ㅇ Analyzing the happiness index is significant because it presents policy implications to facilitate the process of pursuing both economic growth and welfare promotion, thus improving people’s quality of life.
ㅇ Jeonbuk’s Happiness Index 2023 is composed of 11 domains that encompass emotional wellbeing, economic well-being, social relationships, family relationships, culture and leisure, health, welfare, security, the environment, housing conditions, and education. Jeonbuk residents prioritize 11 domains: economic well-being (83.5%), family relationships (73.2%), health (65.0%), social relationships, culture and leisure, security, welfare, the environment, housing conditions (5.1%), and education (1.8%). In terms of domains from which residents derive the highest satisfaction, family relationships (71.0%) are at the top of the list, followed by economic wellbeing(61.3%) and culture and leisure (38.7%), while education (3.2%) is at the bottom of the list.
ㅇ By age group, those in their 50s perceive themselves to be happier than other age groups (64.62 points), surpassing those between 18-20 years old (63.22 points), those over 60 (62.92), those in their 40s (62.56), and those in their 30s (60.92). Concerning happiness levels ten years from now, those in their 40s are ranked first (75.74 points), followed by those in their 30s (73.33), those between 18-20 years old (72.89 points), those in their 50s (71.49 points), and those over 60 (62.89 points). Additionally, more residents in the central region find happiness within themselves than those in other regions (63.89 points), followed by the northeastern (62.31 points), Saemangeum (62.21 points), southwestern (62.00 points), and southeastern regions (60.38 points). Regarding happiness levels ten years from now, the southeastern region is at the top of the list (71.36 points), preceding the central (69.72 points), Saemangeum (68.61 points), southwestern (69.44 points), and northeastern regions (67.32 points).
ㅇ According to the analysis of subjective happiness based on monthly income, the rankings in descending order are as follows: over 4 million won (65.92 points), 3-4 million won (64.79 points), 2-3 million won (62.48 points), and less than 2 million won (60.55 points). Furthermore, in terms of happiness levels ten years from now, people with 3-4 million won are ranked at the top of the list (71.93 points), followed by those with over 4 million won (70.71 points), those with 2-3 million won (70.56 points), and those with less than 2 million won (66.36 points).
ㅇ Whereas those in their 20s and 30s find housing conditions least satisfying, those whose monthly income is less than 2 million won are least satisfied with the economic conditions. In the southeastern and northeastern regions, welfare services were analyzed to be the most vulnerable domain.
ㅇ Improving Jeonbuk’s happiness index and achieving related policy objectives require close collaborations between the departments in charge to formulate domain-specific action plans. Moreover, customized strategies should be devised to manage vulnerable groups and areas with low happiness and the vulnerable domains of happiness in an effective and timely manner. To overcome the current situations in which the weakening of social networks among Jeonbuk’s residents lowers their happiness levels, perceiving individuals’ isolation and loneliness as social issues and approaching them from a public policy perspective is advisable.