Abstract
This study is to examine the roles of community experts in vitalizing model apartment complexes sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the impacts of community vitalization on residents. The conclusion was drawn by comparison and analysis of the model apartment complexes sponsored by Seoul Metropolitan Government and regular apartment complexes. The method of research is divided into two stages; firstly, the conditions of community were identified by interviewing management staff of two model complexes and two regular complexes in similar sizes located in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul and then surveys were conducted. The results can be summarized as follows, 1) The model complexes replaced the existing women's committees with the "Community Vitalization Committee" that raised the awareness of residents by making announcements about their activities to enhance community vitalization and encouraged residents' participation by surveying preferable community programs. On the other hand, the women's committees still existed at the regular complexes taking their roles as support organizations assisting the residential committees and the property management office. Their involvements were limited to hobbies and regular activities, such as volunteer work for the elderly and floral arrangement. 2) As to the perception about main agents of management, residents of model complexes showed higher sense of ownership than residents of regular complexes. This result demonstrates that community experts have positiveinfluence on the residents' consciousness about management at model complexes. Also, residents at model complexes who witnessed the roles of community experts showed greater needs for community leaders. Therefore, it can be concluded that the community leaders play significant roles in the vitalization of apartment communities.