• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.134-138
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• 2013

This road map aims to establish a stable and integrated healthcare system for the Korean Peninsula by improving health conditions and building a foundation for healthcare in North Korea through a series of effective healthcare programs. With a basic time frame extending from the present in stages towards unification, the roadmap is composed of four successive phases. The first and second phases, each expected to last five years, respectively, focus on disease treatment and nutritional treatment. These phases would thereby safeguard the health of the most vulnerable populations in North Korea, while fulfilling the basic health needs of other groups by modernizing existing medical facilities. Based on the gains of the first two phases, the third phase, for ten years, would prepare for unification of the Koreas by promoting the health of all the North Korean people and improving basic infrastructural elements such as health workforce capacity and medical institutions. The fourth phase, assuming that unification will take place, provides fundamental principles and directions for establishing an integrated healthcare system across the Korean Peninsula. We are hoping to increase the consistency of the program and overcome several existing concerns of the current program with this roadmap.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.231-238
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• 2015

Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze the factors that could affect the health-promoting behaviors of North Korean adolescent refugees residing in South Korea. Methods: Questions about their sociodemographic variables, subjective health status, healthy living habits, and health-promoting behaviors were asked. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in religion (t=2.30, p<0.05), having family members in South Korea (t=2.02, p<0.05), and subjective health status (t=4.96, p<0.01). Scores on health-responsible behaviors were higher with higher age (t=2.90, p<0.01) and for subjects without family or friends (t=2.43, p<0.05). Higher physical-activity behaviors were observed in males (t=3.32, p<0.01), in those with better subjective health status (t=3.46, p<0.05) and lower body mas index (t=3.48, p<0.05), and in smokers (t=3.17, p<0.01). Nutritional behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=2.17, p<0.05). Spiritual growth behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=4.21, p<0.001), had no family in South Korea (t=2.04, p<0.05), and had higher subjective health status (t=5.74, p<0.01). Scores on interpersonal relationships and stress-management behaviors were higher for those with higher subjective health status. A multiple regression analysis showed greater effects on health-promoting behaviors when subjective health status was better. Older people and non-smokers exhibited more health-responsible behaviors, while more physical-activity behaviors and spiritual growth activities were observed when subjective health status was better. Interpersonal relationship behaviors had positive effects on those with good subjective heath status and on non-smokers. Conclusions: Based on the results of the current study, an alternative was suggested for promoting health in North Korean adolescent refugees.

• 재활복지
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.1-30
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• 2018

This paper attempts to explore the place of human and disability rights from the perspective of Social Welfare within the context of the UN Disability Rights Convention of 2006. The overall discussion is focused especially upon the situations of human and disability rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as it is being challenged to drastically address the issues of human rights in general, and disability rights in particular. The UN Disability Rights Convention challenges every ratified State party to commence legal reforms, legal harmonization, and policy and program developments to implement the Convention. Both North and South Korea are not exceptions to this. Even without drawing upon the UN's the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the dire situation of human rights in North Korea is well documented. However, this paper does not assume South Korea's human rights are any way superior to that of North Korea. This paper spells out areas for further action common to two Koreas and to any other nations for that matter. Apart from the general discussion on disability rights, the distinctive contribution of this paper lies in the fact that it has endeavored to draw upon any latest information and data on North Korea. It relied on various sources from UN and also from North Korea itself. One can note that North Korean disability authorities are making strenuous efforts to improve human rights of persons with disabilities in their desires to seek assistance from outside. It also shows an enormous need for international cooperation in seeking financial and material supports. This paper notes the latest political development between North and South Korea in taking "phased" steps for peace and stability as a positive sign for North and South Koreans' DPOs collaboration under the banner of International Cooperation of the article 32 of the UN Disability Rights Convention. More critically, this paper points to the further need to improve the overall data bases to ensure balanced legal reforms, policy developments and sharpen the areas of international collaboration.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2016

The government of South Korea and its medical personnel must make a way by which health professionals who have escaped from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) can play a positive and practical role in unification and south-north medical unification while south-north authority talks on DPRK public health and medicine manpower development are not going smoothly. Medical personnel escaped from the DPRK have to be recruited for the interviewer of the national examination, to improve the accuracy of national examination interviews. For those medical professionals who have escaped from the DPRK with 6 years' medical college education, but failed the interview on the national examination, we propose here a course of 3.6 months for them to have a right to apply the Korean Medical Licensing Examinations (KMLE). We also propose that medical professionals who have escaped from the DPRK who have graduated from a 6-year medical college in the DPRK and who are medical doctors over the fifth grade or with more than 6 years of experience can be qualified as unification medical doctors and be exempted from the KMLE, getting the right to go directly into an internship and residency. They should be permitted to work in manpower development projects for the health professions. They should also be given opportunities such as to become psychiatrists who treat the mental illness of persons escaped from the DPRK and people from North Korea after unification. Medical students in South Korea should earn college credits on the topic of medical unification and not only students, but all South Korean medical personnel, should prepare for north-south medical unification with an open mind. A way for each medical college to participate in DPRK manpower development for the health professions through a memorandum of understanding between the medical colleges of the south and north.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.39
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• pp.115-142
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to explore the changes of values in Korea focused on the period from liberation in 1945 to industrialization in the late 1970s. Those periods classified into 'Transitional Era' and 'Industrial Era' based on historical events significantly influenced the changes of value system of Korean people or Korean society. In this study, not only main values and right people for society but also the way of changing value system in those periods were suggested by investigating factors of politics, economy and society. The results are as follows : First, main values and right people for society on each period were as follows : In Transitional Era, main values were manners and social norms, and right people for this period were practical intellectuals pursuing the principle of action-oriented truth-and- knowledge-seeking. In Industrial Era, on the other hand, main values were sincerity, diligence, self-help and collaboration, and right people for this period were skilled man having occupational ability which was essential for economic development. Second, lasting value in Transitional Era and Industrial Era was patriotism. The patriotism in early Transitional Era was appealed to nation and people because of the collapse of ruling system and the absence of leaders, however, the patriotism changed to loyalty towards a national leader or seniors after the formation of new ruling system by building nation and electing a leader. On the other hand, the patriotism of Industrial Era was distinctly defined purpose for carrying out national economic policy and overwhelming Democratic People's Republic of Korea with anti-communist spirit and unification will.

