individual movement and residence patterns via smartphone base station connections, the study models accessibility as a function of travel impedance (measured by travel time) and destination attractiveness (determined by building types and local commercial characteristics). The analysis focuses on leisure trips in Seoul, categorizing data by gender, age, and transportation mode (public transport versus private car). To ensure accurate estimation, this study employs XGBoost, a machine learning ensemble technique, to analyze over 4.2 million leisure trips, thereby identifying accessibility patterns across various demographic groups. The results reveal significant differences: for instance, young women in their 20s exhibit higher accessibility to areas such as Gangnam, Mapo, and Yongsan, which are renowned for their diverse leisure facilities and robust public transport connectivity. In contrast, older men in their 70s demonstrate greater accessibility to traditional markets, such as those in Jongno 3-ga, reflecting their distinct activity preferences. These findings underscore the necessity of tailoring accessibility evaluations to account for individual characteristics and travel behaviors. This individualized framework offers valuable insights for assessing the impacts of policies such as congestion pricing, new urban rail developments, and demographic changes. By integrating these insights into policy design and urban planning, this methodology supports the development of equitable and efficient mobility solutions. Further refinements and expanded datasets may enhance its potential for guiding targeted policy interventions.

• Topic Social Affairs/ Welfare
• AuthorKim Seong-Ah, Lee Min Young

• 조회수39
• 등록일2026-04-03

This study aims to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of Seoul’s major suicide prevention programs and provide foundational evidence for advancing evidence-based suicide prevention policies. Three key programs encompassing the full spectrum of suicide prevention were assessed: (1) the Life Keeper Training Program, (2) the Primary Care-based “Saengmyeongeum Stethoscope” Program, and (3) the Suicide Attempter Registration and Case Management Program. The Life Keeper Training Program significantly improved citizens’ gatekeeper competencies, including suicide literacy, preparedness, and self-efficacy. More than 20% of participants reported encountering individuals with suicidal intent and actively engaging in gatekeeper behaviors. These findings highlight the need to expand citizen-based education and establish regular retraining systems to sustain behavioral practice. The Saengmyeongeum Stethoscope Program revealed structural challenges, such as insufficient guidance during screening, delays in referral between clinics and public health centers, and limited effectiveness of short-term counseling. Enhancing program efficacy requires stronger medical participation, a real-time digital referral system between primary care and public health centers, and the development of a continuous case management model with follow-up counseling and monitoring. The Suicide Attempter Registration and Case Management Program identified stigma, distrust of public services, and non-standardized linkage procedures as key factors reducing community referral rates. To address these issues, the study recommends standardizing referral protocols, expanding professional staff and improving counseling environments, and establishing tailored multi-agency linkage systems. Collectively, these findings underscore the importance of institutionalizing a sustainable and cyclical evaluation framework that integrates regular program assessments and policy feedback. Such a system will enable Seoul to strengthen the sustainability and credibility of its suicide prevention policies and advance toward an evidence-based “Safe City for Life.”

• Topic Climate Change/ Environment
• AuthorSojin Lee, Hyunseok Moon, Sung-Kyun Shin, Yoon-Hye Yi, Suhan Ham

• 조회수66
• 등록일2026-04-03

Seoul has implemented various building energy efficiency programs inspired by global best practices. However, to achieve more ambitious carbon neutrality targets, the city must now consider stronger regulatory approaches and more sophisticated support mechanisms. Based on international case studies, Seoul should accelerate the adoption of mandatory energy performance standards and set annual carbon or energy use caps for large buildings. Similar to New York City's Local Law 97 and Tokyo’s ETS, Seoul is reviewing a phased implementation of enforceable emissions limits with penalties for noncompliance. To support this, it is critical to expand and expedite the use of the city’s GHG information management system, starting with pilot programs for buildings over 3,000m². Public disclosure of target achievements and stepwise expansion of the scope can increase transparency and accountability. Market-based mechanisms such as carbon pricing and emissions trading should be introduced with transitional safeguards for essential facilities like hospitals and data centers. These facilities should receive prioritized financial assistance for energy efficiency retrofits. Deep retrofitting of existing buildings must be systematized through legal mandates, especially during major renovations. Seoul should consider requiring energy audits every 5–10 years and mandating replacement of inefficient equipment. A dedicated retrofit fund, in cooperation with the financial sector, should support affordable long-term loans with repayment linked to energy cost savings. Public buildings must lead by example by achieving full decarbonization. Additionally, Seoul must reduce its reliance on the national power grid. To do so, it should collaborate with the national government on electricity emissions accounting and renewable energy certification frameworks. The city should promote PPAs (power purchase agreements), green tariff programs, and virtual power plants (VPPs) linking local building owners with external renewable suppliers. Rooftop solar mandates for new buildings and incentives for solar retrofits are also essential. Fundamentally, these actions require legal backing. Energy and emissions disclosure regulations must be upgraded to require building performance data (e.g., energy use, GHG emissions, water consumption) to be made public. Smart energy monitoring and big data analytics should be used to track real-time consumption, identify high-emitting buildings, and evaluate policy outcomes quantitatively. This digital infrastructure will support both distributed energy deployment and effective climate policy in Seoul.

