A study on urban experience from the perspective of foreign women living in Edae area: community, everyday life, safety

Edae area has transformed from a fashion district into a residential hub for Ewha Womans University students. Sinchon-dong, in which Edae area (Daehyeon-dong) is included, has experienced a growth in foreign population, increasing by 1.6 times since 2014. Analyzing Edae area provides an opportunity to investigate the integration of young female foreign residents in the neighborhood. A theory-based mixed-methods survey was conducted, incorporating quantitative data from questionnaires and qualitative insights from interviews. The study gives voice to participants’ experiences and needs regarding community facilities, university support, security, housing, and cultural life. The findings indicate that proximity to the university, safety, and strong public transportation are the area’s primary strengths. Challenges remain, including underutilized community facilities, high living costs, language barriers, limited access to essential services, and instances of ethnic discrimination. Foreign residents seek affordable housing, better integration and inclusive community spaces. Based on these findings, the following recommendations are proposed: reduction of financial burden related to housing and everyday life costs, enhancement of street safety, and reconsideration of underused spaces, reimagined as multifunctional, women-friendly hubs developed through participatory planning. While context-specific, the findings offer transferable insights for other university districts navigating multicultural growth and student-driven urban change.