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2026 Vol.15, Issue 3 Preview Page

Research Article

Exploring the Spatial Patterns of Closed Schools by Regional Types in South Korea

지역 특성에 따른 폐교의 공간 패턴 탐색

신정엽1 · 최아수2†

Jungyeop Shin1 ⋅ Asoo Choi2†

1서울대학교 지리교육과 교수
2가톨릭관동대학교 지리교육과 조교수
1Professor, Department of Geography Education, Seoul National University
2Assistant professor, Department of Geography Education, Catholic Kwandong University
30 September 2026. pp. 537~556
PDF Citation
Abstract
This study empirically examines the distribution and patterns of school closures in South Korea in relation to regional characteristics. While prior studies on school closures have primarily focused on educational and policy perspectives, empirical research focusing on regional characteristics from a geographical perspective remains limited. This study investigates the geographical distribution and patterns of closed schools across South Korea and, on this basis, explores their spatial patterns in relation to regional characteristics. The findings indicate that elementary schools accounted for an overwhelmingly large proportion of school closures and that closures have continued since they began in earnest during the 1990s. Spatially, school closures tended to be concentrated in rural areas and small cities rather than in large metropolitan areas. Hotspots were also identified primarily in the Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Gangwon-do regions, contrasting with the hotspot pattern of currently operating schools in Korea. Finally, multiple linear regression analyses were conducted for the full sample and by regional type to examine associations with factors related to school closures. The significance of these factors differed across regional types, underscoring the need for in-depth consideration of diverse regional characteristics rather than a uniform educational approach. In addition, spatial regression analysis accounting for spatial autocorrelation improved model fit, thereby confirming the spatial nature of factors associated with school closures.
Keywords
School closing
Regional characteristic
Distribution of school closing
School location
본 연구는 지역 특성 측면에서 국내 폐교 분포와 패턴을 실증적으로 탐색하는 목적을 가진다. 그동안 폐교 연구는 주로 교육, 정책 관점에 초점을 둔 반면, 지리적 관점에서 지역 특성을 고려하여 분석한 폐교의 실증적 연구는 부족하였다. 이에 본 연구는 국내 폐교를 대상으로 지리적 분포와 패턴을 탐색하였으며, 이를 토대로 지역 특성을 고려한 폐교의 공간 패턴을 탐색하였다. 분석 결과, 폐교는 학교급 측면에서 초등학교 비중이 압도적으로 컸으며, 시기 측면에서도 1990년대 폐교가 본격 진행된 이후 현재까지 지속됨을 확인하였다. 공간분포 측면에서, 폐교는 대도시보다 농촌, 소규모 도시에 집중된 경향이 있었으며, 또한 전남-경남-경북-강원을 중심으로 한 지역에서 핫스팟이 탐색되었는데, 이는 현재 학교의 핫스팟 패턴과 대조를 보였다. 마지막으로 폐교 관련 요인에 대한 연관성 탐색을 위해 다중회귀분석을 전체, 지역 유형별로 수행하였다. 지역 유형에 따라 관련 요인의 유의성이 서로 다름을 확인하였는데, 이를 토대로 획일화된 교육적 접근보다는 다양한 지역 특성의 심층적인 검토 필요성을 확인하였다. 또한 공간 자기상관성을 고려한 공간회귀분석을 적용한 결과 모형 적합도가 개선되었는데, 이를 통해 폐교 요인의 공간성을 확인할 수 있었다.
키워드
폐교
지역 특성
폐교 분포
학교 입지
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Information
  • Publisher :The Association of Korean Geographers
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지리학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Association of Korean Geographers
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국지리학회지
  • Volume : 15
  • No :3
  • Pages :537~556
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.25202/JAKG.15.3.10
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