Is Development Type a Determinant of College and Graduate Students’ Commute Time to School? The Case of Seoul Metropolitan Area

Abstract

This study examines the impact of large-scale suburban new town development on the commuting time of college and graduate students in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. Household travel diary data from 2016 were analyzed to categorize residential areas and quantify the impacts on commute time to school. Multiple linear regression modeling is used to explore the relationships between development type, individual, and household characteristics and their impact on commute times. The results of the study show that students living in new urban areas have significantly longer commute times than those living in central Seoul, highlighting the differences that result from urban expansion policies targeting middle-class housing. These results suggest that the development of suburban new towns, which was intended to alleviate the housing shortage, has inadvertently lengthened the daily commute time of many students. Thus, a critical reassessment of suburban development strategies is needed to better balance the advantages of residential neighborhoods against the educational and living costs associated with increased travel time.