J Korean Med Sci.  2020 Nov;35(44):e365. 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e365.

Life Expectancy in Areas around Subway Stations in the Seoul Metropolitan Area in Korea, 2008–2017

• Kim Ih
• Kang HY
• Khang YH

• KMID: 2508766
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e365

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to calculate life expectancy in the areas around 614 subway stations on 23 subway lines in the Seoul metropolitan area of Korea from 2008 to 2017.
Methods
We used the National Health Information Database provided by the National Health Insurance Service, which covers the whole population of Korea. The analysis was conducted on the level of the smallest administrative units within a 200-m radius of each subway station. Life expectancy was calculated by constructing an abridged life table using the number of population and deaths in each area and 5-year age groups (0, 1–4, …, 85+) during the whole study period.
Results
The median life expectancy in the areas around 614 subway stations was 82.9 years (interquartile range, 2.2 years; minimum, 77.6 years; maximum, 87.4 years). The life expectancy of areas around subway stations located in Seoul was higher than those in Incheon and Gyeonggi-do, but variation within the region was observed. Significant differences were observed between some adjacent subway stations. In Incheon and Gyeonggi-do, substantially higher life expectancy was found around subway stations in newly developed urban areas, and lower life expectancy was found in central Incheon and suburbs in Gyeonggi-do.
Conclusion
When using areas around subway stations as the unit of analysis, variation in life expectancy in the Seoul metropolitan area was observed. This approach may reduce the stigma associated with presenting health inequalities at the level of the smallest administrative units and foster public awareness of health inequalities.

Keyword

Health Status; Health Status Disparities; Life Expectancy; Life Tables; Seoul; Republic of Korea

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The process of selecting small administrative units (dong, eup, and myeon) within a 200-m radius (blue circles) of subway stations (yellow dots).Notes. Dong corresponds to metropolitan, Eup to urban, and Myeon to rural.

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  Fig. 2 Histogram of life expectancy in the areas around subway stations in the Seoul metropolitan area: findings from the National Health Information Database, 2008–2017.

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  Fig. 3 Life expectancy in the areas around subway stations in the Seoul metropolitan area: findings from the National Health Information Database, 2008–2017. (A) Life expectancy around subway stations in Seoul. (B) Life expectancy around subway stations in the Seoul metropolitan area.

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