Understanding the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Perception and Use of Urban Green Spaces in Korea

Jiwon Kim, Youngjin Ko, Whijin Kim, Gaeun Kim, Jeongmin Lee, Olebogeng Thelma G. Eyman, Sarwat Chowdhury, Julie Adiwal, Yowhan Son and Woo-Kyun Lee ()
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Jiwon Kim: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Youngjin Ko: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Whijin Kim: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Gaeun Kim: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Jeongmin Lee: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Olebogeng Thelma G. Eyman: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Sarwat Chowdhury: United Nations Development Programme Seoul Policy Centre, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Julie Adiwal: United Nations Development Programme Seoul Policy Centre, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Yowhan Son: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Woo-Kyun Lee: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: Faced with the prospect that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change will be far-reaching and long-term, the international community is showing interest in urban green space (UGS) and urban green infrastructure utilization as a solution. In this study, we investigated how citizens’ perceptions and use of UGS have changed during COVID-19. We also collected their ideas on how UGS can raise its usability. As a result, more people became to realize the importance of UGS. In particular, the urban environmental purification function from UGS was recognized as giving great benefits to respondents. On the other hand, the patterns of UGS use were mixed with decreasing UGS use to maintain social distancing or increasing UGS use to maintain health or substitute other restricted facilities. More than half of respondents had their UGS visit patterns impacted by COVID-19. In particular, the increase rate of UGS use was rather high in the group that seldom used UGS before COVID-19. In addition, they increased the use of UGS to replace other limited facilities, and thus tended to demand an increase in rest facilities. Based on these results, this paper suggested securing social support and sustainability for the policy by reflecting users’ demand in landscape planning related to the increase of UGS in the city. This study can contribute to improving the resilience of UGS and the sustainability of urban space planning.

Keywords: urban green space (UGS); landscape planning; resilience; nature-based solutions (NbS); COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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