7 Out of 10 Prospective Retirees Say, "I Want to Live in Chuncheon After Retirement"

Green Light for Chuncheon’s "First National Retirement Village" Project
76.8% Interested in Moving In, Confirming High Demand
Survey Results to Shape Master Plan as City Prepares for Pilot Project Selection by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Yuk Dong-han) has found significant potential demand for its project to establish the nation's first official retirement village. More than seven out of ten individuals aged 45 or older, who are either retired or planning to retire and living in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon Province, expressed an intention to move in. As a result, expectations are rising that Chuncheon will be selected as a pilot project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Chuncheon City Hall exterior view.

On July 13, Chuncheon City announced the results of a survey conducted from May 18 to June 5 on 1,000 retirees (or those planning to retire) aged 45 or older residing in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon Province (excluding Chuncheon). According to the survey, 76.8% of respondents said they would consider moving into the retirement village in Chuncheon or would review the possibility depending on the conditions if such a village is established.

The survey was conducted to comprehensively understand post-retirement lifestyles, residential preferences, Chuncheon's locational competitiveness, and intentions to relocate.

The results showed that 65.8% of respondents believe a retirement village is necessary, and 59.5% rated Chuncheon as a suitable city for post-retirement living. This indicates a substantial demand for a new residential model that integrates medical care, housing, and cultural and leisure functions.

When asked about the most essential facilities and services for a retirement village, respondents cited medical and healthcare, transportation and mobility support, as well as care and nursing services. In terms of preferred locations, a combination of natural surroundings and convenient amenities was most favored, and there was also a high preference for suburban areas with good access to the city center.

More respondents preferred rental-type housing over ownership, and mid-sized homes of 40 to 60 square meters, suitable for two-person households, were the most popular. While 34.9% showed the highest preference for single-family homes, the proportion favoring townhouses and apartments increased with age.

Chuncheon City plans to incorporate the results of this survey into the ongoing basic plan and feasibility study for the retirement village, further detailing site selection, residential types, living infrastructure, and functional elements. In addition, the city intends to actively utilize these findings to be selected as a pilot project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and to secure national funding.

Chuncheon City is highlighting its medical infrastructure as a core competitive advantage, centered around two university hospitals: Kangwon National University Hospital and Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital. The ability to access medical care within 30 minutes in case of emergencies and the convenience of being within one hour from the Seoul metropolitan area are also considered key strengths.

A Chuncheon City official stated, "Through this survey, we have reconfirmed the high social demand for a retirement village," adding, "Based on the experience we have accumulated since the special law discussion stage, we will create the best retirement village in the country, leveraging Chuncheon's unique strengths."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.