Function of Social Capital and Civic Engagement in Urban Regeneration: Examining University- Community Relations in a Campus Town

Abstract

By examining Jochiwon, a campus town in rural Korea, the study explores the intersection of university-community relations, social capital, and civic engagement, in the process of urban regeneration. Interviews with 34 local residents and college students showed that each group only had bonding capital amongst themselves with weak bridging capital across groups; residents and students were not concerned with each other; the existence of a conflict of interest between the two groups; and a lack of trust and respect for each other. Moreover, in terms of civic engagement, findings show that students lacked information and time to engage in civic activities, whereas locals lacked knowledge and expertise, despite being motivated. Critical problems in university-community relations were misunderstandings and limited opportunities to meet and engage in conversations, and not perceiving each other as partners in a symbiotic relationship. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.