• Issues in Feminism
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.123-158
• /
• 2010

For the last several months, abortion debates have sparkled in Korea. The government has escalated the need of active punishment of illegal abortions to solve low fertility problems, while some obstetricians and gynecologist have proclaimed stoppage of illegal abortions suing colleague doctors who has conducted illegal abortions. Women's rights groups and researchers have also responded to the abortion debate claiming that women's decisions over their pregnancy are important in making of abortion policies. To contribute to Korean abortion debates, his paper aims to analyze European experiences of abortion polices in relation to the consequences on women's health. For the analysis of European abortion experiences, three countries - Ireland, U.K, and Netherland -are chosen. These three countries are selected since their legal and social acceptance of abortion and the level of safe abortion system are different. Each country is reviewed by national abortion policy, legal regulation, medical system and the role of civil society. The analysis shows several implications for abortion debates occurring in Korea. Various systematic policy mechanisms - abortion on women' request, abortions without complicated doctor's referrals, transparent and anonymous counseling and information provision regarding abortion, training and education for medical professionals to guarantee high quality abortion, abortions funded publicly for women to improve their access to abortions, steady monitoring and auditing abortion procedures and outcomes for safe abortion and so on - are required in Korean society. Two track procedures - safe abortion on women's request and prevention of unwanted pregnancy - are needed for reproduction of healthy women and society.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.233-265
• /
• 2011

Material hardship measures have been used to supplement the traditional income-based poverty measures. Recently poverty researchers have increasingly used measure of material hardship to examine the well-being of low income families. Measuring the material hardship might be useful to a better understanding of the multi-dimensions of the poverty in Korea. Using the data of the Korea Welfare Panel Study(the fourth wave), I examine incidences of material hardship across quintiles of the income distributions and the factors that might affect the experience of material hardship among the poor families. Major findings are as follows. Descriptive results show that nearly one-fifth of all families had experienced at least one of the five material hardships in the year. Those in the bottom quintiles and the poor families are more likely to experience material hardship than the other quintiles and non-poor families. But, incidences of the material hardship in the middle income quintiles and low income families are not a few(18 percent and 37 percent). Logistic regression results show that family-consumption related variables, income other economic resources(asset and public assistance), and household's employment status affect the experience of material hardship among the poor families. But, material hardship among the poor families is not significantly related with family income. These results indicate that material hardship measures are the useful indicators to understanding the multi-dimensions of the poverty in Korea. And they suggest that an extensive reform of the public assistance policy is necessary to relieve the material hardships of the poor in Korea.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.135-144
• /
• 2024

In this study, we propose an automatic classification model for quantitative multidimensional analysis based on facet theory to understand public opinions and demands on major issues through big data analysis. Civil complaints, as a form of public feedback, are generated by various individuals on multiple topics repeatedly and continuously in real-time, which can be challenging for officials to read and analyze efficiently. Specifically, our research introduces a new classification framework that utilizes facet theory and political analysis models to analyze the characteristics of citizen complaints and apply them to the policy-making process. Furthermore, to reduce administrative tasks related to complaint analysis and processing and to facilitate citizen policy participation, we employ deep learning to automatically extract and classify attributes based on the facet analysis framework. The results of this study are expected to provide important insights into understanding and analyzing the characteristics of big data related to citizen complaints, which can pave the way for future research in various fields beyond the public sector, such as education, industry, and healthcare, for quantifying unstructured data and utilizing multidimensional analysis. In practical terms, improving the processing system for large-scale electronic complaints and automation through deep learning can enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of complaint handling, and this approach can also be applied to text data processing in other fields.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.188-198
• /
• 2016

This study examined the effects of a smoking cessation coaching program based on the motivation stage applying the Transtheoretical Model to stop the smoking of patients in terms of the amount of smoking, nicotine dependence, CO level, and urine cotinine. The study design was a multi-repeat multiple repeat intermittent time series study with one-group, a pre-post design. The participants were 47 smoking patients (44 males and 3 females), who were treated at a public hospital in N city. The participants were 4 (8.51%) subjects in the action stage and 43 subjects (91.49%) in the preparation stage of the motivation stage. The coaching program intervention was conducted at the first day, second week, and 6th week. The smoking cessation maintenance of the subjects was checked at the 12th week. A chi-square test and t-test were used to analyze the data. The subjects in the action stage were kept under the condition of no smoking and nicotine dependence. After the program of subjects in the preparation stage, the amount of smoking, nicotine dependence, and CO level were significantly lower compared to the pre-test (p<.001). The findings suggest that the coaching program based on the motivation stage was effective in improving the smoking cessation for patients who smoke. On the other hand, the patients in the smoking cessation program may require much more financial assistance than those of healthy people. A greater workforce and budget will be needed for patients to stop smoking.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.50-64
• /
• 2022

