There has been active research on the development of indicators to measure the quality of life, well-being and happiness of the people around the world. However, quality of life indicators at national and regional levels have generally been developed in an expert-oriented top-down manner in the process of selecting indicators. It has been pointed out that there is a limitation where the measurement results of indicators composed in this way may be different from the quality of life that people and citizens actually feel because they fail to gather opinions from citizens. Therefore, in the process of developing and selecting the quality of life indicators, the process of gathering citizens'' opinion(bottom-up) should be preceded. To demonstrate the fact that the effective development and measurement of local indicators of quality of life needs to survey for the quality of life of local residents and increasing citizen participation in the development of indicators is important, this study investigates the recognition of quality of life for citizens living in Daejeon by utilizing the Q methodology.
First, we looked at common domains and indicators related to the quality of life by comparing and analyzing studies of it that were conducted through the documentary research methods. Therefore, Q statement was constructed based on nine domains and related indicators. Next, a total of 32 citizens living in Daejeon were selected as P samples. The selected P samples were investigated by classifying the cards containing the Q statement on the distribution chart listed (-5) to (+5). As a result, three classified elements were selected, including the largest number of samples.
Based on precedent research including theories and frameworks on quality of life, the three factors were classified and explained according to the dimensions of the quality of life in a range of personal, social and environmental conditions and the contributing conditions of quality of life divided into material and non-material conditions. Citizens of Daejeon area generally value non-material conditions in quality of life. Thus, the three factors were named ''personal satisfaction concentrated, social issue neglect type'', ''personal satisfaction concentrated, social issue concentrated type'', and ''social and environmental-oriented type'' for the type who value the factors in social and environmental range.
As a result, based on the high level of education and income of citizens in Daejeon, they value non-material conditions in quality of life and realize social and environmental issues more and more seriously. However, the existing indicator systems of quality of life and happiness in Daejeon lacked the development of domains and indicators, such as democratic engagement(governance), the environment and safety which correspond to the non-material conditions within the social and environmental dimensions. Therefore, further investigation and research is proposed. It is also expected that there will need to understand the subjective aspects of quality of life, such as the self-determination and Eudaimonia, and to organize the indicators. It will result in the development of effective local quality of life indicators which can present a particular quality of life of Daejeon citizens by reflecting the cultural characteristics of them.