Factors Influencing Community Satisfaction in Rural South Korea

Community satisfaction has important implications for individuals and communities because it can influence a person's quality of life and overall wellbeing. The study aimed to identify the socioeconomic and community participation-related factors influencing residents' satisfaction with their community in rural South Korea. Data were collected from 375 residents of 38 rural villages in Chungnam Province through structured questionnaires. The results from the hierarchical regression analysis showed that residents with higher annual income were more likely to be satisfied with their community. Moreover, participation in new generation cooperatives, community development organizations, and hobby organizations were positively associated with the satisfaction of residents with their community. On the contrary, residents with leadership experience in their community were less likely to be satisfied with their community life. Policy implications were also drawn from the study.