A research team led by Professor Lee Chang Bae of the Department of Forest and Environmental Systems at Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul) and a research team led by Professor Yoo Seong-ryong of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the United States have published a study in *Environmental Science and Ecotechnology* (IF=14.3, top 3.2%).

This study was jointly conducted by Professor Lee Chang Bae and Dr. Lee Min-ki from the Department of Forest and Environmental Systems at Kookmin University, along with Professors Yoo Seong-ryong, Stephen J. Freedland, and Michael R. Freeman from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Based on data on 11 key health indicators for 497 U.S. cities provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the research team analyzed the structural associations and key pathways between various environmental and socioeconomic factors—including the city-level Tree Equity Score, the proportion of trees, shrubs, and grasslands, poverty rates, access to healthcare, racial composition, fine particulate matter, and the urban heat island effect—and the health burden. The health indicators analyzed included arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, obesity, stroke, and poor mental health.

The results showed that the health burden in cities is closely related to structural issues arising from the complex interplay of multiple factors—such as poverty, access to healthcare, racial composition, green space equity, air pollution, and the urban heat island effect—rather than being explained by any single environmental factor. In particular, the poverty rate was strongly associated with various chronic diseases and mental health burdens, demonstrating that urban health inequalities are not merely a matter of individual health but must be understood within a structural context where socioeconomic conditions and the urban environment interact.

Notably, the study found that a higher “Tree Equity Score”—which indicates how equitably trees are distributed within a city and how evenly citizens can enjoy their benefits—was associated with lower levels of various health burdens. The research team explained that this suggests the balanced distribution of urban forests and green spaces, and citizens’ equitable access to their benefits, may be closely linked to the protection of urban residents’ health. In particular, the research team confirmed that the pathways linking green spaces and health differ depending on a city’s poverty level. In cities with high poverty rates, green spaces were found to be associated with health burdens through pathways that mitigate environmental risk factors such as fine particulate matter and the urban heat island effect. Conversely, in cities with low poverty rates, green spaces were suggested to be associated with more direct health-promoting pathways, such as physical activity, psychological recovery, and social interaction.

Professor Lee Chang Bae of Kookmin University explained, “This study is significant in that it goes beyond the general perception that urban forests and green spaces are good for health to structurally demonstrate how green space equity is linked to health burdens through specific pathways under various socioeconomic conditions.” He went on to emphasize, “As the climate crisis, the urban heat island effect, air pollution, and socioeconomic inequality are simultaneously intensifying, future urban forest and green space policies need to be designed not merely to expand the total area but to reduce the health burden on urban residents through equity-based expansion of urban forests and green spaces.”

Dr. Lee Min-ki, the first author, explained, “This study suggests that addressing urban health inequalities requires an integrated approach that encompasses not only healthcare but also policies related to urban planning, green spaces, and environmental justice.”

Meanwhile, Kookmin University, celebrating its 80th anniversary, is preparing for a new leap toward the next 100 years under the vision of “A University Setting the Standard for Higher Education” and the slogan “Make the Rule, Break the Rule.” To this end, the university has established “KMU VISION 2035: EDGE,” a mid- to long-term development strategy, and selected eight specialized fields to intensively strengthen the university’s competitiveness. Kookmin University’s College of Science and Technology plans to cultivate talent equipped with practical skills and convergent thinking to lead future industries, focusing on the “Water, Energy, and Environment” field—one of the eight specialized fields.

The Extent to Which Social, Economic, and Environmental Factors Affect Key Health Indicators Among Urban Residents

(From left) Dr. Lee Min-ki and Professor Lee Chang Bae of the Department of Forest and Environmental Systems; Professor Yoo Seong-ryong, Professor Stephen Freedland, and Professor Michael Freeman of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the United States