• Strategy21
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• s.38
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• pp.163-192
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• 2015

This study is intended for the Maritime Boundaries(Baseline) of the Unified Korea. According to the international law, North-Korea is recognized as a nation. Then with unification, the state succession will be a very important issue. Thus we should seek for the expected problems and counter-measures, by analyzing of the State-succession. There is a conflict of the positive or negative reaction about the state succession. However, in general, 'the principle of continuity' has been applied for at the national border treaty, regardless of the type of State succession. This can be found on Article 11 & 12 of the 「1978 Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties」, Article 62, paragraph 2 of the 「1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties」, and a series of international case law. Currently it is being understood as customary international law. In summary, although South and North Korea, China, Russia and Japan are not the parties of 「1978 Vienna Convention」, the unified Korea will necessarily have a duty to succeed national boundaries(also, maritime baseline) of North Korea. Specifically, we have an objective and rigorous review of the treaty of maritime baseline that is signed between North Korea and neighboring countries, such as 「National Border Treaty Regime between North Korea and China」 and 「Treaty between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Democratic people's Republic of Korea on the Demarcation of the Soviet-Korea National Border」. Also, we analyzed 'Historical Bays' and 'Straight Baseline' system. By this, we are able to occupy a favorable position when renegotiating with neighboring countries, at the point of unification.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2015

Background: This study investigated the health behaviors of North Korean, multicultural, and Korean family adolescents in Korea. Methods: The study subjects were from the Korea youth risk behavior web-based survey (2011-2013) dataset. We identified 1,954 multicultural family adolescents and twice as many Korean family adolescents. Frequency analysis was used to assess nativity and nationality of the parents, and the chi-square test was used to compare the general characteristics and health behavior of the multicultural and Korean families. Conditional multiple logistic regression was used to compare health behavior between multicultural and Korean families. Results: Of the 5,862 multicultural and Korean family adolescents, current smoking in North Korean family adolescents was higher than Korean family adolescents (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-3.35) after adjusting for sex, school year, perceived school record, family structure, father's education, mother's education, perceived economic status, place of residence, and survey year. A high drinking rate was significantly greater in North Korean family adolescents compared to Korean family adolescents (aOR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.89-4.57). Odds ratios for sufficient physical activity of vigorous intensity (aOR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.31-2.54) were significantly higher in North Korean family adolescents than in Korean family adolescents. Fast food intake (aOR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.34-2.86) was significantly higher in North Korean family adolescents compared to Korean family adolescents. Conclusion: There were differences in health behavior between North Korean, multicultural, and Korean family adolescents. Further studies are needed to investigate the factors associated with these differences.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to understand the experiences of married North Korean women's child-rearing, working lives, and their home and work environment in depth. Methods: This study adopted van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological method to qualitatively analyze data. The participants were 8 married North Korean women defectors. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations from July 4 to August 20, 2018. Results: Nine essential themes emerged: more personal challenges after overcoming a life-threatening crisis; hopes of firmly settling in this land; the wound from the north, which chased them here; a body that becomes stronger through hardship; being stuck in a past full of anxiety and pain; the present is full of hope; hope for the future; sense of alienation from coworkers that cannot be overcome; and sense of power to endure an exhausting work life. Conclusion: This study provided a broader understanding of the life and experiences of married women from North Korea. It highlights the need for nurses to recognize their importance in nursing care. The study also suggests that academic and practical approaches for nursing, and basic data for a nursing intervention for married women from North Korea be provided. The study findings can be used as a basis for preparing a national policy that will help North Korean defectors to find employment and gain stability.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.649-657
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to provide an in-depth understanding of college life in North Korean defectors attending nursing school in South Korea, through a qualitative study method. Between September and October 2017, 8 nursing students of North Korean defectors background who can fully describe their college life were recruited for in-depth interview. Using Colaizzi's phenomenological method of data analysis, 4 theme clusters and 5 subcategories were deduced. The results showed that participants had experienced difficulties in preparing for college admission. Moreover, they had experienced difficulties from differences between North and South Korea, especially regarding verbal language (accent), educational and assessment methods, and culture. Therefore, the establishment and application of an assistant program for nursing students of North Korean defectors background is essential to assist students in adapting to a new college lifestyle and completing their degree.

• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.1019-1029
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• 2018

Objective We investigated how mental health awareness among North Korean refugees transformed depending on temporal-spatial context changes. Methods In 2013, we conducted interviews with 10 refugees (eight women) who had been in South Korea for over a year and performed a qualitative analysis of the change in mental health awareness in the differences between living in North Korea, escape (a related period of forced sojourn in a third country), and settlement in South Korea. Results We classified 39 concepts into five main categories. The first two categories (while living in North Korea) were "a mindset for the system, but not for individual mental health" and "being confined in a social environment that was indifferent to mental health." A third category appeared during escape: "focusing on survival amid continuity of intense suffering." The final two categories appeared when settling in South Korea: "recognition of mental health amid cultural shock" and "introspection and sorting oneself out." Conclusion This qualitative study enabled a better multi-dimensional understanding of the social and cultural aspects involved in improving mental health awareness among North Korean refugees in South Korea. It is desirable to integrate mental health as a part of daily life and to expand training for North Korean settlers.