Public perceptions and willingness to pay for coastal erosion response: a comparative study of three coastal regions in South Korea

This study investigates residents’ perceptions and willingness to pay (WTP) for coastal erosion management policies, with a particular focus on securing coastal buffer zones, in South Korea. Based on case studies from three regions –Gangneung, Sinan, and Jeju– the research aims to assess the social acceptability and financial feasibility of implementing policies for coastal erosion mitigation. A survey was conducted to capture demographic characteristics, property damage experience, policy awareness, and perceived benefits, followed by WTP estimation using the contingent valuation method (CVM) with a double-bounded dichotomous choice format. To examine factors associated with WTP, an interval regression model was employed, taking into account the interval-censored nature of the data. The results show that regional and socio-economic characteristics are associated with variations in both policy perception and WTP. Gangneung and Sinan exhibited higher proportions of older and long-term residents, while Jeju had a relatively younger population and more in-migrants, partially explaining regional differences in policy awareness and WTP. Property damage experience emerged as an important factor, with higher damage correlating with increased policy support. Overall policy awareness was low, but residents consistently recognized positive effects on residential quality and daily safety. The mean annual WTP ranged from $6.28 (Jeju) to $7.13 (Gangneung), with approximately 70% of respondents willing to contribute financially, indicating a moderate but consistent level of public acceptance. Comparisons with prior domestic and international studies highlight Korea’s intermediate WTP level, with perceived policy benefits and damage experience playing a more prominent role than general socio-economic characteristics, indicating consistent public acceptance across regions. Limitations include restricted sample size and regional coverage, the hypothetical nature of CVM scenarios, and lack of differentiation by policy type. Future research should expand geographic coverage, incorporate behavioral or experimental approaches, and analyze policy-specific preferences to support tailored and sustainable coastal management strategies. These findings provide valuable insights for designing regionally adaptive policies that balance economic feasibility and resident-perceived benefits.