Abstract
A gradual increase in the number of people with disabilities and the elderly in our everyday life has changed our perceptions toward them. The concept of barrier free space has been gradually incorporated into the social system and into our everyday life, and has further developed into the universal design concept so that creating an environment where all inhabitants of a city are able to enjoy the space of everyday life. Against this backdrop, this study has conducted research on how to improve the accessibility of major public spaces in Wonju, Chuncheon, and Gangneung, or major metropolitan cities of Gangwon Province. The research has been conducted under the assumption that the conditions of utilizing public spaces in those cities will not meet public expectations compared to private spaced despite being iconic cities of Gangwon Province. The field survey results show that the concept of barrier free space is reflected, to some extent, in planning and development although its role in terms of using such space is not up to expectations. In particular, the buildings and facilities built prior to the enforcement of relevant policies are found to leave much to be desired due to unsatisfactory development plans between architecture and urban public space, which necessitates improvement on relevant policies, sincere efforts of local governments, and practical guidelines that can be useful in the implementation stage. Above all, building owners and public administrations are advised to raise their awareness on the concept of universal design so that it is firmly rooted in our everyday life as one of the universal values. It should lead to the efforts of the members of local cities in providing the environment where people are able to enjoy these utilities from the perspective of promoting public welfare.