• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.603-615
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• 2022

Assessing the health of international migrants is crucial in the Republic of Korea, Asia, and even worldwide. We compared the risk factors for non-communicable diseases among Asian migrants in Korea and the Korean population. This cross-sectional (2015) and longitudinal (2009-2015) observational study comprised a population-wide analysis spanning 2009 to 2015. Asian migrants (n=987,214) in Korea and Korean nationals (n=1,693,281) aged ≥20 were included. The Asian migrants were classified as Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and other. The prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases (current smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) were analyzed. Regarding the age-adjusted prevalence, direct age standardization was conducted separately by sex using 10-year age bands; the World Standard Population was used as the standard population. Among the participants aged ≥20, the age-adjusted prevalence of current smoking was higher among Chinese and other Asian migrant men than among Korean men and women (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was higher among Chinese, Filipino, and other Asian migrant women than in Korean women (p<0.001, p=0.002, and p<0.001, respectively). Among the participants aged 20-49, the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension was higher in Filipino migrant women than in Korean women (p=0.009 and p<0.001, respectively). Current rates of smoking and obesity were worse among Asian migrants of specific nationalities than among native Koreans. The health inequalities among Filipino migrant women in Korea, especially those aged 20-49, should be addressed.

• The Journal of Asian Women
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.75-110
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• 2014

This research examines marriage migrant women's interpreting and translation work as an ethnic labor, analyzing its creation and work experiences. Major findings about ethnic labor in the research are as follows: First, Korean gendered and discriminatory- exclusive immigration policy enables the creation of interpreting and translation job to marriage migrant women. While the policy limits settlement and employment fields of male immigrant workers, marriage migration women are allowed to settle and find any job. Second, job security and wage of marriage migrant women's interpreting and translation work are still low, although the job is considered a relatively decent one in foreign immigrant labor market. Finally, they experience conflicts between role as neutral interpreters and identity as migrant women, facing native Koreans' distrust and discrimination against them. In conclusion, this study suggests some issues on marriage migrant women's empowerment and their labor market prospect in terms of the sustainability of this job.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.89-110
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• 2020

Singapore and Thailand have been rapidly ageing. There has been a growing demand for eldercarers in the home-setting for which migrant domestic workers have filled the role. This paper examines the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Consensus governing women migrant workers entering the eldercare sector. It argues that because the ASEAN Consensus is not legally binding, it only serves to reinforce the sovereignty of states in the treatment of migrant workers instead of member states acting in unison to ensure labour protections for this group; as a result, Singapore and Thailand do not feel the need to step up protections for this group of workers according to national labor laws and hence low-skilled women migrant workers entering the eldercare sector continue to be vulnerable to labour abuses. Thus as with globalization, the ASEAN Economic Community manifests the paradox of borders: that while states are economically interconnected and interdependent, they are simultaneously disconnected and independent from each other.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.110-118
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• 2020

Migration presents a substantial social and public health issue. However, it is unclear whether diabetes is worse among Asian migrants than natives of South Korea over time. This longitudinal study investigated the nationwide population, including 2,680,495 adults aged 20 years and older (987,214 Asian migrants and 1,693,281 natives), who received health check-ups, using the Korean National Health Insurance Service data (2009-2015). Joinpoint regression was used to estimate the annual percentage change of diabetes, and multivariable logistic regression was used to examine differences in incident type 2 diabetes between Asian migrants and natives adjusting for age, sex, economic status, body mass index, smoking status, any alcohol use, and physical activity. The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes increased among native men (from 8.8% in 2009 to 9.7% in 2015, APC=1.64, p<0.05) compared to Asian migrant men, and the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes increased among native women (from 6.0% in 2009 to 6.7% in 2015, APC=1.88, p<0.05) compared to Asian migrant women. In the multivariate analyses, Asian migrants were less likely to get type 2 diabetes than natives (odds ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.86) between the first and last health check-ups. However, the odds ratio for developing type 2 diabetes was 1.15 (95% CI, 1.10 to 1.20) among low-income levels compared to high-income levels, regardless of whether they were Asian migrants or natives. The results could help to establish a new strategy for prevention, treatment, and management of diabetes among the Asian population.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2023

This study proposes a spirometry reference equation suitable for Asian migrant workers undergoing special health examinations. The study participants were divided according to their region: Central Asia, Northeast Asia, and South Asia Pacific. We confirmed results of the spirometry analysis of migrant workers and the interpretation consistency between the prediction equations. Based on this data, we propose a reference equation suitable for domestic migrant workers and suggest a scaling factor applicable to the spirometer wherein the reference equation is not easily applicable. The kappa-values obtained for men and women, respectively, between the global lung function initiative 2012 (GLI2012)-Southeast Asian and the Southeast Asian equations were 0.819 and 0.770, between the GLI2012-Southeast Asian and the South Asian equations were 0.881 and 0.866, and between the GLI2012-Northeast Asian and the Central Asian equations were 0.831 and 0.833. We propose applying the GLI2012-Northeast Asian equation for Northeast Asian and Central Asian countries, whereas the GLI2012-Southeast Asian equation was found to be more suitable for predicting Southeast Asian and South Asian populations. For spirometry, we recommend applying a scaling factor of 0.87 to the Dr. Choi equation, wherein the GLI2012-Southeast Asian equation is not applicable.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.183-193
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• 2011

