Assessment of Jeju's Regional Conditions Using the Balanced National Development Index and Policy Implications

This study assesses the regional conditions of Jeju using the Balanced National Development Index of the Presidential Committee for Decentralization and Balanced Development of South Korea and suggests regional development strategies that reflect Jeju’s regional characteristics. The results show that Jeju ranks 13th of 17 provincial-level divisions, indicating a lower-middle level overall. Jeju’s strengths are found in Culture and Leisure, Safety, and Population, while its weaknesses are in Education, Production and Distribution, and Living Environment. At the local level, Jeju City and Seogwipo City rank 76th and 132nd out of 228 cities respectively, revealing disparities between jurisdictions within Jeju Island. Jeju City shows strengths in Culture and Leisure, Production and Distribution, and Population, but weaknesses in Price and Finance, Safety, Health and Welfare, and Living Environment. Seogwipo City, in turn, shows strengths in Industry and Jobs, Population, and Housing but weaknesses in Price and Finance, Education, and Culture and Leisure. Based on these findings, this study establishes public policy priorities for improving regional competitiveness and suggests three action strategies: enhancing educational infrastructure and supporting the retention of human resources, restructuring production and distribution systems and revitalizing the local economy, and creating a pleasant and sustainable living environment. Furthermore, this study recommends developing an index tailored to Jeju and establishing a monitoring and evaluation system.