Analysis of Bipolarization of Rural Society : Social Exclusion Perspective

The purpose of this study was to analyze the bipolarization of the Korean rural society from the perspective of social exclusion. For this purpose, the study carried out a statistical data reanalysis, a field survey, in-depth interviews, and expert reviews. The statistical data included the National Social Statistics Survey and the Farm Household Economy Survey. The field survey was conducted among 500 rural residents, asking them about their awareness of the bipolarization of the rural society in terms of income, employment, education, health, residence, and social participation. Based on the findings obtained from the survey and interviews as well as the statistical data, this study drew the following conclusions: the Korean rural community is bipolarized from the perspective of social exclusion; the bipolarization status has been intensified as time has passed; the rural community bipolarization is different according to rural region, a relatively suburban region having a high bipolarization rather than a plain region or a mountainous region; the rural community bipolarization is mainly caused by income or employment, but also education, health, residence, and social participation.