• Topic Safety/ Infrastructure
• AuthorMin-Cheol Park, Kee-Sei Lee, Han-Jin Oh, Jong-Chan Kim, Kyung-hoon Ma, Jun-Yong Park

• 조회수59
• 등록일2026-04-02

Facility management and disaster response focus on critical national infrastructure and public safety, requiring significant time for the development and demonstration of monitoring and informatization technologies. This is primarily because most management information is classified, and on-site conditions are diverse and vulnerable. Issues identified through demonstration projects can be addressed to refine and generalize the technology for broader use. Notably, the components of monitoring informatization technology—such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Building Information Modeling (BIM)—can be developed and tested individually. However, integrating and operating these technologies as a unified monitoring system in real-world environments remains highly challenging due to limited conditions and resources. Key challenges in monitoring technology demonstration projects can be summarized into three main points: Low communication quality in wireless monitoring systems for large structures, such as bridges, necessitated the enhancement of wireless communication modules and related monitoring systems. Issues such as data gaps and noise required effective data preprocessing and analysis techniques. It was essential to visualize the acquired data using BIM and GIS according to the characteristics of the structures or spaces, rather than relying solely on conventional dashboards. These requirements emphasized the need for advanced technology capable of widespread application. For efficient and reliable facility monitoring, LoRa communication modules were utilized for IoT device communication, with a linear topology applied for spatial deployment. Traditional bridge monitoring systems used WLAN operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which offered high transmission speeds but consumed more power and had a shorter communication range. In contrast, LoRa, a type of Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) operating at 850 MHz, provided slower transmission speeds of 30–50 kbps. However, it was highly energy-efficient and supported an extensive communication range of approximately 2 km. One major limitation in monitoring informatization technologies involved the reliability and standardization of data collected from IoT sensors installed on various infrastructure elements such as bridges and road surfaces. This study focused on preprocessing urban data into formats suitable for AI-based learning models and deriving decision-making strategies to enable practical application by relevant departments in Seoul. The developed prediction model aimed to utilize monitoring data collected through all-in-one sensors and infrared road surface temperature sensors installed at various sites. The overall model performance demonstrated excellent results. However, minimizing errors in the data collection stage is critical for the sustainable operation of IoT sensor-based monitoring systems. Additionally, in Seoul, where extensive meteorological data is available from various sources—such as Seoul Urban Data (S･DoT), the Korea Meteorological Administration, and on-site sensors—further research is needed on methods for data interpolation in missing sections and integrating urban data for diverse applications.

• Topic Social Affairs/ Welfare
• AuthorChoi Jieun, Choi Soo-Beom, Lee Seungjae, Kim Dahae, Oh Seo Jin

