• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.74-84
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• 2024

Background: Despite many environmental problems, plastic waste emissions have been a significant surge during last few decades in the Republic of Korea. Furthermore, the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has lead to an increased use and disposal of plastic waste worldwide. This paper tried to present summarized data related to the production and disposal of plastics especially before and after the COVID-19 pandemic with environmental impacts of plastics. Also, review of plastic waste reduction policies and feasible policies to promote an act for a safe, sustainable environment are presented. Results: Plastics cause many environmental problems due to their non-degrading properties and have a huge direct and indirect impact on Ecosystems and Public Health. Microplastics need a lot of attention because their environmental effects are not yet fully identified. Despite plastic's significant impact on climate change, the impact is not yet widely known to the public. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of plastic has surged and recycling has decreased due to the increase in delivery food and online shopping. Korea is introducing very active plastic and waste management policies, but it is necessary to implement more active policies by referring to the cases of other countries. Conclusions: In this article, we have scrutinized the evolution of plastic waste generation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and delved into policy frameworks adopted by other nations, which South Korea can draw valuable lessons from. The formidable challenges posed by plastic waste, the remarkable shifts witnessed during the COVID-19 era, and the multifaceted response strategies elucidated in this paper all play a pivotal role in steering South Korea toward a sustainable future.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.176-181
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• 2015

Biodiversity is plummeting worldwide, and the major causes of such decline include habitat degradation and climate change. While cities do contribute to the negative impact to the environment, they can also serve as strategic centres for conservation programs. Sites qualifying as biogeographic islands within metropolitan Seoul were studied for the occurrence of two hylid species: the endangered Hyla suweonensis and the abundant H. japonica. This study demonstrates that neither habitat diversity nor surface area, but solely the occurrence of aggregated rice paddies is a requisite for H. suweonensis, hypothetically due to its strict breeding requirements. On the contrary, H. japonica occurrence was not affected by any of these factors, and all types of habitats studied were adequate for this species. The presence of an endangered species within the boundaries of one of the most populated metropolises suggests a strong natural resilience, which should be enhanced with appropriate actions. We emphasize that the management plans therein can, and should, be used as the first step in the conservation of H. suweonensis in metropolitan Seoul.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.97-104
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• 2015

This paper aims to discuss the concept of resilience in floating housing, to investigate the resilient features of floating houses & to review the possibility of floating housing as a new form of resilient living, and to suggest some reference ideas for the planning and design of floating housing projects. Resilient features of the floating house can be summarized as the buoyant characteristics for natural disasters, the easy employment & potential use of renewable and nearly self-sufficient energy systems in locations subject to limited energy sources, the movability, mobility, long life, water recycle system, prefabrication and modular construction with the potential for reduced environmental impact. Additional benefits include the potential for a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere due to direct connections with nature, good relationship with neighbors, a solid social spirit of unity, and sense of security. Considering the resilient features of floating house at a time of serious climate change requires a new paradigm, and floating/amphibious/floatable housing has great possibility as a new form of resilient living.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.327-332
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• 2017

This paper discusses several topics associated with the densification caused by supertall buildings and their impact on city systems. The paper covers five key areas where a supertall tower creates a concentration of needs and effects. First, the paper comments on population shifts towards the city and how they affect carbon footprint, utilities infrastructure and transport. The effect of single- and mixed-use towers is discussed in the context of population density. The second section brings the issues of transit, accessibility and master planning into focus. The use and criticality of public transport, cycling and walking is described. Servicing and deliveries using freight consolidation and shared systems is also discussed along with their contribution to the culture of sustainable travel. In the third section the paper reflects on supertall buildings' below-ground utilities and drainage provision, particularly the challenges faced in established city infrastructures. The utilities issues associated with supertall concentration (in land-use terms) compared to equivalent low-rise distribution is also commented on in the context of surface water runoff. In the fourth section, the topic of supertall sustainability is discussed and how city systems need to respond to create desirable and affordable space for occupiers. The changing need for vertical communities, 'stacked neighbourhoods' and the notion of a micro-city is described. Finally, the paper considers the energy consumption and resilience of supertall buildings in the context of basic geometry, façade design, climate and mixed-use benefits as they impact city systems.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Background: Firefighting involves exposure of firefighters to risks related to this activity, serious injuries, and occupational diseases are recorded. There are other consequences such as thermal and emotional stress. This systematic review is proposed in order to analyze the risks and consequences faced by these workers and thus provide elements to improve safety management systems in institutions. Method: A descriptive observational study of systematic literature review on the risks and consequences of exposure to firefighters' activity was proposed, and the information was analyzed and described based on the available data and according to the variables determined. Results: The studies showed data on mechanical, physical, chemical, psychosocial risks, workers' perception and resilience, and epidemiological data. Information related to firefighters' activity on falls and slips, exposure to noise, and high concentrations of carbon monoxide is detailed. In addition, the relationship between burnout, cognitive, and physical fatigue as adverse effects on health and performance is mentioned. Conclusions: Among the preventive measures, the use of personal protective equipment is suggested, incorporation in prevention programs of information on exposure to risk factors, as well as the implementation of models that can predict the perception of workers, additionally, the generation of management systems with safety climate models for fire departments.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.14-14
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• 2022

