ScholarWorks@중앙대학교

초록

Regional disparity has long been a central policy concern in South Korea, as population and resources remain heavily concentrated in the capital region. In response, recent initiatives have emphasized mega-city regional strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of non-capital areas. This study analyzes regional inequality using mega-city regions as the spatial unit and the Balanced Development Index as the primary measure. The Gini coefficient and its decomposition are applied to identify the magnitude and drivers of inequality, complemented by cluster analysis to classify indicator characteristics. The results show that inequalities are primarily driven by disparities among mega-city regions rather than by variations within them. The capital region exhibits pronounced economic concentration alongside diseconomies of scale, including air pollution and escalating land prices. Differences in public infrastructure—including transport, safety facilities, and green space—underscore the need for coordinated investment at the mega-city regional scale, particularly under fiscal constraints faced by municipalities. Demographic and housing indicators, such as fertility and death rates and deteriorated housing prevalence, further highlight the necessity of region-specific rather than uniform national policies. Although intra-regional disparities are smaller, significant gaps remain in access to healthcare and safety services. Overall, the findings suggest that balanced development requires combining macro-level governance with tailored, region-sensitive interventions.

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