지하철역 이동 네트워크 중심성 분석을 통한 디자인 최적화 -노인 승객을 위한 공간디자인의 대상지 선정을 중심으로-

(Background and Purpose) Spatial design requires the efficient allocation of limited resources; therefore, the selection of appropriate sites for design intervention is a critical issue in spatial design. Subway stations are representative public spaces used by large numbers of passengers with diverse characteristics; however, few studies have quantitatively examined the prioritization of design application across stations. Accordingly, this study aims to compare the movement networks of general passengers and elderly passengers based on Seoul subway origin-destination data, to propose a quantitative priority ranking for design interventions targeting elderly passengers, and to suggest that social network analysis can serve as an analytical approach for spatial design site selection. (Method) This study employed social network analysis to quantitatively derive station-level priorities for elderly-oriented design interventions in subway stations. The analysis utilized 2024 Seoul subway origin–destination (OD) data obtained from the Public Data Portal, focusing on April, which recorded the highest passenger volume. Based on this dataset, undirected weighted networks were constructed for total passengers, general passengers, and elderly passengers. Centrality measures, centrality differences, and centrality ratios across passenger types were analyzed and integrated into a composite index to identify stations where design interventions for elderly passengers should be prioritized. (Results) The results show that subway stations with high degree centrality differ significantly between general and elderly passengers, quantitatively confirming that design interventions should be tailored to passenger-specific usage patterns. While conventional degree centrality effectively reflects the absolute usage volume of elderly passengers, it has limitations in capturing their relative importance compared to general passengers. Conversely, centrality ratio analysis highlights relative importance but fails to account for absolute passenger volumes. By integrating these indicators into a composite centrality index, a more rational station-level design priority was derived. The results indicate that Jegidong, Cheongnyangni (University of Seoul), Jongno 5-ga, Chang-dong, and Yeonsinnae stations should be prioritized for design interventions targeting elderly passengers. (Conclusions) By focusing on quantitative analysis, this study is limited in its ability to fully account for individual station characteristics, diverse user behaviors, and temporal variations in passenger movement. Nevertheless, the study is significant in that it moves beyond the conventional focus on improving individual design elements and proposes a new analytical approach for the quantitative optimization of spatial design through the application of social network analysis. Future research may expand this approach by incorporating additional passenger groups such as people with disabilities and children, integrating multiple transportation modes, analyzing temporal dynamics, and combining quantitative results with qualitative and interpretive analyses to further advance research on spatial design optimization.