Spatial Accessibility and Utilization Equity of Forest Experience Centers: A Case Study in Gangwon Province

초록

This study evaluates the spatial accessibility and utilization equity of forest experience centers for young children in Gangwon Province using public data from the Korea Forest Service and the Ministry of Education. A total of 27 forest experience centers and 100 kindergartens were included in the analysis. The results showed that the mean distance to the nearest forest experience center was 8.71 km, and the Gini coefficient was 0.426, indicating a considerable level of spatial inequality. In addition, 63.0% of kindergartens had no accessible facility within a 5 km radius. Independent public kindergartens tended to have lower accessibility than private institutions, although the difference was not statistically significant. At the regional level, Wonju accounted for the highest demand, with approximately 34.4% of total enrolled children, yet only 3.1% of kindergartens were located within 5 km of a facility. In contrast, Cheorwon, Yangyang, and Pyeongchang showed no accessibility within this threshold. These results indicate a dual structure of supply–demand mismatch, characterized by insufficient provision in high-demand urban areas and accessibility blind spots in remote regions. This study proposes a public data-based analytical framework for assessing accessibility and equity, which can support decision-making for facility siting and allocation strategies.

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