Pathways from Citizen-Participation Cultural Activities to Settlement Intention : Mediating Roles of Social Capital and Community Attachment

Amid the crisis of regional extinction driven by low birthrates and an aging population, citizen-participatory cultural activities are attracting attention as viable alternatives for addressing local issues and enhancing residents’ settlement intentions. In particular, such activities strengthen the role of residents as active agents within their communities and have the potential to foster stronger community attachment and willingness to settle. This study aims to empirically analyze the influence of citizen-participation cultural activities on settlement intention, with social capital serving as a mediating factor. Social capital is classified into two types—relational capital and institutional capital—based on the mode of relationship formation, and the process through which citizen participation in cultural activities brings about actual changes in local communities is examined step by step. The survey was conducted among participants in Chuncheon’s “City Salon” project under the Culture City initiative. The findings reveal that citizen-participatory cultural activities significantly affect relational capital, which in turn influences institutional capital. Institutional capital was found to positively impact community attachment, which subsequently enhances settlement intention, indicating a sequential mediating pathway. This study empirically confirms that the Culture City policy initiative functions not only as a means of cultural enjoyment but also as an effective policy instrument for addressing local issues and promoting sustainable regional development. Furthermore, by specifying the types and mechanisms of social capital, the study provides empirical evidence that can inform the design and evaluation of future cultural policies, underscoring its academic and policy significance.