Health Shocks and the Spatial Dynamics of Intergenerational Proximity in South Korea: Evidence From 2006 to 2022

Adult children's geographic proximity to aging parents is a fundamental component of the spatial opportunity structure for intergenerational solidarity. Using nine waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2006–2022), this study employs a dynamic panel event study design to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of family relocation following a parent's first diagnosis of chronic illness. We analyze how distinct care trajectories of cancer, cerebrovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease, alongside the gender of adult children, shape these spatial adjustments. The results indicate that health shocks serve as a driver for spatial convergence, suggesting that formal care through the universal Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) complements rather than crowds out family support. However, relocation patterns exhibit significant heterogeneity by disease type. Acute circulatory conditions (cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases) prompt an immediate but short-term spatial response, whereas cancer leads to a delayed and sustained restructuring process. Furthermore, we find a shifting ‘geography of care’ in Korea: contrary to traditional male-centered norms, daughters have emerged as the primary agents of sustained spatial support. These findings highlight the spatial labor families undertake to compensate for the lack of formal support within the modern welfare system.