Assessment of Dual Functions in Cultural Park Regenerated from Disused Railway Station: Focused on Jinju Railway Culture Park, South Korea

Abstract

Background and objective: Urban regeneration through repurposing abandoned railway infrastructure has become a prominent strategy for sustainable urban development. However, a limited understanding of how users perceive and use these transformed spaces remains. This study aimed to evaluate how users perceive the Jinju Railway Culture Park (JRCP), which was created by regenerating a 100-year-old railway station site that ceased operations in 2012 into a cultural park. Methods: A survey of 112 users, conducted from September to November 2024, evaluated JRCP’s combined or dual functions as an urban park and a cultural park through assessments of user satisfaction and intention to revisit, importance-performance analysis (IPA), and keyword analysis. Results: The results indicated high user satisfaction with overall green spaces (M = 4.15) and facilities (M = 3.99), as well as a strong intention to revisit (M = 4.21), suggesting the park’s successful physical regeneration into a basic urban park. In the IPA analysis, historical and cultural attributes received the highest ratings (Importance = 3.99, Performance = 3.90), while social attributes exhibited the largest gap between importance and performance (Importance = 3.75, Performance = 3.43). In particular, “exhibition/performance information” and “cultural space” were identified as priority areas for improvement. Although the terms “train” (8.9%) and “railway” (7.9%) were most frequently mentioned in the keyword analysis, the purpose of visit for “exploring railway history” received a relatively low score of 2.71 on a 5-point scale. Conclusion: While JRCP has successfully achieved physical regeneration as a typical urban park, further improvements are needed to fulfill its required role as a cultural park. To ensure the park’s sustainable use, cultural programs should be developed to enhance its appeal as a visitor destination-particularly those that strengthen its social functions and touristic value.