Research Reports
A Study on the Actual Conditions and Improving Utilization
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AuthorKim, Kwangsun
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Publication Date2012.12.30
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Original
Background of Research
A lot of public facilities related to agricultural production and daily life have been established in rural areas since the government launched rural policies. Most of these facilities were provided by the government during past decades. However, hese public facilities have not been fully and functionally utilized according to demographic and socio-economic changes. These idle facilities have caused such problems as waste of resources, rising maintenance and management costs, and increased burden of rural spatial management. These become burdens to the central and local governments and rural communities. The purpose of this study is to depict alternatives for utilizing existing public facilities and reusing idle facilities.
Method of Research
We applied two research methods to analyze the following aspects of public facilities in rural areas: distribution status, degree of utilization and idleness, the problems hindering utilization, and policy tasks. First of all, we used the regional survey data of the Census of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to analyze the distribution of these facilities. For the analysis of the problems in the utilization and the policy tasks for improved utilization, we conducted a survey of 321 rural residents who live in eups and myons.
In addition, 94 village leaders of four chosen myons were surveyed. Also we conducted field surveys and interviewed experts. Literature reviews were conducted in order to examine foreign countries' cases
Research Results and Implications
The highly utilized rural public facilities are meeting facilities such as village centers and the town halls for elders, public healthcare facilities, cultural and leisure facilities in more populated areas, childcare and educational facilities for children, agricultural processing facilities and so on. The underutilized facilities, on the other hand, are children's playgrounds, parks, sports facilities, cultural and leisure facilities in less populated areas, educational facilities for adults, warehouses, and so on. The major reasons for idle facilities or low utilization are shortage of maintenance and management funds, remote location and uncomfortable transportation, and lack of experts and managers providing the related services. The policy tasks for invigorating the use of rural public facilities are integration and provision of multiple functions, procurement of maintenance and management funds, expansion of affiliated facilities and equipment, provision of transportation,
remodeling of old facilities, and so on.
The public facilities that are in great need of remodeling or reconstruction are in large part community facilities. Since the need for spatial distribution of public facilities varies among different types of the facilities, we can suggest a spatial distribution plan centering around only essential facilities for each level of administrative districts. Also, in relation to the functional integration of the facilities, we developed two strategies: one that combines the functions of three or more facilities and the other that combines the functions of two facilities. Four basic policy directions are set up for reinvigorated use of rural public facilities: first, empowerment of local governments; second, reinforcement of community participation; third, formulation of a plan for sustainable public facility utilization; and fourth, rearrangement of laws and institutions. We suggest several policy tasks in tandem with the basic policy directions: mandatory planning for public facility utilization; operation of public facility management board in all local governments: introduction of a deposit system for management of public facilities; the third sector's participation as the management entity; introduction of rural community buses; and development and provision of a standard manual for utilizing public facilities.
Researchers: Kwang-Sun Kim, Gyu-Cheon Lee
Research Period: 2012. 1～2012. 12
E-mail address: yeskskim@krei.re.kr
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