Greenhouse gas emissions are one of the critical factors that drive change in rice cropping systems. Within this changing system, less water irrigation and chemical fertilizer are seriously considered, as well combining precision farming technologies with irrigation control. Water and phosphorus (P) fertilizer are two of the most critical inputs in rice cultivation. Due to the lack of water availability in the system, P fertilizer is not available, especially in acidic soil conditions. Moreover, the various types of abiotic stresses, such as drought, high temperature, salinity, submergence, and limited fertilizer result in significant yield loss in the system. Even in the late stage of growth, the waves caused by diseases and insects make the field more unfruitful. Therefore, agronomists and breeders need to identify the secondary phenotypes to estimate the yield loss of when stress appears. The prediction will be clearer if we have a set of markers tagging the causal variation and the associated precise phenotype indices. Although there have been various studies for abiotic stress tolerance, we still lack functional molecular markers and phenotype indices. This is due to the underlying challenges caused by environmental factors in highly unpredictable regional and yearly environmental conditions in the field system. Pupl (phosphorus uptake 1) is still known as the first QTL associated with phosphorus uptake and have been validated in different field crops. Interestingly, some pyramiding lines of Pupl and other QTLs for other stress tolerances showed preferable phenotypes in the yield. Precise physiological studies with the help of genomics are on-going and some results will be discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.75-87
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• 2023

This study presents an experimental design for demonstrating the role of nature-based solutions to climate change in the landscape and garden sector. The study suggests spatial strategies for a carbon-neutral society and its role as a cultural industry. This paper describes the use of a low-maintenance garden as part of a strategy for carbon reduction with the goal of protecting the environment and forming a carbon-neutral society. To this end, this study involved the design and construction of a realistic model garden to provide scientific data on the functions, spatial elements, and carbon neutrality of carbon-reducing gardens. The target site is located in the Sejong National Arboretum. The test area in which the carbon-reducing function is measured is located in the centre of the site, and other spaces include dry gardens, community gardens, and flower gardens intended for exhibition and relaxation. The experimental area is divided into several smaller areas within which the carbon-reducing effect is analysed according to the amount of biochar installed, the planting density, and the plant species present. The application of facilities and construction methods to promote carbon reduction were based on the method known as '10 types of carbon gardening for the earth'. In the model garden, we employed rainwater utilization facilities and used low-carbon certified wood and local materials. The carbon reduction effect of each facility and construction method is compared and presented here. The results are expected to serve as an important basis for realizing a carbon-neutral society and can be used as a reference in various fields that require sustainable development, such as the garden industry.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.683-696
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• 2023

The conservation of wetland ecosystems has a significant role in climate change. Notably, the Han River Protected Area, including the Siam-ri wetland and Janghang wetland, provides high biodiversity value. Thus, it is necessary to comprehensively evaluate the function and value of wetland ecosystems. This study evaluated the ecosystem services of Siam-ri and Janghang Wetlands located in the Han River Protected Area using the Rapid Assessment Wetland Ecosystem Services approach, a function-oriented ecosystem analysis. The results were calculated using the Ecosystem Services Index formula to analyze wetland ecosystem services. We also assessed the key ecosystem services based on a focus group interview. We identified that the supporting and cultural services index scores were relatively high in the study area. The results can provide helpful information for sustainable wetland conservation, conservation planning as primary data, and raising awareness for the Han River Protected Area.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.92-104
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• 2015

In order to analyze the impacts of climate change, a time and space integrated model was developed in this study using system dynamics and GIS. The model built was used to carry out a simulation on the inundation impact on A-gu of Busan Metropolitan city resulting from the sea level rise scenario of IPCC and storm surge, which is the worst case. Through this, the flooded area and population until 2100 were predicted. Also, the result and significance of each alternative was reviewed improving the model by establishing alternative scenarios of protection, accommodation and retreat as plans of reaction to sea level rise. The combination of system dynamics and GIS has advantages of how the diverse variables change until the target year can be traced and, accordingly, not only the results but also the processes of spatial change can be examined by calculating the value of change process at each time step. The synergy of this model presumed to be a foothold for solving problems which are becoming difficult to predict due to increase in uncertainty and complexity such as the support for decision making for urban resilience to natural disasters.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 2024

Background: Several previous studies have shown that commuting is a source of stress for undergraduate students. However, few studies have investigated the effect of commuting on academic stress among undergraduate students, and there has been little awareness of the environmental impact of commuting. Objectives: To evaluate the associations between commute type and/or time and academic stress among undergraduate students in South Korea, focusing on environmental sustainability. Methods: We conducted an online survey and obtained information on commute types, commute times, and academic stress from 510 undergraduate students aged ≥19 years. Academic stress was comprised of five sub-categories of stress, and total academic stress ranged from 5 to 25 points. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the associations between commute type and commute time and academic stress. Furthermore, the students were grouped into 21 categories based on their transportation mode for commuting. CO₂ emission factors per each commuting category were calculated using the transportation type's CO₂ emission data from previous studies. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to confirm the correlation between CO₂ emission factors and total academic stress. Results: Students using home-to-school transportation without transfers (vs. walking) showed a significantly higher total academic stress of 2.19 points (95% CI: 0.58, 3.80). In contrast, students using school-to-home transportation without transfers (vs. walking) showed a significantly lower total academic stress of 1.96 points (95% CI: -3.55, -0.38). Moreover, students using transportation with lower CO₂ emission factors had lower academic stress scores (home-to-school: correlation coefficient = 0.507, p<0.001; school-to-home: correlation coefficient = 0.491, p<0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that both commute type and time are significantly associated with academic stress among South Korean undergraduate students. When students select environmentally-friendly transportation, they may not only improve their mental health but also improve climate resilience.