Examining the Relationship Between Urban Park Quality and Residents’ Health in South Korean Cities Using Public Data
Urban parks are critical components of green infrastructure, supporting recreation and public health. This study investigates the association between urban park quality and health outcomes in 85 South Korean cities, utilizing a localized version of the ParkScore Index. The Korean ParkScore evaluates...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1191 |
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| author | Yoonku Kwon Kyeongjun Park Ingu Kang Changyeong Shin Giyeol Lee Sanghoon Lee |
| author_facet | Yoonku Kwon Kyeongjun Park Ingu Kang Changyeong Shin Giyeol Lee Sanghoon Lee |
| author_sort | Yoonku Kwon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urban parks are critical components of green infrastructure, supporting recreation and public health. This study investigates the association between urban park quality and health outcomes in 85 South Korean cities, utilizing a localized version of the ParkScore Index. The Korean ParkScore evaluates five dimensions: acreage, amenities, investment, accessibility, and equity. The health indicators include municipal-level rates of mental health disorders (anxiety, depression, insomnia, ADHD, and schizophrenia) and obesity. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed significant negative associations between ParkScore rankings and mental health indicators, particularly depression and anxiety. Higher-quality, more accessible parks correlated with lower levels of psychological distress, emphasizing the public health benefits of urban green spaces. While the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, the results support the role of urban parks as essential infrastructure for mental well-being. The findings underscore the need for equitable and data-driven urban park policies in fostering health-supportive urban environments and highlight the importance of considering specific ParkScore dimensions in urban planning. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f70a5c2e14cd4a77a19238c22b8f00af |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj-art-f70a5c2e14cd4a77a19238c22b8f00af2025-06-25T14:04:35ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-06-01146119110.3390/land14061191Examining the Relationship Between Urban Park Quality and Residents’ Health in South Korean Cities Using Public DataYoonku Kwon0Kyeongjun Park1Ingu Kang2Changyeong Shin3Giyeol Lee4Sanghoon Lee5Department of Landscape Architecture, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Landscape Architecture, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Landscape Architecture, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Landscape Architecture, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Landscape Architecture, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Landscape Architecture, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of KoreaUrban parks are critical components of green infrastructure, supporting recreation and public health. This study investigates the association between urban park quality and health outcomes in 85 South Korean cities, utilizing a localized version of the ParkScore Index. The Korean ParkScore evaluates five dimensions: acreage, amenities, investment, accessibility, and equity. The health indicators include municipal-level rates of mental health disorders (anxiety, depression, insomnia, ADHD, and schizophrenia) and obesity. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed significant negative associations between ParkScore rankings and mental health indicators, particularly depression and anxiety. Higher-quality, more accessible parks correlated with lower levels of psychological distress, emphasizing the public health benefits of urban green spaces. While the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, the results support the role of urban parks as essential infrastructure for mental well-being. The findings underscore the need for equitable and data-driven urban park policies in fostering health-supportive urban environments and highlight the importance of considering specific ParkScore dimensions in urban planning.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1191urban parkspublic healthParkScoremental healthgreen infrastructureSouth Korea |
| spellingShingle | Yoonku Kwon Kyeongjun Park Ingu Kang Changyeong Shin Giyeol Lee Sanghoon Lee Examining the Relationship Between Urban Park Quality and Residents’ Health in South Korean Cities Using Public Data Land urban parks public health ParkScore mental health green infrastructure South Korea |
| title | Examining the Relationship Between Urban Park Quality and Residents’ Health in South Korean Cities Using Public Data |
| title_full | Examining the Relationship Between Urban Park Quality and Residents’ Health in South Korean Cities Using Public Data |
| title_fullStr | Examining the Relationship Between Urban Park Quality and Residents’ Health in South Korean Cities Using Public Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining the Relationship Between Urban Park Quality and Residents’ Health in South Korean Cities Using Public Data |
| title_short | Examining the Relationship Between Urban Park Quality and Residents’ Health in South Korean Cities Using Public Data |
| title_sort | examining the relationship between urban park quality and residents health in south korean cities using public data |
| topic | urban parks public health ParkScore mental health green infrastructure South Korea |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1191 |
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