• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2024

Purpose: We conducted a randomized prospective trial (KLASS-07 trial) to compare laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) and totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) for gastric cancer. In this interim report, we describe short-term results in terms of morbidity and mortality. Methods and Methods: The sample size was 442 participants. At the time of the interim analysis, 314 patients were enrolled and randomized. After excluding patients who did not undergo planned surgeries, we performed a modified per-protocol analysis of 151 and 145 patients in the LADG and TLDG groups, respectively. Results: The baseline characteristics, including comorbidity status, did not differ between the LADG and TLDG groups. Blood loss was somewhat higher in the LADG group, but statistical significance was not attained (76.76±72.63 vs. 62.91±65.68 mL; P=0.087). Neither the required transfusion level nor the operation or reconstruction time differed between the 2 groups. The mini-laparotomy incision in the LADG group was significantly longer than the extended umbilical incision required for specimen removal in the TLDG group (4.79±0.82 vs. 3.89±0.83 cm; P<0.001). There were no between-group differences in the time to solid food intake, hospital stay, pain score, or complications within 30 days postoperatively. No mortality was observed in either group. Conclusions: Short-term morbidity and mortality rates did not differ between the LADG and TLDG groups. The KLASS-07 trial is currently underway.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.2
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• pp.155-164
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• 2024

Background: Exercise capacity is associated with lung function decline in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, but a discrepancy between exercise capacity and airflow limitation exists. This study aimed to explore factors contributing to this discrepancy in COPD patients. Methods: Data for this prospective study were obtained from the Korean COPD Subgroup Study. The exercise capacity and airflow limitation were assessed using the 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD; m) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁). Participants were divided into four groups: FEV₁ >50%+6-MWD >350, FEV₁ >50%+6-MWD ≤350, FEV₁ ≤50%+6-MWD >350, and FEV₁ ≤50%+6-MWD ≤350 and their clinical characteristics were compared. Results: A total of 883 patients (male:female, 822:61; mean age, 68.3±7.97 years) were enrolled. Among 591 patients with FEV₁ >50%, 242 were in the 6-MWD ≤350 group, and among 292 patients with FEV₁ ≤50%, 185 were in the 6-MWD >350 group. The multiple regression analyses revealed that male sex (odds ratio [OR], 8.779; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.539 to 50.087; p=0.014), current smoking status (OR, 0.355; 95% CI, 0.178 to 0.709; p=0.003), and hemoglobin levels (OR, 1.332; 95% CI, 1.077 to 1.648; p=0.008) were significantly associated with discrepancies in exercise capacity and airflow limitation in patients with FEV₁ >50%. Meanwhile, in patients with FEV₁ ≤50%, diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (OR, 0.945; 95% CI, 0.912 to 0.979; p=0.002) was significantly associated with discrepancies between exercise capacity and airflow limitation. Conclusion: The exercise capacity of COPD patients may be influenced by factors other than airflow limitation, so these aspects should be considered when assessing and treating patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.35-50
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• 2023

As urbanization progresses, there is a growing and continuous demand for green spaces that provide ecosystem services. However, increasing the quantity of green spaces within major cities is challenging. Therefore, it is essential to pursue qualitative improvements that consider ecological characteristics of existing green spaces. In this study, we focus on local neighborhood parks in Seoul and present the following two questions through an evaluation utilizing ecological design indicators and land use data: 1. Which factor, design or location, has a greater influence on the ecological quality of neighborhood parks in Seoul? 2. Additionally, when evaluating ecological characteristics, is there similarity between assessments based on land-use data and those utilizing ecological design indicators? For this study, we conducted research on 30 neighborhood parks in Seoul and classified them into mountainous types (adjacent to mountains, natural terrain parks) and urban types (independently designed within 300m without existing forests) based on previous studies. Firstly, we conducted evaluations according to park location types. When comparing the evaluation scores of urban types (14 parks) and mountainous types (16 parks), significant differences were observed with scores of 16.86 and 35.94, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between park types. In terms of habitat quality, the average values for urban and mountainous parks were 0.33 and 0.53, respectively, and statistically significant differences were observed between park types indicating differences in ecological potential according to park location. Secondly, when comparing the results of ecological potential evaluations based on park design and external connectivity, a correlation was found between habitat quality and total scores according to evaluation indicators. The correlation analysis showed significant linear relationships between habitat quality and total scores, biodiversity scores, and ecosystem function scores, with high positive correlation coefficients of 0.829, 0.861, and 0.802, respectively. This study holds significance in analyzing the ecological aspects of urban parks through the lens of both park location characteristics and design indicators. The analysis results underscore the importance of planning and managing ecologically sound urban parks contingent upon their location. Moreover, the utilization of appropriate ecological design indicators can help alleviate environmental limitations surrounding parks. Integrating these considerations could enhance the ecological quality and ecosystem services of urban green spaces.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.257-262
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• 2022

