Surging rents in certain commercial areas have recently been highlighted as a pressing problem in Korea, one that gives rise to issues of gentrification. There is fear that this trend has founded its roots and will become widespread. Gentrification has both positive and negative impact on society and therefore should not be approached as a phenomenon to be entirely prevented. Rather,preemptive measures- when they are appropriate- should be applied with careful considerations as hasty actions performed too soon in fear of the negative effects of gentrification may actually hinder local revitalization processes.

With this mind, this study proposes a measuring system including an index and a method for assessing the precipitation of the gentrification process in a respective local area, the progress of gentrification, and its duration.

This study ① summarizes the concept of commercial gentrification in Korea, ② presents a measurement index for commercial gentrification based on researching case studies both domestic and overseas and ③ suggests a measurement system suitable to our current domestic conditions. In this process, the study examines quantitative methods of measuring commercial gentrification in the U.K, the U.S, and Germany. The study also uses the measurement index of ② to diagnose the gentrification occurring in Gunsan and Gongju and suggests ways to utilize the index to improve existing institutional measures.