This thesis is a study on the woodblock of Donguibogam by Jeolla Gamyeong(Wanyoung Woodblock). It was registered as a tangible cultural property in Jeollabuk-do in 2005. The purpose of this article is to determine the current status and value of the Donguibogam Wanyoung Woodblock. Jeonju Hyanggyo's Wanyoung Woodblock was used to print books in Gamyeong, Jeolla Province. Currently, ten kinds of woodblocks are preserved. In 1987, a wooden bookshelf was installed and preserved in "Jangpangak" of Jeonju Hyanggyo. It is now preserved and managed at Chonbuk National University Museum. Among the ten woodblocks, the Wanyoung woodblock of Donguibogam is presumed to be a woodblock of a book printed by Jeolla Gamyeong in 1814. The value of Donguibogam has long been recognized domestically and internationally. Donguibogam, compiled in 1610, was first published in 1613 in the wood type of Gaeju Gapinja. Following its publication, its value was recognized not only in Joseon but also in China and Japan. In 2009, the first edition of Donguibogam was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage. Accordingly, Donguibogam has been recognized for various aspects, but little research has been conducted on the woodblocks that printed Donguibogam. Therefore, this paper analyzes the current status of the Wanyoung woodblock of Donguibogam, aiming to enhance its meaning and value. King Seonjo presented the ideals of public health care and preventive medicine when compiling Donguibogam, which was distributed according to his instructions. For this reason, the first edition of Donguibogam was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage. It can be said that the production of Donguibogam woodblocks was an important tool in realizing Joseon's ideals through national dissemination. Furthermore, the woodblock of Donguibogam represents the spirit of thinking about the people, going beyond the purpose of printing, and it was meaningful in the spread of medical knowledge among the people. In this article, I will examine the overall contents of the Wanyoung woodblock of Donguibogam to enhance its meaning and value. The results show that the Wanyoung woodblock of Donguibogam is meaningful in that it is almost the only one produced and stored by Gamyeong. Moreover, Wanyoung woodblocks are meaningful in that perfect editions could be preserved and disseminated for a long time, unlike other wood-type prints.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.11 no.11
• /
• pp.321-335
• /
• 2020

Given that with the development of the 4th industry, interest and desire for smart cities are gradually increasing and related technologies are developed as a way to strengthen urban competitiveness by utilizing big data, information and communication technology, IoT, M2M, and AI, the purpose of this study is to find out how to achieve this goal on the premise of the idea of smart well fair city. In other words, the purpose is to devise a smart well-fair city in the care area, such as health care, medical care, and welfare, and see if it is feasible. With this recognition, the paper aimed to review the concept and scope of smart city, the discussions that have been made so far and the issues or limitations on its connection to social security and social welfare, and based on it, come up with the concept of welfare city. As a method of realizing the smart welfare city, the paper reviewed characteristics and features of a social security platform as well as the applicability of smart city, especially care services. Furthermore, the paper developed discussions on the standardization of the city in terms of political and institutional improvements, utilization of personal information and public data as well as ways of institutional improvement centering on social security information system. This paper highlights the importance of implementing the digitally based community care and smart welfare city that our society is seeking to achieve. With regard to the social security platform based on behavioral design and the 7 principles(6W1H method), the present paper has the limitation of dealing only with smart cities in the fields of healthcare, medicine, and welfare. Therefore, further studies are needed to investigate the effects of smart cities in other fields and to consider the application and utilization of technologies in various aspects and the corresponding impact on our society. It is expected that this paper will suggest the future course and vision not only for smart cities but also for the social security and welfare system and thereby make some contribution to improving the quality of people's lives through the requisite adjustments made in each relevant field.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.131-142
• /
• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to survey the knowledge and needs of hospice for inpatients' family. Methods: This study was carried out with 277 inpatients' families at J General Hospital located in J city, Korea during the period from March to May, 2004. The data were collected through a self-reporting questionnaire constructed by the authors. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and $x^2-test$ with SPSSWIN 10.0. Results: 83.8% of the respondents heard about hospice mostly through mass communication. 76.9% of the respondents recognized hospice to be helpful and to provide comfort during the remainder of life and to confront the moment of death. Most of the respondents responded positively to the necessity of hospice service, and would receive hospice if necessary. 76.5% of them would consider arranging preparation for death if he/she were to be diagnosed with a terminal illness. 63.9% of the respondents wanted only to be with their family members, 31.4% wanted both the family and hospice members at the moment of death. They named the best helper among the hospice members to be the nurse. 81.6% of the respondents wanted a hospice institution to be established, 23.8% of them report that the most adequate hospice management institution would be the hospice ward in hospital. Conclusion: Consequently, most respondents wanted hospice services. So Korean society is in need of developing adequate teaching and care programs for hospice according to local needs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.64 no.6
• /
• pp.414-421
• /
• 2008

