• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.50
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• pp.275-289
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• 2023

Since the implementation of the Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) Act in 2008, approximately 10 million tons of genetically modified corn, soybean, potato, canola, and other crops have been imported into South Korea. The import approval procedures have been completed for approximately 191 cases that include seven crops. Of these, approximately 90 cases, excluding crossbreeds of approved LMOs, were reviewed via consultation risk evaluation in four areas: human health, crop culture, natural ecology, and marine fishery environment. LMO developers in South Korea, who are major stakeholders in the import of LMO crops produced overseas, have raised concerns regarding procedural inefficiency in consultation reviews and the need of excessive reviews that are unsuitable for food-feed processing purposes. These procedures reflect the perspective of consultation agencies that deviate from the nature of risk assessment and demand specific supplementary data that do not reflect familiarity and substantial equilibrium. Based on frequent instances of unintentional environmental release of LMO crops imported into Korea, the ministries responsible for consultation insist on a review that considers the climate and natural environment of Korea. In addition, the ministries mandate that their reviews reflect the expertise of competent ministries and are based on risk assessment principles and methods in accordance with international guidelines. In this regard, considering that traits introduced into LMO crops involving familiar agricultural crops have been considered safe for more than two decades, we have suggested reasonable alternatives to several risk assessment items for agricultural LMOs. These alternatives can mitigate conflicts of interest among key stakeholders within the scope of the current LMO regulations.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.91-107
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• 2024

This study attempted to empirically verify the possibility of K-content for Chinese people who have recently slowed down due to restriction of movement and political and diplomatic conflicts, although it is a very meaningful market for Korea's content industry and tourism industry. As a result of the study, each item of K-content experience, national image, tourism attitude, and visit intention was derived as one factor, and only the national image factor was derived as two factors: 'functional image' and 'cultural image'. As a result of examining the influence relationship between them established based on previous studies focusing on the derived factors, all five research hypotheses were adopted. K-content experience was found to have a significant influence on both factors of the national image. It was found that it had a greater influence on cultural image factors than functional image factors, cultural image factors were found to have a greater influence on tourism attitudes, K-content experiences had a significant effect on tourism attitudes, and tourism attitudes had a significant effect on visit intentions. Based on the results of this study, it was once again confirmed that the national image even comtually bees an important factor for linking to practical tourism behavior, and in this respect, "culture" is an important key factor that can lead to practical tourism and visits. Previous national images indicate that if the functional aspect of the country was more emphasized, it is now necessary to focus more on the importance of culture than on the functional aspect. As the K-content experience has a significant effect on tourism attitude, it can have a positive effect on the formation of a positive tourism attitude that can lead to actual tourism behavior, so various efforts will be needed to form an active tourism attitude using K-content in the future. As the content and target scope of K-content are expanded and diversified, specific strategies for each sub-market using cultural contents in various fields should be established and implemented.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.113 no.1
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• pp.118-130
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• 2024

Rehabilitation of mining areas can reduce damage to ecosystems. However, the effects of rehabilitation on ecosystem services (ESs) and its contribution to local communities are not well known. Thus, the aims of this study were to clearly identify the ES beneficiaries affected by mining activities, to determine how the beneficiaries profit from surrounding areas in cooperation with local stakeholders, and to manage the rehabilitation areas for the ESs that the beneficiaries want. This study chose 18 ESs (4 provisioning, 7 regulating, 5 cultural, and 2 habitat services) based on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity. A semi-structured questionnaire survey using an 11-point Likert scale was conducted among 87 community residents to investigate social awareness and identify key ESs. The survey results from two local communities showed high awareness and demands mainly on cultural (mental and physical health, aesthetic appreciation, and recreation) and regulating services (local climate and air quality, and moderation of extreme events). These services were related to the daily lives of residents in local communities, provided positive benefits, and potentially improved the residents' future livelihoods. However, the average questionnaire scores were limited to 6-7 points, indicating that the benefits to local communities were meager. The residents' awareness of provisioning service was negative, even if it provided goods and profit opportunities. This indicated a disconnection between local communities and provisioning services due to forest rehabilitation that did not consider local communities that traditionally relied on specific provisioning services before the onset of mining activities. Future forest rehabilitation in abandoned mine areas must consider the welfare of local communities for sustainable use of rehabilitated forests and enhancing ESs. In this study, only a qualitative evaluation based on frequency analyses was conducted. The quantification and valuation of key ESs are warranted in the future to promote ESs from forest rehabilitation in abandoned mine areas. The study results would be useful for developing site-specific ES promotion strategies for reforesting mine areas.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2024

Objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic fertilizer application on yield, soil chemical properties and soil organic carbon (SOC) in Korean cabbage cultural field. The experimental treatments consisted of none fertilizer (NF), NPK (inorganic fertilizer, N-P₂O₅-K₂O : 320-78-198 kg ha^-1), Organic fertilizer (OF 50, 100, 150% on application rate of standard 110 kg ha^-1 as N, topdressing: 210 kg ha^-1 as inorganic fertilizer). In experimental results, the growth characteristics and yields were not significantly different among the treatments. There was no significant difference in soil pH, available phosphate, ammonium nitrogen and exchangeable potassium, while organic matter, electrical conductivity and nitrate nitrogen were increased when organic fertilizer application. Also, SOC was increased with the application of organic fertilizers. These results showed that pre-application of organic fertilizer might be effective in a carbon storage in the field soil cultivating Korean cabbage.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.118-126
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• 2024

This study was conducted in Cheonan, the middle region of South Korea, to evaluate the forage characteristics of six medium maturing Italian ryegrass varieties: 'Kowinmaster', 'IR 601', 'IR 602', 'IR 603', 'IR 604' and 'IR 605'. In growth characteristics, 'Kowinmaster' exhibited the earliest heading date on April 30, while 'IR 601' exhibited the latest on May 17. 'IR 601' exhibited the highest lodging resistance, and all varieties demonstrated excellent disease resistance, waterlogging tolerance, and cold tolerance. 'IR 603', 'IR 604', and 'IR 605' demonstrated above-average plant length, with 'IR 604' reaching the longest at 114.8 cm. In productivity, 'IR 602' and 'IR 605' produced the highest total dry matter yield, each exceeding 12,800 kg/ha. Regarding feed values, 'Kowinmaster' recorded the highest RFV and TDN at 119.18 and 66.07%, respectively, with 'IR 605' exhibiting the second highest. 'IR 604' and 'IR 601' demonstrated crude protein concentrations over 9%, with 'IR 604' exhibiting the highest at 9.74%. Analysis of monosaccharide content in Italian ryegrass revealed that 'IR 605' exhibited the highest glucose and fructose content at 23.35 g/kg and 50.70 g/kg, respectively. In summary, 'IR 602' exhibited the highest productivity, 'Kowinmaster' recorded the highest feed value, and 'IR 605' exhibited the highest glucose and fructose content. Therefore, 'IR 605' is considered the most outstanding variety due to its superior productivity, second highest feed value, and significant monosaccharide content.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.250-259
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated in pesticide residues and heavy metals in fermented liquor products (wine, beer, makgeolli). Targeted analysis of 400 pesticide residues in the sample was performed using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction method, followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and LC-MS/MS. The contents of heavy metals (Pb, Cd) were determined by ICP-MS using the microwave method. The mercury was measured using a mercury analyzer. From the analysis of 150 cases, 102 (68.0%) cases of fermented liquor were detected, and 35 pesticide residues (including metalaxyl, mandipropamid, azoxystrobin, and fenhexamid) were detected among the 400 pesticide residues tested. Pb, Cd, and Hg were tested in 150 samples. Lead was detected in 73 samples (48.7%), cadmium in 9 samples (6.0%), and mercury in 36 samples (24.0%). Exposure assessment was conducted to determine the safety of the detected pesticide residues and heavy metals. According to this assessment, the pesticide residues and heavy metals showed very low %ADI values (less than 1%).

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.474-485
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• 2024

The purposes of this study were to isolate the potential Lacticaseibacillus spp. from the feces of infants before weaning, to investigate the safety of antibiotics resistance and beta-haemolysis, and to evaluate the anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects between the selected strains and Oenanthe javanica (Oj) fermented by them. As a result of analyzing the intestinal microbial community among the stools of four infants, the genus Bifidobacterium was the most dominant, but Lacticaseibacillus (L.) rhamnosus was the most frequently isolated because of the easy culture. Nine test strains, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG (ATCC 53103) as the positive control, were sensitive against 8 kinds of antibiotics without vancomycin in comparison with the cut-off values at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and there was no hemolysis. In the antibacterial activity experiment, the Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus L22-FR28 (L28, KACC 92513P) strain and Oj+L28 ferment showed significantly (p<0.05) higher activities than LGG against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, these decreased the activity of the NF-kB/AP-1 transcription factor and inhibited the nitric oxide and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) produced in macrophage RAW cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Consequently, the L. rhamnosus L28 strain and Oenanthe javanica+L. rhamnosus L28 (Oj+L28) ferment selected with the high anti-inflammatory effect will improve health functionality after more research, such as the verification of animal level and identification of mechanism on an anti-inflammatory.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.162-182
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• 2024