Objectives: A rapid increase in the population of migrant workers in Korea has brought new challenges regarding the possible effects of acculturation on health. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of acculturation- and work-related psychosocial factors on work-related musculoskeletal disorders among migrant female workers living in Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used. A translated, structured questionnaire was administrated to 156 southeastern Asian female full-time workers living in Korea. Results: About 35% of the participants experienced some type(s) of work-related musculoskeletal disorder(s), which were more prevalent in Vietnamese women than in Thai and Filipino women. Women who preferred to maintain their own heritage and to reject the host country heritage were at risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusion: Acculturation strategy and nationality were found to be significant factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Health professionals need to accommodate acculturation contexts into risk assessment and intervention development for work-related musculoskeletal disorders separately for different nationalities.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2018

Objective : Migration can be a stressful process to people because they have to adjust a lot of things including habits, routine and cultural behavior. Also, Migrant can negatively impact on participation in daily meaningful occupations. Thus, the purpose of this research is to investigate whether participation in meaningful occupations after immigration and environmental factors impact the QOL in migrant women. Method : Migrant females who live in Australia were invited to participate in the study (n= 9). In this study, participation, environmental factors and QOL were measured using the questionnaire, which was developed by researchers. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants who were then asked to fill out a survey. Both quantitative data and qualitative data were collected. The SPSS program was used to process the quantitative data that was transcribed and coded. Result : Spearman's rank correlation coefficient shows that the total scale of QOL and the total scale of occupational engagement were significantly correlated at the 0.05 level. Conclusion : There was a significant relationship between quality of life and occupational engagements. Migrant women tend to have a lack of participation in meaning occupations thus, it seems to impact on their quality of life.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.268-275
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• 2012

The Purpose of research was conducted to study the effect on the behavior for oral cavity health management, use of dentistry, realities of the diet and state of oral cavity in order to increase awareness and management by women from multicultural families to ensure health of their oral cavity. Women of the Philippines nationality who migrated to Korea after tended to manifest higher frequency of getting treatment at dentistry compared to women of the other nationality. Women of the Japanese nationality who migrated to Korea tended to manifest high frequency of getting treatment at dentistry as well. It is necessary to analyze the difference in the adaption to the society and to the Korean culture in depth by each nation, income level, occupation to be considerate by alleviating financial burden on them.

• The Southeast Asian review
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.217-248
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• 2011

이 글은 싱가포르에 거주하는 한국인 기혼 여성을 대상으로 영구 이민이 아닌 체류이주 맥락에서 일과 가족 양립 문제의 어려움과 그 대응전략을 살펴보는 탐색적 질적 연구이다. 지난 십여 년간 꾸준히 증가한 해외 거주 한국인 중장기 체류자(sojourner)의 수는 2007년 기준으로 1백5십만 명을 넘어섰다. 그 중 상당수는 한국계 기업 파견 직원('주재원')이나 비한국계 다국적기업 혹은 현지기업 종사 이주자로 파악된다. 고학력 전문 기술직 이주자(highly educated professional/high skilled migrant)에 대한 연구가 매우 드문 한국의 맥락에서, 전문 기술직 체류자 중심으로 이주 한국인 사회가 구성된 싱가포르는 전문 기술직 이주자의 일과 가족 양립 문제뿐만 아니라, 체류자 사회(expatriate community) 전반적인 연구의 중요한 대상지로서의 장점이 크다. 연구 질문은 다음과 같다. 체류자로서 외국에서 일하며 살아가는 어려움은 무엇인가? 특히, 이러한 맥락에서 기혼 여성의 일은 어떠한 의미를 지니며 어떠한 대응전략을 마련하는가? 이 연구는 2006년부터 2007년 사이 수행한 전일제 전문직종 종사자, 파트타임 종사자, 전업주부 등 자녀를 둔 26명의 기혼 여성에 대한 심층면접 자료에 근거하여, 아내이자 어머니로서의 일과 가족 양립에 관한 체험적 경험(lived experience)을 탐색적으로 파악하였다. 연구결과는 다음과 같다. 전일제 전문직 종사자의 경우 가정친화적 근무 환경을 갖춘 직장으로의 이직, 남편과의 야간근무 조정 등을 포함한 다양한 전략들을 채택하였다. 파트타임 종사자의 경우 과거 한국에서 전일제 근무를 경험하고 현재 상대적으로 경제적 여유가 있는 경우는 전일제 근무로부터 벗어나는 '일시적 행복감'을 느끼는 경우가 많았다. 비교적 경제적 여유가 없는 경우, 어머니 역할 부족을 발견하는 계기가 되기도 했다. 이러한 어머니로서의 역할은 친지를 비롯한 한국어 구사를 할 수 있는 가사 보조 네트워크가 결핍된 체류이주 맥락에서 일하며 살아가는 것에서 있어, 비교적 쉽고 저렴하게 가사노동자를 고용하더라도, 어머니로서의 역할을 보조하는 데 큰 도움이 되지 않는다는 생각을 확인시켜준다.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2018

Multicultural family members have difficulty in educating their children due to language differences. In order to solve these difficulties, it is necessary to provide smart translation services that enable them easily and quickly access real-life vocabularies. However, the current automatic translation technology is being developed in dominant languages such as English, Chinese, and Japanese. There are also limitations to translating special-purpose terms such as documents of schools and instructions of public institutions. In this study, we propose a real-time automatic word translation service for multicultural family members who understand beginner level Korean. The service automatically analyzes the semantics of each word in the Korean sentences and provides a word-by-word translation. This study includes semantic analysis research for Korean language, building multilingual translation knowledge, and fusion study of language education. We evaluated the word translation service for migrant women from Vietnam and Japan and obtained meaningful evaluation results.