Abstract
The goal of this research is to explore quantitative and residential features and spatial patterns of two-person households to suggest policy implications for housing supply and development in Seoul. Major findings of this study are as follows. First, the number of two-person households has increased rapidly mainly due to the growth of the elderly and single-parent households. They are mainly composed of the elderly over 60s and the youth of 30s of householder age. They are less likely to have well-paying jobs, and thus more likely to suffer from poverty. They are also inclined to live in rental and small-sized residential units and spatial segregation between the youth and the elderly became serious. In addition, their residential area can be classified into four types: area adjacent to employment centers, hinterland of urban centers, affordable multi-family housing area and redeveloped apartment area. It is necessary to change the current housing policy directions to take changing population and household structure into consideration. Also, diversified housing strategies and programs should be prepared to consider various household types and their needs and demands. Place-based strategies for housing supply and development are needed in consideration of spatial patterns and locational attributes of two-person households. Attention needs to be paid to resolving the social issue of residential segregation between different generations.