Since the adoption of the World Heritage Convention, sites associated with dark histories have been inscribed as World Heritage sites over the past fifty years. However, in 2018, the review of nomination dossiers for these sites was temporarily suspended to prevent additional discomfort or the conflicts these inscriptions might cause. Despite concerns raised by experts about nominations of these sites, the increasing demands from State Parties led to the adoption of the Guiding Principles for the Preparation of Nominations Concerning Sites of Memory Associated with Recent Conflicts. These Guiding Principles have made it possible to inscribe such sites as World Heritage sites. The Guiding Principles play a crucial role in outlining the nature and criteria for inscription, the components required in the nomination dossier, and mechanisms for notifying a contestation in cases of differing interpretations of the site. Their primary aim is to minimize further conflicts that may arise from the inscription of sites of memory. They affirm that such sites can contribute to achieving the objectives of the World Heritage Convention and represent a significant step in addressing heritage interpretation in the World Heritage system. The amendment of the Operational Guidelines to incorporate a contestation mechanism has arguably established a more transparent and open inscription process. However, the Guiding Principles also have limitations. Among the ten criteria set by the World Heritage Convention, sites related to conflicts or dark histories can use Criterion (vi). This criterion focuses on the site's outstanding universal value linked to historical events or associations, regardless of physical evidence. If a State Party chooses not to use Criterion (vi), the application of the Guiding Principles cannot be expected. Furthermore, while the Guiding Principles require a heritage interpretation strategy in the nomination dossier, the lack of detailed guidance may confuse nominating countries. Sites of memory associated with recent conflicts are not just places that need protection and remembrance due to their association with dark histories. They have also evolved to become spaces for reconciliation and healing. The inscription of these sites as World Heritage sites is not just a recognition of their historical significance, but also a platform for discussing the impact of past conflicts on modern society. It opens up a dialogue on how current generations can address these issues. With the adoption of the Guiding Principles, we hope that inscribed sites will not only promote reconciliation and healing but also serve as a starting point for addressing present and future challenges.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.645-659
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• 2024

In this study, the physicochemical properties, nutritional components, and antioxidant activities of kombucha containing ginseng sprouts (control kombucha, CT; strawberry kombucha, ST ; strawberry kombucha with 2% ginseng sprout, ST+GS) were analyzed for comparison of quality characteristics. The total content of free amino acids in ST+GS (273.38 mg/100 mL) was 3.2-14.5 times higher than in CT (18.9 mg/100 mL) and ST (84.9 mg/100 mL). The total mineral content in ST+GS (63.99 mg/100 mL) was 3.3-4.1 times higher than those of CT and ST (15.45 and 19.28 mg/100 mL). The contents of soluble phenolic and soluble flavonoid were 1.2 mg GAE/mL and 0.14 mg RE/mL in ST+GS. Several ginsenosides were detected only in ST+GS; ginsenoside Rg2 (2.4 mg/100 mL), Rh1 (4.5 mg/100 mL), F2 (9.0 mg/100 mL), Rg3 (4.6 mg/100 mL), and compound K (7.8 mg/100 mL) were detected. The content of phenolic acids was 1.2-1.5 times higher in ST+GS than in CT and ST. The amount of flavonol of ST+GS was not significantly different from CT but was 1.4 times higher than in ST. In terms of antioxidant activities, the values of ST+GS were significantly higher in comparison to other kombucha samples. These results confirmed that incorporating ginseng sprouts amplifies the advantages of kombucha.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.660-672
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• 2024

This study aimed to suggest the usability and optimal amount of Orostachys japonicas in foods. Orostachys japonicus powder was added at 0% (Con), 3% (O3), 5% (O5), 7% (O7), and 9% (O9) to rice muffins and the quality and antioxidant characteristics of the muffins were determined. The moisture content and pH of the muffins decreased as the amount of Orostachys japonicus powder added increased. The weight increased as the amount of Orostachys japonicas powder added increased, but the volume, specific volume, and baking loss rate decreased. The L-and b-values of the muffins decreased as the a-value increased. The texture, hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of muffins increased while adhesiveness, springiness, and cohesiveness decreased. Polyphenol, flavonoid, DPPH, and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activity, as well as reducing power, increased as the amount of Orostachys japonicus powder added increased. In the sensory test, the 5-7% addition group showed high scores in appearance, flavor, taste, texture, and overall preference. The degree of flavor and astringency of muffins, which are evaluation items for characteristic strength, increased as the amount of Orostachys japonicus powder added increased, and the level of moistness decreased. Therefore, the addition of 5-7% of Orostachys japonicus powder is thought to have a positive effect on the muffins. The purpose of this study was to suggest the usability and optimal addition amount of Orostachys japonicus powder and to provide basic data on foods with Orostachys japonicus added.