Analysis of Leisure and Cultural Facility Needs for Baby Boomers in Small Regional Cities : A Case Study of Gunsan City

As baby boomers enter the elderly population, the overall composition and characteristics of the elderly population are significantly changing. This study analyzed data of the National Leisure Activity Survey and the Elderly Status Survey and conducted focus group interviews with baby boomers in Gunsan City to examine their use of leisure and cultural facilities and identify improvement directions that could reflect local characteristics. Main findings are as follows. First, while public leisure facilities in local small and medium-sized cities showed higher utilization rates than those in large cities, significant qualitative disparities existed. Rural areas exhibited high utilization rates but low satisfaction levels, with facility usage increasing with age. Second, focus group interviews identified demands for affordable lifelong learning centers, practical programs for elderly men, and customized facilities for single middle-aged adults. Participants suggested programs reflecting local characteristics and transformation of existing facilities into multifunctional cultural spaces. Third, improvement directions included enhancing rural public facilities, expanding outdoor spaces, strengthening lifelong education functions, and developing customized programs that could reflect local characteristics. This study has some limitations. It only targeted lifelong education center students in a specific region. It had mostly female participants. It did not include opinions of non-users. Thus, more comprehensive research is needed in the future.