• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.355-373
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• 2015

In this study the factors of fire damage are analyzed through previous research reviews. Local environmental factors as well as those factors attributed to fire damage (number of fire events, number of injured, number of death, economic loss) were selected to compose mutual relationship model. In order to verify this relationship model, official statistics concerning fire damage were collected from 228 local governments and compared with results from previous research. As a result of this comparison four dependent variables and 22 independent variables that affect fire damage were analyzed. Independent variables are divided into human vulnerability factors, physical vulnerability factors, economic vulnerability factors, mitigating factors and local characteristics. To analyze a relationship between selected dependent variables and independent variables, we applied a semi-logarithm model and performed regression analysis. Among the 22 independent variables, the number of the weak to disaster, social welfare service workers, workers in manufacturing industry, and the number of workers in restaurants and bars per 10,000 people show the significant correlation with the number of fire incidence. The number of death from fire is significantly related to two variables which are the number of social welfare service workers per 10,000 and the ratio of commercial area. Damage cost is significantly dependent on the property taxes per 10,000 people. These factors were included in the research model as vulnerability factors (human, physical, economic) and mitigating factors and local characteristics, and the validity of research model was verified. The result could contribute to fire-fighting resource allocation in Korea or they can be utilized in establishing fire prevention policy, which will enhance the national level of fire safety.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.509-532
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• 2013

Minimum Housing Standard is an instrument to cope with the problems of public health and community hygiene, deterioration of working class housing conditions appeared commonly in the process of capitalist industrialization and rapid rural-to-urban migration. This paper aims to examine the institutionalization of histories of minimum housing standard in the advanced countries, and analyze the spatio-temporal changes and characteristics of households failing to meet the New Minimum Housing Standard in Seoul Metropolitan since 1995. The analysis of this paper is based on the census data on population and housing. The results are as follows; Households failing to meet the New Minimum Housing Standard in Seoul are 501,000 households(1.368 million person, 14.4%). This means Seoul has overtaken the national average 11.8% for the first time and there are structurally marginal band of households who can not improve the housing conditions by themselves. In addition, the fact that the rate of Seoul households living in the marginal shelter including the basement and rooftop room is the highest in Korea means the housing quality issues of Seoul is serious. Spatial distribution of households failing to meet the standard is divided into the northeast area and the southwest area in Seoul. Main features of the households are female-headed families, middle and old-aged people, divorce families, lower educated people, under and graduate students, non-apartments, dweller in 15~20 year old houses.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.293-302
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• 2002

China in the era of economic transition has conducted the housing reform policy over the past 20 years. Housing providing systems have changed from the free distributing housing system under the governmental planning to the monetary housing system for individual customers. The 1998 monetary housing distribution policy, which ended the 20-year Chinese housing reform, departed from the direct distribution system that had blocked housing commodification. The purpose of the housing reform was to provide and reproduce housing without the expenses of the Chinese government and work unit (danwei), which is different from Russia. In order to achieve the housing reform, the Chinese government introduced various policies, which enabled residents to purchase housing by themselves. However, it took long for residents, who had taken government's welfare system granted, to accept housing as goods. In addition, the Chinese government's efforts to reproduce housing by market systems failed because housing was closely linked to land and was expensive consumption goods, which differentiates housing from other goods that can be commodified through market prices and diverse ownerships. Accordingly, despite a political burden, the Chinese government waived the real distribution policy for housing. After the waiver, the housing commodification process excelled through the private housing markets.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.57-77
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• 2001

The Honam region has been recognized as one of the most lagging regions in Korea. Drawing upon some decompositions oi Gross Regional Domestic Product(GRDP) per head and labor productivity, the overall trend of inequalities in Korea has been revealed and the trajectory of the Honam region's economic change has been identified by examining how the region's economic performance changed relative to that of Korea in the 1990s. There are some findings. First of all, Korea is characterized by strong divergence in the development of its region economies, in terms o\ulcorner per capita GRDP, which relies upon productivity differentials rather than differences in employment rates. Second, the Honam region has displayed poor economic performances in terms of GRDP per head except for Jeonnam. Third, the dramatic fall in cumulative population growth relative to the national average has been an important factor in the Jeonnam's overwhelming economic performance measured by per capita GRDP. Fourth, the decline in the relative productivity of the Honam region is mostly explained by falling relative regional productivity growth in construction, transport and manufacturing, although it should be noted that the latter sector has made positive contribution to raising relative regional productivity of Jeonnam. Fifth, overall the shift in employment to service sector, especially to social, personal, public, health, education, other services other than distribution, hotels, catering has tended to support relative regional productivities, along with the positive contribution being made oi agriculture, forestry and fishing to relative regional productivity growth in the Honam region.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.53-68
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• 2018

Community-based ecotourism (CBE), if well-developed can be a practical approach for promoting socio-economic well-being and sustaining ecological resources. The growth and its development worldwide especially in developing economies is a welcome development. The study aimed at assessing the Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary in Ghana, as an example of traditional conservation system of management that has ensured greater community participation, equity, inclusiveness, and multi-level stakeholder partnership. In-depth interviews with key informants and documentary analysis of relevant peer reviewed and grey literature were the main qualitative data collection used. Results revealed that majority of the interviewees support and value the current system of traditional management. The enforcement of rules and regulations and other cultural and religious practices were discussed by key informants. Opportunities for multiple livelihood strategies as a result of the CBE is seen as critical for increasing local's acceptance and participation. The remarkable growth of the sanctuary, as well as the increase in human population, has created a shortage of land for domestic and other commercial purposes which is identified as posing a major challenge to the sustenance of the sanctuary. The study recommends diversification of livelihood opportunities presented by the presence of the sanctuary like the introduction of homestay concept, craft making- wood carving, painting, artisan shops.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.480-500
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• 2011

