A study on the Characteristics of Areas with Population Reduction by Type Using Multiple-Indicator: Focusing on the 89 Areas Selected bt the Local Government

Abstract

As of the end of 2020, Korea has entered a full-scale population decline in which the country's total population is declining due to the dead-cross phenomenon, which is the highest in history, with more deaths than births. The government is actively promoting population decline response policies and designating 89 population decline areas. It is necessary to promote efficient projects according to the characteristics of population decline regions. Therefore, this paper conducted a cluster analysis by selecting indicators based on the population decline index, which was the basis for the designation of population decline areas, and completed a regional characteristic analysis for 89 areas selected by the local government based on the population decline index and categorized them into three clusters to analyze the characteristics of each cluster and suggest policy response directions. Cluster 1 showed that policies to prevent the departure of declining businesses in the area, the supply of new housing, and the provision of welfare facilities for the elderly were required. Cluster 2 required settlement support policies for the settlement of the daytime population, the creation of welfare facilities for the elderly and vulnerable, and support policies for the stable settlement of businesses. Cluster 3 explored policies for the welfare of the elderly, the supply of new housing, the maintenance of vacant houses, the expansion of local finances, and the support of urban-to-rural Migration. These results can be used as a basis for establishing a policy direction for responding to population decline that considers the differences in regional characteristics of population decline areas.