Analysis and Improvement of Spatial Accessibility and Equity in Elementary Childcare Facilities from a Spatial Welfare Perspective : Focusing on Our Neighborhood Care Centers in Seongbuk-gu

Purpose: Equitable access to elementary childcare facilities is a critical component of spatial welfare in urban environments. Although various policy initiatives have been introduced, significant challenges persist, including insufficient facility provision, spatial mismatches between demand and supply, and persistent service blind spots.<br/>Moreover, the convenience of daily life through the Pedestrian Daily Activity Area has not been sufficiently considered. This study evaluates the spatial accessibility and equity of “Our Neighborhood Care Centers” in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, with the aim of identifying spatial disparities and proposing improvement strategies. Method: Spatial accessibility was measured using the Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) method, applied to a 100m×100m grid of elementary school-aged population data disaggregated by housing type. Spatial equity was evaluated using the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient. Result: The results reveal significant disparities in accessibility based on housing type, as well as a highly uneven distribution of care facilities. Among the evaluated scenarios, repurposing underutilized welfare spaces within apartment complexes proved most effective in improving both accessibility and equity. Conversely, scenarios involving short- and long-term public facility expansion yielded partial gains but introduced new spatial inequalities for certain residential types. Based on these results, the study recommends: (1) establishing a universal spatial welfare model anchored in local communities; (2) adopting differentiated facility expansion strategies by housing type; and (3) developing legal and institutional support for care services in low-rise and aging residential areas. This research contributes to evidence-based policymaking for equitable childcare service distribution and child-friendly urban planning.