Background: Recently, in addition to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has become rapidly growing public health threat. This study examined the clinical differences between pulmonary TB patients with extensively drug resistance (XDR) and multi-drug resistance (MDR) at the National Medical Center in Korea in order to determine the clinical characteristics associated more with XDR-TB than MDR-TB. Methods: Patients who received a diagnosis of culture-confirmed pulmonary TB and a drug sensitivity test (DST) for anti-TB drugs at the National Medical Center between January 2000 and August 2007 were enrolled in this study. The patients were identified into the XDR-TB or MDR-TB group according to the DST results. The clinical characteristics were reviewed retrospectively from the medical records. Statistical analysis for the comparisons was performed using a ${\chi}^2$-test, independent samples t-test or binary logistic regression where appropriate. Results: A total 314 patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary TB were included. Among them, 18 patients (5.7%) had XDR-TB and 69 patients (22%) had MDR-TB excluding XDR-TB. A comparison of the clinical characteristics, revealed the XDR-TB group to have a higher frequency of a prior pulmonary resection for the treatment of TB (odds ratio [OR], 3.974; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.052~15.011; P value 0.032) and longer average previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs, including a treatment interruption period prior to the diagnosis of XDR, than the MDR-TB group (XDR-TB group, 72.67 months; MDR-TB group, 13.09 months; average treatment duration difference between two groups, 59.582 months; 95% CI, 31.743~87.420; P value, 0.000). In addition, a longer previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs was significantly associated with XDR-TB (OR, 1.076; 95% CI, 1.038~1.117; P value, 0.000). A comparison of the other clinical characteristics revealed the XDR-TB group to have a higher frequency of male gender, diabetes mellitus (DM), age under 45, treatment interruption history, cavitations on simple chest radiograph and positive result of sputum AFB staining at the time of diagnosis of XDR. However, the association was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Pulmonary TB patients with XDR have a higher frequency of a prior pulmonary resection and longer previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs than those with MDR. In addition, a longer previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs is significantly associated with XDR-TB.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.58 no.4
• /
• pp.392-398
• /
• 2005

Background : The last national tuberculosis survey was carried out in 1995. In 2000, the KTBS(Korean Tuberculosis Surveillance System) replaced a previous national survey. However, the KTBS does not show some of the important epidemiological indexes such as the prevalence of positive tuberculosis or the drug resistance rate. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical features of pulmonary tuberculosis patients admitted to a national tuberculosis hospital in 1995 and 2002. From this study, the authors expect to estimate the trend of the clinical features of tuberculosis in Korea even though it can not represent the Korean tuberculosis situation as a whole. Method : A cross sectional analysis of the clinical features for 331 pulmonary tuberculosis in-patients admitted to the National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital as of Dec. 2002, was carried out and these results were compared with those reported in 1995. Results : In comparison with the data reported in 1995, the mean age was increased by 3.6 years ($44.1{\pm}14.6$ vs $47.7{\pm}16.4$, p<0.01). The number of past tuberculosis history and used anti-tuberculous drugs prior to admission decreased from $2.0{\pm}1.7$ and $6.1{\pm}2.3$ to $1.7{\pm}1.8$ and $4.6{\pm}3.6$(p<0.05, p<0.001), respectively. While the resistance rate for anti-tuberculous drugs was similar (81.0% vs 77.6%), the initial resistance rate(10.5% vs 21.4%) and initial MDR rate(2.4% vs 16.5%) increased significantly(p=0.012, p=0.001, respectively). In 1995, the public health communities were in charge of approximately 65% of newly diagnosed tuberculosis cases, but this reduced to 40.5% in 2002(p<0.001). Conclusion : The existing national TB program (NTP) needs to be revised and strengthened in order to cope with the unfavorably changing situation of the domestic TB problem because the number of TB patients has not decreased and the initial resistance rate has increased greatly. Furthermore, the public and private sectors should cooperate each other to control the TB problem effectively because the private sector is now managing more than half of the TB patients.

• Journal of Legislation Research
• /
• no.41
• /
• pp.87-123
• /
• 2011

Korea is expected to become an 'aged society' with more than 14 percent of the public aged 65 years or more by 2018. The rapid aging is giving rise to various problems within the society along with falling birthrate in a short period of time. In this context, the role and function of laws on welfare for the aged must be particularly emphasized. Also the Senior Citizens Welfare Act is of great importance as it provides social welfare service on the basis of functional connection with social insurance and public assistance. First, this paper looks into the history of laws related to welfare for the elderly such as the Senior Welfare Act, the Act on Long-term Care Insurance for Senior Citizens and the Basic Old Age Pension Act as well as the findings of earlier studies. In the second place, it will break down such laws by main components aiming to examine details of the laws and questions raised regarding them and to seek ways to achieve improvement with an emphasis on health care, old age income security, housing welfare(assisted living facilities), job security for the aged. The Senior Welfare Act offers substance of social welfare service for the elderly. Income security, health and medical care, welfare measures through long-term care and assisted living facilities, social participation by working are the key elements and all of them should be closely associated to ensure citizens get sufficient public support in their old age. For this purpose, the Senior Welfare Act is under a normative network with laws such as Act on Long-term Care Insurance for Senior Citizens and Basic Old Age Pension Act. Current laws on welfare for the aged including Senior Welfare Act are not sufficiently responsive to the aged society of the 21st century. Income security combined with decent social participation, health and medical care closely connected with long-term care system, efficient expense sharing between government and local government, enhancement of effectiveness of welfare measures can be considered as means to improve current welfare system so that the elderly can enjoy their old age with dignity and respect.