Challenges and Strategies for Resident Participation Ordinances to Prevent Construction Defects in Korean Local Governments

Abstract

Many Korean local governments have enacted ordinances that enable resident participation in the supervision of public construction projects, yet an implementation gap persists between the legal framework and actual engagement. This study thus examined causes of and strategies for residents’ participation in defect reporting and the role of resident supervisor using a sequential embedded design. Administrative data from local governments were analyzed, followed by 94 survey data from resident representatives. Awareness about the defect reporting and role of resident supervisor was low, while support and intention for participation were higher. Awareness, perceived ordinance effectiveness, and support for resident participation were associated with intention, whereas financial rewards showed no significant association. These results suggest that insufficient awareness and trust—not lack of motivation—are the primary barriers, indicating the need to shift from offering rewards to targeted communication, procedural transparency, and capacity-building. This study’s contribution is its mixed-methods empirical assessment of this gap, informing the design of resident-participation policies by prioritizing awareness campaigns, procedural transparency, and training for resident supervisors.