Discovery of New Public Space in Airports: Potential of Informal Practices By the Elderly in Gentrifying, Aging Cities

The phenomenon of neoliberal urban development in Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, has manifested itself with particular intensity. A noteworthy aspect of Seoul's urban development is the disproportionate emphasis on catering to the younger generation, despite the anticipated accelerated aging of the population. As a result, the extent and variety of urban spaces accessible to the elderly have diminished significantly. This tendency has resulted in a notable shift in the character of public spaces. To illustrate, public spaces such as parks, which were previously regarded as one of the primary domains for the elderly, are increasingly subjected to stringent regulations, which further marginalizes this demographic in urban areas. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the elderly are themselves becoming a driving force in the discovery of new public spaces through informal practices. The most illuminating emerging location is the airport. The construction and expansion of international airports has become a prominent strategy in urban planning and development discourse. Such developments frequently entail the involvement of the private sector, thereby advancing the privatization and commercialization of facilities. In recent times, however, there has been an increase in the number of the elderly using airport spaces for recreational and social purposes. While ongoing spatial disparities have a significant impact, it is the elderly who identify and reclaim the "publicness" of airports through their everyday activities. This study aims to investigate the potential of informal practices employed by the elderly to establish and protect their spaces in urban areas undergoing a process of gentrification and an aging population.