Jooseok Oh

Reducing building energy demand is essential for achieving carbon neutrality and advancing sustainable urban development. This study examines the associations between building-related and topographical characteristics and summer electricity consumption using large-scale empirical data from Seoul, South Korea. A Gamma regression model was employed, with geometric, scale, system, and topographical variables as predictors and building electricity consumption as the dependent variable. The results indicate that compact building forms are significantly associated with lower electricity consumption, suggesting their relevance for energy-efficient and low-carbon building design. In contrast, horizontal expansion appears to increase energy use more strongly than vertical, tower-type configurations. The findings further show that larger building scale amplifies energy demand even under similar geometric conditions. Among topographical variables, slope exhibits a relatively strong association with energy consumption, whereas elevation shows a weaker relationship. These results highlight the importance of integrating building form, scale, and site conditions into early-stage design decision-making. The study provides empirical evidence for sustainable built-environment strategies by linking architectural form, urban spatial context, and energy-demand reduction.

The purpose of this study is to explore the implementation and evaluation of cooperative education, which is emphasized as a means of developed citizen participation in the areas of urban planning and design, and to present implications by analyzing and discussing the results thereof. To this end, this study observed three cooperative education classes in which general citizens and students participated to learn how to cooperate planning processes for fostering experts in relevant fields in higher education courses. Additionally, the study established a research model through multiple educational performances and monitoring to review participants’ opinions. The results were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed based on a questionnaire, and the methodology was compliant with prior research. The analysis demonstrated statistical differences in communication between students and citizens going through the same curriculum, as well as differences in the satisfaction of the two groups. Citizens and students found difficulties in coordinating opinions and reaching a consensus with counterparties. Nevertheless, all the participants expressed satisfaction over their collaboration to produce the results and ensured that related attempts were continuously made thereafter. Based on these results, this study proposed methods to enhance cooperative education for citizens in the future.

This research aims to present a standardized evaluation system to review and further enhance users’ levels of satisfaction with technologies, facilities, and services of a modern smart city at a time when the smart city paradigm has shifted from the focus of its infrastructural features to citizens. The study also seeks to verify the standardized system, so as to explore the possibility of its future application. For the goals, this research established the Structural Equation Model (SEM) based upon the basic structure of the Customer Satisfaction Index, which is a widely used ex-post assessment model, and upon implications of related studies. To verify the SEM, this study chose two cities, which are located far away from one another and employ different business methods, and conducted a survey of 212 and 197 residents, respectively, with the results being applied to the model for analysis to ascertain if the SEM is reliable and adequate. The analysis results showed that the model secures explanatory power in statistical terms, partially proving that it can be developed into a post-evaluation system for a citizens-centric smart city down the road. However, as meaningful differences were spotted in accordance with characteristics of each urban project, this study tried to come up with the background information of and reasons for such variations, to present implications for urban planning.

In 2018, the South Korean government began promoting a “livelihood-improving” social overhead capital policy based on the concepts of an inclusive city, smart shrinkage, and the balanced development of metropolitan and provincial cities. Based on a review of the extant literature and relevant policies from South Korea, this study explores this policy’s implementation and makes some suggestions for its sustainability. This study compares the current state of South Korea’s urban facilities’ and the balance of their supply between metropolitan and provincial cities. To discern which type of facility central and local governments should prioritize, this study conducts a stepwise regression analysis and identifies which preexisting facilities influence the facility type proposed by the current policy. Results show that South Korea’s living infrastructure is well distributed among metropolitan and provincial cities. However, urban planning shows little consideration for minimizing the distance between facilities and residential zones. In terms of facility types, the supply of education and local community facilities was adequate throughout the country, while culture and art facilities were inadequate. In metropolitan cities, the supply of sports and leisure facilities was insufficient.

This study investigated the theory of residential mobility in terms of quality of life, focusing on convenience and the urban environment. The evaluation items (e.g., the accessibility to infrastructure, security, the environment, and social relationships) were selected based on previous studies, and a one-way ANOVA was conducted. The Korea Housing Survey was used to obtain data on the evaluations of homeowners who migrated to Seoul (the capital of South Korea) and to the surrounding metropolitan area (Gyeong-in). The regression analysis identified the factors affecting the overall satisfaction with the two destinations. The group that had migrated from Gyeong-in to Seoul was more satisfied with the medical, public, cultural, and transportation facilities than the group that had migrated from Seoul to Gyeong-in. Differences were also found between the two groups in the factors affecting their overall satisfaction with the migration destination. Factors such as satisfaction with transportation, commercial facilities, and cultural facilities affected the overall satisfaction with both destinations. However, homeownership affected the dependent variables only in Gyeong-in. The implications for potential improvements to infrastructure and housing distribution are discussed.

This study explores projects to regenerate old urban spaces and introduce smart city systems. It focuses on citizen perspectives and ways to build a citizen-centered smart city. A survey of 624 residents was undertaken in three South Korean cities where relevant projects have been implemented. The Hierarchical Regression Model was employed to learn what factors affect citizens’ overall preferences for smart city projects. The analysis found that citizens prefer the services closely linked to their everyday lives, and that those with lower quality of life regarding housing circumstances and safety show greater interest in smart city projects, albeit there are differences among the cities. They also view and prefer those projects as a means of resolving everyday problems and local economic development, rather than seeking specific technologies or devices. Based on these results, this research presents implications and suggestions to link urban regeneration plans to smart city projects.

The study examines the implications of educating prosumers regarding Internet of Things (IoT) use and monitoring to reduce power consumption in the home and encourage energy conservation, sustainable living, and behavior change. Over 15 months, 125 households and household owners received training regarding IoT plug equipment, usage monitoring, and energy reduction. A face to face survey was then conducted regarding power consumption reductions, frequency of monitoring, and user satisfaction compared to the previous year. The study found that participating households used around 5% less energy compared to average households. The reduction rate was found to have increased when more appliances were connected to smart plugs and their power usage was monitored more frequently. Power usage also fell in a greater level when participants were more satisfied with being given smart plugs and related education. Moreover, energy reduction rates increase when smart plugs were used for cooling and heating appliances as well as video, audio, and related devices. The results suggest that this program can be used to reduce energy use, which can be beneficial for smart homes and smart cities. The study demonstrates the importance of education from the perspective of energy conservation and related policies.

As a critical tool to foster sustainable urban environments and boost quality of life for its participants, community gardening has been used in diverse fields including urban planning, design, and regeneration projects. Despite multiple researches on the issue, however, few have paid attention to its urban economic aspect which affects residents’ consistent participation. In this regards, the article analyzed key economic elements crucial for a longer-term commitment by conducting a survey on 117 participants residing in apartment complexes in South Korea’s capital city of Seoul. The results showed that the participants not only used lands within/near their houses but spaces located far from their residences. Also, a higher level of their Engel’s coefficient and the increase in the size of their cultivating lands turned out to boost the prolonged participation in their community gardening activity. Older participants and those who live with fewer family members were also found to be more proactive in community gardening.