(Dept. of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Chonnam National University)
;
This study was carried out to find out the time-dependent change of central functions in the depopulated rural areas. Three county areas were selected for the case study ; Haenam(as a remote flat area), Goksung(as an intermediate mountainous area), and Hwasun(as a peri-urban area). For each district area administered by each county, service facilities stock was surveyed at both the present('02) and the past('89 or '94)time, and its functional index checked. From the study results, table-tennis rooms, oil shops and inns were ascertained to be disappeared now in the absolute or real terms, while beer halls, restaurants and bakeries to be sharply increased. Generally, in spite of the substantial depopulation in the past decade, service facilities stock has been increased in and concentrated to the highest order center of rural area (county office seated district). However, where this center leans to the outer side of its county area and to the opposite direction against the regional center, the dependent level of service function on the highest center have decreased.