Spatial inequalities and driving factors in food accessibility: Integrating online and offline grocery services in South Korea.

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Title: Spatial inequalities and driving factors in food accessibility: Integrating online and offline grocery services in South Korea.
Authors: Kim, Hyebin1 (AUTHOR) khb723@hanyang.ac.kr, Kim, Minkyu1 (AUTHOR) minkyukim0611@gmail.com, Lee, Sugie1,2 (AUTHOR) sugielee@hanyang.ac.kr
Source: Applied Geography. Dec2025, Vol. 185, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Regional disparities, Groceries, Koreans, Poor people, Grocery shopping, Local delivery services, Regional economic disparities, Policy analysis
Geographic Terms: South Korea
Abstract: Food accessibility is a critical component for urban residents, and the rapid socio-demographic and digital transformation has fundamentally reshaped how people access food. This study investigates the spatial and socio-demographic disparities in food accessibility across South Korea by integrating online and offline grocery access. We propose a nationwide comprehensive food accessibility index, using the Gaussian Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) method to analyze spatial gaps and influencing factors. By integrating spatial network analysis and logistics data from major e-commerce platforms, this study evaluates the spatial distribution of food accessibility and identifies driving factors using multiple linear regression analysis. The key findings are as follows: First, online grocery delivery services exacerbate spatial inequalities rather than mitigating challenges to food accessibility. Second, the findings highlight a non-linear relationship between food accessibility and the percentage of National Basic Livelihood Security (NBLS) recipients, suggesting a threshold beyond which increased economic vulnerability corresponds to decreased accessibility. Lastly, we found a negative relationship between the food accessibility index and the ratio of elderly residents. These findings reveal a policy blind spot in current income-based assistance and highlight the need for refined targeting in the Agrifood Voucher program, ensuring support reaches the most deprived areas. By analyzing inequalities across regional, age, and income dimensions, this study underscores the need for integrated offline-online policy frameworks and targeted policy recommendations aimed at effectively addressing food accessibility challenges and promoting equitable access to nutritious food for all residents. • This study comprehensively evaluates nationwide online and offline grocery accessibility using online delivery platforms. • The Gaussian 2SFCA method and regression analysis reveal spatial disparities in food accessibility and influencing factors. • Online grocery delivery services exacerbate, rather than mitigate, spatial inequalities in food access. • Economic vulnerability and elderly population ratios were negatively associated with comprehensive food accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Applied Geography is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Spatial inequalities and driving factors in food accessibility: Integrating online and offline grocery services in South Korea.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+Hyebin%22">Kim, Hyebin</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> khb723@hanyang.ac.kr</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+Minkyu%22">Kim, Minkyu</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> minkyukim0611@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lee%2C+Sugie%22">Lee, Sugie</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> sugielee@hanyang.ac.kr</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Korea%22">South Korea</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Food accessibility is a critical component for urban residents, and the rapid socio-demographic and digital transformation has fundamentally reshaped how people access food. This study investigates the spatial and socio-demographic disparities in food accessibility across South Korea by integrating online and offline grocery access. We propose a nationwide comprehensive food accessibility index, using the Gaussian Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) method to analyze spatial gaps and influencing factors. By integrating spatial network analysis and logistics data from major e-commerce platforms, this study evaluates the spatial distribution of food accessibility and identifies driving factors using multiple linear regression analysis. The key findings are as follows: First, online grocery delivery services exacerbate spatial inequalities rather than mitigating challenges to food accessibility. Second, the findings highlight a non-linear relationship between food accessibility and the percentage of National Basic Livelihood Security (NBLS) recipients, suggesting a threshold beyond which increased economic vulnerability corresponds to decreased accessibility. Lastly, we found a negative relationship between the food accessibility index and the ratio of elderly residents. These findings reveal a policy blind spot in current income-based assistance and highlight the need for refined targeting in the Agrifood Voucher program, ensuring support reaches the most deprived areas. By analyzing inequalities across regional, age, and income dimensions, this study underscores the need for integrated offline-online policy frameworks and targeted policy recommendations aimed at effectively addressing food accessibility challenges and promoting equitable access to nutritious food for all residents. • This study comprehensively evaluates nationwide online and offline grocery accessibility using online delivery platforms. • The Gaussian 2SFCA method and regression analysis reveal spatial disparities in food accessibility and influencing factors. • Online grocery delivery services exacerbate, rather than mitigate, spatial inequalities in food access. • Economic vulnerability and elderly population ratios were negatively associated with comprehensive food accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Applied Geography is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2025.103777
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Regional disparities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Groceries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Koreans
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Poor people
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grocery shopping
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Local delivery services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Regional economic disparities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Policy analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: South Korea
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Spatial inequalities and driving factors in food accessibility: Integrating online and offline grocery services in South Korea.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Kim, Hyebin
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            NameFull: Kim, Minkyu
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            NameFull: Lee, Sugie
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            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 01436228
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              Value: 185
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            – TitleFull: Applied Geography
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