This paper aims to describe the rapid growth of the one-person households in terms of the socio-economic demographic perspectives during the period of 1995-2005 and to analyze the spatial distribution patterns based on different characteristics of one-person households. The increase in the divorce ratio in the middle-aged, the growth of unmarried people the young generation, and the increase of life expectancy in the old generation are explanatory factors for the rise and diversification of one-person households in Korea. The rapid increase of one-person households is accompanied by a diversification in their age, gender, marital status, education level. Uneven distribution of one-person households depends on their age, level of education and dwelling type. Highly educated young adults residing in their own apartment are generally concentrated in major cities, whereas senior citizen with their own single house who lives alone are mostly in rural area. One-person households of the highly educated young adults are significantly polarized in the light of their the living standards. In particular, metropolitan area or big cities are mixed with those who have their own apartment and are financially capacity and with those who rent in a detached single house. As such, one-person households have considerably heterogeneous characteristics. Therefore, each local government will face different economic and social problems based on which group of one-person households are increasing and where they are concentrated in. To this extent, the local government should have differentiated welfare policy according to its own respect.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.672-684
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• 1996

This paper explores the inter-ethnic conflicts between Blocks and Hispanics focusing on the emergent Hispanic ethnictity that reveals situational character in the US contexts. In the US census categories, major groups are indetified by race and ethnicity in which the Hispanic orgin is a category based on their common language while diverse in nationality. The census defined Hispanic category extends conveniently to acquiesce Affirmative Action and other government resource distribution. Internally, Hispanics have established numerous organizations to coalesce and assure their interests. The achieved dual language program and jurisdictional revision to represent language minority work as leverages to their cohesiveness. Under diminishing public resources and welfare payment, it is more difficult sharing burdens than benefits between minority groups. Block are not comfortable with the benefits Hispanics receive form the civil rights achievement without having had to struggle for it. The ethnic conflicts of the have-nots have become a new ethnic phenomenon attributable to the emergent Hispanic ethnicity.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.709-727
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• 2013

Recently, "aging in place" has become the principle philosophy of elderly housing policy in many countries. However, since there is ambiguity surrounding the universal definition of it, the meaning of AIP has been defined by political expediency. This study aims to discuss the meaning of AIP by examining the transition of elderly housing issues and policy in Japan. During the last two decades, the Japanese government has tried to launch a new elderly welfare system to shift the responsibility of elderly care from the family to the society and from the society to the region. And the focus of elderly housing policy has shifted from the promotion of three-generation dwellings to supporting the development of private residences. However, since the main goal has been limiting the welfare budgets rather than enhancing the quality of life, elderly housing issues have been reduced to a matter of choosing either elderly care facilities frequently located in suburbs or not. This paper suggest that we should pursue the true AIP idea in housing policy, and argues that to do so we need to consider AIP from diverse aspects such as temporal continuity, the range of space, the dynamics of place experience and the capability of communities.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.944-966
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• 2013

This study attempts to highlight the cultural importance of urban public space by analyzing the changes Tap-Gol Park from late 1990's to early 2000's, a park located in the heart of Seoul, underwent in its meanings and uses. Public space, a product of modern urban planning, is characterized by its openness and accessibility and represents the vitality of modern city, serving as a meeting place for citizens with different social backgrounds at such occasions as gatherings and festivals. While the government or a few dominant groups try to control the public and their behavior in public space by giving a specific meaning to it and specifying its use, people constantly set their foot in it and view the space as a place differently for each individual's personal or social reasons. It is therefore not very surprising that the meaning of public space has never been successfully defined. Following the traces of attempts to define the meaning of public space and considering how public space can be efficiently used will shed light on what types of groups, especially ages and classes participated in the contest for the use of public space and expressed their own cultures in urban society through various negotiations.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.677-694
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• 2015

This paper aims to discuss and develop theories of social sustainability as an alternative of urban development, recognizing that urban development paradigm needs to turn to the qualitative perspective. Urban development in Korea has mainly focused on quantitative expansion disregarding qualitative development so far. Korean cities has achieved the quantitative accumulation of wealth due to the strategy. However, as a result, it is also certain that socio-economic problems such as urban poverty, social polarization, deterioration of welfare and quality of life are getting more serious. In the context that social sustainability meets social needs of urban residents based on equity and focuses on social development, it has an important meaning in relation of social and economic problems such as inequality and distribution of urban development. Furthermore, social sustainablity can foster urban residents' endogenous capability and governances. The importance of social sustainablity has been standed out and its concept and practical problems have been discussed diversely among researchers in the Western advanced countries for the last decade. However, social sustainability is still unattractive and its institutional strategy are insufficient in Korea. Concepts and practical problems of social sustainability have implications on the development path of Korean cities which have been accumulated contradiction due to the quantitative development for a long time.