Demographic Change and its Spatial Implications in Korea and Germany

01/01/2026 to 31/12/2027

The joint research project between Sungkyunkwan University and the University of Tübingen addresses the profound challenges posed by demographic change in industrialized societies, with a particular focus on Germany and South Korea. Both countries face population decline, rapid aging, low birth rates, and changing household structures, alongside increasing social and spatial disparities. While ethnic diversity is more pronounced in Germany due to immigration, both contexts exhibit growing pressure on rural regions, infrastructure systems, and regional cohesion.

The project concentrates on the spatial dimensions of demographic change and the unequal ways in which regions are affected. It examines key challenges such as economic stagnation in rural areas, labour shortages, social isolation among older populations, and unequal access to essential services including healthcare and education. Structured around three core research areas—economic impacts, social transformations, and regional infrastructure—the project seeks to develop a comprehensive understanding of these dynamics and to inform adaptive planning and policy responses, particularly with regard to urban–rural relations.

Research is conducted by four bi-national tandems of early-career researchers from Germany and South Korea, supported by experienced academic supervisors. A structured one-year program combines preparatory phases, joint workshops, and reciprocal research stays, with fieldwork carried out in selected urban and rural regions in both countries. Workshops and summer schools facilitate methodological training, interdisciplinary exchange, and continuous reflection.

Beyond academic outputs such as publications and theses, the project aims to strengthen institutional cooperation and disseminate findings to policy-makers, academia, and civil society. It lays the groundwork for sustained collaboration and expanded networking, including a planned follow-up application to the DAAD “PAJAKO” program to incorporate additional partner institutions. Through its international and interdisciplinary approach, the project contributes substantively to the scholarly and policy discourse on demographic change.