The geography of structural vulnerability: intersections of climate exposure, ecological insulation, and economic capacity

Urban vulnerability to climate change is shaped not only by environmental exposure but also by structural inequalities embedded in the spatial distribution of ecological resources and economic capacity. This study develops a spatial typology of structural vulnerability across South Korean districts by integrating indicators of heat stress, vegetation scarcity, and material disadvantage. Using administrative and satellite data from 2022, this study constructs composite indices through principal component analysis and apply unsupervised clustering to identify internally coherent and externally distinct vulnerability profiles. The resulting four-cluster typology captures divergent combinations of environmental and socioeconomic stress, revealing a clear spatial divide between metropolitan cores and peripheral or rural areas. The typology is intended as a diagnostic tool for identifying districts facing compound risks and for supporting geographically differentiated adaptation strategies. This approach contributes to research on urban climate vulnerability and spatial inequality by operationalizing compound risk through a multidimensional and spatially grounded methodology.