• 조회수171
• 등록일2026-03-31

Growing Global Concern Over Adolescents’ Psychosocial Well-Being Fuels Calls to Restrict Social Media Use Global concern over adolescents’ poor psychosocial development has raised demands to restrict youth social media use. Social media platforms—ranging from video services like YouTube and TikTok to social networking sites such as Instagram, Facebook, and X—enable interactive creation and exchange of user-generated content. Since adolescents began actively using social media, many countries have reported increases in adolescent depression, suicide, conduct problems, and attention difficulties. Studies found significant links between social media use and these risks, suggesting that features such as visualization, constant accessibility, instant feedback, permanence, and public visibility may interact negatively with adolescents’ developmental uniqeness.  Yet in Korea, systematic evidence on diverse usage patterns and their associations with psychosocial outcomes remains limited, as self-reported time is often inaccurate and qualitative patterns are not well captured. This study addresses these gaps by gathering both digital trace data and survey data from high school students in Seoul. Three major domains of psychosocial development were also measured: psychological and emotional, social, and cognitive development. It analyzes quantitative and qualitative usage patterns, identifies specific usage patterns linked to risks or benefits, and examines mechanisms of potential harm to inform evidence-based policies that mitigate negative impacts on adolescents’ psychosocial development. Concepts, Trends, and Legal Reviews on Youth Social Media Use and Psychosocial Development  Social media has become deeply embedded in the daily lives of adolescents worldwide. In the United States, youth aged 13–19 spend an average of 4.8 hours per day on social media, with 73% using YouTube and more than half using TikTok and Instagram daily. An international study of 280,000 adolescents found that 11% could be classified as “problematic social media users.” In Korea, however, no large-scale survey captures adolescents’ social media use, and existing studies focus narrowly on smartphone dependence and SNS usage. A review of major national time-series indicators from the National Health Insurance Service, Statistics Korea, and the Ministry of Education shows clear increases in psychological and emotional, social, and cognitive development problems among Korean adolescents since 2017. After 2020, diagnoses of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, behavioral disorders, and ADHD rose sharply nationwide and in Seoul. A review of recent domestic and international trends in legal revisions and amendments is as follows: Korea has recently introduced basic safeguards by restricting smart device use in schools and institutionalizing digital literacy education through amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. However, draft amendments that directly regulate adolescents’ social media use remain under review. Internationally, many jurisdictions—including the U.S., EU, U.K., and Australia—have enacted or are pursuing social media regulations for youth. Multiple U.S. states have introduced measures including parental consent requirements and restrictions on personalized algorithmic feeds. Australia plans to implement one of the world’s strictest regulations by banning social media accounts for those under 16, regardless of parental consent, starting in late 2025. Nonetheless, some foreign laws have faced constitutional challenges (e.g., free speech concerns), leading to delayed or suspended implementation, and critics argue that some initiatives reflect a “legislative rush” lacking sufficient evidence. Prior Studies Show That the Effects of Social Media on Youth Development Are Complex, Highlighting the Need for More Nuanced Measurement and Intervention Prior research indicates that social media use has neither uniformly positive nor negative effects on adolescents’ psychosocial development. For instance, it can support identity exploration, peer connection, and access to information or social support, enhancing self-esteem and emotional well-being. Yet repeated exposure to idealized content, passive browsing, excessive engagement, or harmful content can intensify social comparison, lower self-worth, and increase depression and anxiety. While social media may foster learning and creativity, patterns like short-form content overload, constant notifications, and nighttime use can impair attention, memory, and executive functioning. Overall, the impact of social media would depend on platform characteristics, adolescents’ motivations and usage patterns, individual traits, and the developmental domain. This highlights the need for research beyond usage time, capturing diverse qualitative patterns, and for interventions that impose evidence-based and carefully designed restrictions. Existing studies, however, have limitations: most focus outside Korea, definitions and platforms vary, many rely on self-reported screentime, and few examine the roles of families, schools, governments, or platforms. These gaps hinder evidence-based responses despite growing policy attention. Integrating Digital Trace Data and Surveys to Assess Adolescents’ Quantitative and Qualitative Social Media Use This study collected data from 500 first- and second-year high school students in Seoul during the 2025 summer vacation. The sample was proportional to grade, gender, and region. After consent, digital trace data from smartphones collected for one week at the app level, and a survey measured multifaceted social media usage patterns, psychosocial outcomes, and environmental factors (e.g., families, schools).  ▲ Quantitative patterns: YouTube (95%), Instagram (86%), and TikTok (49%) were most used, with total weekly social media use of 23 hours (YouTube 10.8, Instagram 7.5, TikTok 2.6). Total smartphone use averaged 36.4 hours. Girls used Instagram more, and adolescents with lower perceived economic status used Instagram and TikTok more and spent more time overall on smartphones and social media. ▲ Qualitative patterns: Most adolescents had 1–50 SNS friends, and online communication often exceeded offline interaction, especially during school breaks. Girls preferred online communication and reported higher passive and active social media use and stress reagarding social media. Most had an SNS account (85%), 59% posted content, first received a smartphone at age 10, and first posted around age 14. Common motivations for social media use included entertainment, communication, mood improvement, memory keeping, and information seeking. ▲ Digital regulation: Adolescents’ self-regulation regarding digital device use averaged 10.31 points (range: 4–16). Over half did not self-regulate their smartphone time. Families with rules on smartphone use were uncommon (17–19%), and parental monitoring apps were used by 16%, typically discontinued by early middle school. School rules varied: half could not use phones in class, others had to submit them on arrival. About 62% received education on appropriate social media use, with mixed perceived usefulness. Among recent global restrictions on adolescents’ social media use, 60–70% supported measures such as limiting harmful content, restricting personalized algorithms, banning nighttime notifications, or requiring parental consent, with stronger support among adolescents with higher perceived economic status. Risky Social Media Use Patterns for Adolescents: High Online-to-Offline Interaction and Participatory Engagement, with the Importance of Self-Regulation To examine how quantitative and qualitative social media use relates to adolescents’ psychosocial development, this study employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with latent variables. Confirmatory factor analyses validated measurement models for positive and negative developmental outcomes, controlling for demographics and overall usage time. Mediation analyses explored underlying mechanisms linking use patterns to developmental results. Key findings showed that time on video platforms predicted poorer outcomes, while time on SNS predicted better outcomes. However, qualitative patterns revealed clearer risks: a high online-to-offline relationship ratio, early initiation of active use (first account, first uploads), and frequent current active participatory use (liking, commenting, uploading) were linked to negative outcomes. Instrumental motivation or experiencing high stress while using social media also predicted poorer development. Adolescents with lower self-regulation, parents who axcessively used smartphones around them, or thosed exposed to stricter school rules or related education showed poorer outcomes.  Mediation analyses indicated that early active use led to negative outcomes via increased exposure to and tolerance of cyberbullying, while frequent current active engagement predicted negative outcomes through higher stress, stronger preference for online communication, and, for content uploaders, lower body image satisfaction. Evidence-Based Strategies for Safer Adolescent Social Media Use This section integrates study findings with domestic and international evidence to outline directions for reducing social media–related developmental risks among adolescents. First, unlike some international studies emphasizing negative effects of passive browsing, active participatory engagement—early account ownership, frequent posting, and likes/comments—predicts negative outcomes. In Korea, which traditionally encourages modesty and emphasizes group-oriented values, posting may reflect considerable social pressure for peer approval. However, current policies mainly restrict content exposure or the sharing of  content created by adolescents. The present findings imply that age-based limits on self-disclosure and reliable age verification are needed. Second, a high online-to-offline relationship ratio strongly predicts adverse outcomes. Adolescence requires face-to-face interaction for social and neurological development. Providing offline activities is likely more effective than limiting device use. Daily lives of Korean adolescents are largely occupied by private academies and studying. Thus, policies should expand in-person interaction programs and physical activities as well as address structural factors like heavy academic demands. Third, the rapid emergence of new platforms may outpace regulation, underscoring the importance of education. Digital education should cultivate critical thinking about social media ecosystems and explain why certain patterns can pose risks for adolescents. Current school education on social media relies heavily on individual teachers and is hindered by misunderstandings and political conflicts. To support school-based education, formal curricula or government guidelines for social media use should be established.  Fourth, consistent directions across government, schools, families, and industry are crucial. Conflicting signals—such as parents’ heavy digital use and provision of devices to toddlers, and schools simultaneously restricting and encouraging device use—undermine adolescents’ self-regulation. Evidence-based policy grounded in research is needed to develope clear policy directions and ultimately reduce these inconsistencies. In summary, coordinated efforts by all stakeholders (i.e., family, school, government, and industry) are essential to support the safe use of social media by adolescents. 

