Urban Regeneration: An Effect Study Focusing on Local Residents’ Perceptions in the Gwangju Park Area

Urban regeneration has received continued attention as an approach to promoting the sustainable development of areas experiencing decline due to ageing infrastructure and an ageing population. Recent approaches to urban regeneration have evolved to consider not only improvements to the physical environment but also social factors such as local history, culture, and resident participation. In particular, residents’ perceptions and participation are increasingly recognized as important considerations in the urban regeneration process. From this perspective, this study focuses on residents’ perceptions of urban regeneration in the Gwangju Park area, an old downtown district. A survey was conducted to identify the empirical relationships among these factors and to explore residents’ roles in enhancing the positive effects of urban regeneration. The findings show that social capital has a strong influence on residents’ sense of ownership. In particular, trust and reciprocity are important antecedent factors that strengthen residents’ sense of identity and attachment to their community. A stronger sense of ownership leads to more positive attitudes toward visitors, and residents’ attitudes toward visitors positively influence their willingness to support development. These findings demonstrate that residents play an important role in successful urban regeneration. The study therefore highlights the importance of strengthening resident-based tourism strategies, encouraging active participation, and developing approaches that promote coexistence among residents, visitors, and local communities within an ecocity-oriented urban regeneration model.