• Topic Climate Change/ Environment
• AuthorMinkyung Kim

• 조회수76
• 등록일2026-03-31

Since Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) were introduced into the Korean Building Act in 1991, Seoul has seen a steady increase in installations. Key policy milestones include Korea’s first POPS Design Guideline in 2015, the introduction of indoor POPS in 2022, and strengthened installation standards in 2024—raising the minimum required area (90 m²) and width (9 m) while expanding FAR incentive eligibility within district-unit planning zones. Despite this quantitative growth, qualitative performance has not kept pace. Concerns persist over insufficient eco-friendly design, inadequate maintenance, and limited citizen activation. This study aims to reposition POPS from legally mandated installations into meaningful open urban spaces, establishing comprehensive standards for sustainable, citizen-centered design and management. Internationally, New York City—where POPS originated in 1961—maintains the most detailed guideline system, covering space dimensions, orientation, circulation, seating types and quantities, lighting levels, standardized signage, and planting criteria. A publicly accessible POPS map, developed collaboratively with the Municipal Art Society in 2018, further supports transparency and citizen use. Toronto, Singapore, and Hong Kong similarly provide quantitative design standards tailored to local conditions. Seoul’s 2015 guideline has served as a reference for other Korean municipalities, but its predominantly qualitative approach allows significant design variability and limits quality assurance. Introducing minimum quantitative standards aligned with leading global practice is therefore necessary. As of August 2024, Seoul has 2,719 POPS sites totaling 1,467,707 m². Sites are concentrated in Gangnam-gu (327 sites, 12%), Gangseo-gu (295), Yeongdeungpo-gu (267), and Jung-gu (213), while districts such as Gangbuk-gu, Nowon-gu, and Dongjak-gu have relatively few. By scale, 73.5% are small (under 500 m²), and only 12.4% exceed 1,000 m². Aging is a significant concern: 61.3% of sites are more than 10 years old, and 19% of those in Gangnam-gu are over 20 years old. More than half of all sites (52.4%) are located in commercial zones, with 57.1% attached to office buildings. Field assessments reveal common maintenance problems—overpruned or dead trees, failing shrubs and herbaceous plants, poor sunlight access in pilotis and permanently shaded areas, damaged or missing signage, deteriorated benches, soil erosion from planter overflow, and unauthorized smoking areas. Because maintenance responsibility rests with individual building owners, management quality varies widely, underscoring the need for a more structured and enforceable maintenance framework. User interviews conducted at nine POPS sites indicate that, while citizens visit these spaces two to three times per week, awareness that they are publicly accessible spaces remains very low. Most visits last under 10 minutes, with users citing unclear access, insufficient seating, and a perception that the spaces feel private. Indoor POPS, introduced by Seoul in 2022, receive strong public support (73.2%) for their climate-controlled comfort and weather protection; however, concerns include restricted operating hours, difficult-to-find entrances, and closed spatial configurations. Additionally, 59.8% of survey respondents support allowing limited commercial activities—such as small cafés or pop-up stalls—subject to conditions on area, operating hours, noise, and cleanliness. Overall, citizens most strongly prioritize comfortable seating, shade structures, and enhanced greenery. Based on these findings, the study reorganizes Seoul’s POPS typology to better reflect actual use patterns and climate conditions. The underperforming “plaza type,” characterized by low utilization and high heat exposure, is eliminated. The “street-side rest type” is consolidated into a “rest type,” and park and garden types are merged into a “garden–green type.” Pilotis, sunken spaces, and indoor POPS are redefined as special structural types with dedicated design standards. This restructuring aligns Seoul’s system more closely with international practice, with greater emphasis on comfort, microclimate quality, and ecological performance. The proposed Design Guideline introduces stepwise quantitative standards. Key criteria include: minimum area of 90 m², minimum width of 9 m, at least 75% contiguous usable area, a minimum of two entrances directly connected to the sidewalk, barrier-free access with level differences under 0.6 m, and clear separation of circulation and seating zones. Seating must provide at least 25 m per 100 m² (20 m for garden–green type), with at least 50% located within shaded areas. Planting standards specify green area ratios of 20–40% by type, tree density of at least 0.1 trees/m², shrub density of 1.0–3.0 shrubs/m², and a minimum of 25 herbaceous plants/m² for garden-oriented types. Lighting and safety requirements include uniform nighttime illumination, CCTV coverage, emergency call buttons, and ecologically sensitive light controls. Paving must ensure permeability, anti-slip performance, and heat island mitigation. Type-specific standards are also established for pilotis (three-sided openness, no elevation gaps), sunken spaces (enhanced lighting and ventilation, level access), and indoor POPS (minimum 50% transparent façade, 20% green ratio, integrated HVAC systems). To support practical application, the guideline is accompanied by checklists for use in design and planning review. A common POPS checklist covers five planning criteria—accessibility, convenience, comfort, landscape and design quality, and sustainability—while supplemental checklists address the specific requirements of indoor, pilotis, and sunken types. These tools translate guideline requirements into verifiable items suitable for architectural design review, building permit evaluation, and post-construction inspection. On the maintenance and operations side, a formal maintenance agreement between the building owner and the district office is proposed, clarifying responsibilities for inspections, repairs, reporting, and citizen engagement. A revised POPS management ledger supports integrated documentation of maintenance status, inspection outcomes, improvement histories, and citizen reports. Permitted, approved, and prohibited activities are clearly defined. Limited small-scale commercial uses are proposed for conditional allowance, subject to a maximum area of 30%, restricted operating hours, noise and hygiene obligations, full restoration after use, and partial reinvestment of revenues into maintenance costs. Temporary events follow a standardized four-step process—application, approval review, pre-event inspection, and post-event verification with public disclosure—to ensure transparency and accountability. Overall, this study presents a comprehensive framework for advancing Seoul’s POPS policy, integrating enhanced design standards, a strengthened maintenance structure, and a clearer operational system. Together, these measures aim to transform POPS into high-quality, climate-responsive, and publicly meaningful spaces that enrich everyday urban life across the dense and diverse neighborhoods of Seoul.