Backgrounds/Aims: Middle hepatic vein (MHV) is usually preserved as a part of the right or left hepatectomy in order preserve the venous outflow of remnant liver. The aim of this study was to evaluate if resection of MHV could influence post-resection outcomes of standard right or left hepatectomy. Methods: Patients who underwent standard right or left hepatectomy between January 2015 and December 2019 were included. Anatomical remnant liver volumes were measured retrospectively using the Hermes workstation (Hermes Medical Solutions AB, Stockholm, Sweden). Uni- and multi-variate analyses were performed to assess the difference in outcomes of those with preservation of MHV and those without preservation. Results: A total of 144 patients were included. Right hepatectomy was performed for 114 (79.2%) and left hepatectomy was performed for 30 (20.8%) patients. MHV was resected for 13 (9.0%) in addition to the standard right or left hepatectomy. Median remnant liver volume was significantly higher in the MHV resected group (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in serum level of bilirubin, international normalized ratio, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine on postoperative day 1, 3, 5, or 10, ≥ grade IIIa complications (p = 0.44), or 90-day mortality (p = 0.41). On multivariable analysis, resection of the MHV did not influence the incidence of post hepatectomy liver failure (p = 0.52). Conclusions: Resection of the MHV at standard right or left hepatectomy did not have a negative impact on postoperative outcomes of patients with adequate remnant liver volume.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.24-36
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• 2014

The result of the research conducted for the purpose of investigating the semantic value and the layout of the Cheongryu Gugok of Dorimsa Valley, which exhibits a high level of completeness and scenic preservation value among the three gugoks distributed in the area around Mt. Dongak of Gogseong is as follows.4) The area around Cheongryu Gugok shows a case where the gugok culture, which has been enjoyed as a model of the Neo-Confucianism culture and bedrock scenery, such as waterfall, riverside, pond, and flatland, following the beautiful valley, has been actually substituted, and is an outstanding scenery site as stated in a local map of Gokseong-hyeon in 1872 as "Samnam Jeil Amban Gyeryu Cheongryu-dong(三南第一巖盤溪流 淸流洞: Cheongryu-dong, the best rock mooring in the Samnam area)." Cheongryu Gugok, which is differentiated through the seasonal scenery and epigrams established on both land route and waterway, was probably established by the lead of Sun-tae Jeong(丁舜泰, ?~1916) and Byeong-sun Cho(曺秉順, 1876~1921) before 1916 during the Japanese colonization period. However, based on the fact that a number of Janggugiso of ancient sages, such as political activists, Buddhist leaders, and Neo-Confucian scholars, have been established, it is presumed to have been utilized as a hermit site and scenery site visited by masters from long ago. Cheongryu Gugok, which is formed on the rock floor of the bed rock of Dorimsa Valley, is formed in a total length of 1.2km and average gok(曲) length of 149m on a mountain type stream, which appears to be shorter compared to other gugoks in Korea. The rock writings of the three gugoks in Mt. Dongak, such as Cheongryu Gugok, which was the only one verified in the Jeonnam area, total 165 in number, which is determined to be the assembly place for the highest number of rock writings in the nation. In particular, a result of analyzing the rock writings in Cheongryu Gugok totaling 112 places showed 49pieces(43.8%) with the meaning of 'moral training' in epigram, 21pieces (18.8%) of human life, 16pieces(14.2%) of seasonal scenery, and 12pieces(10.6%) of Janggugiso such as Jangguchur, and the ratio occupied by poem verses appeared to be six cases(3.6%). Sweyeonmun(鎖烟門), which was the first gok of land route, and Jesiinganbyeolyucheon(除是人間別有天) which was the ninth gok of the waterway, corresponds to the Hongdanyeonse(虹斷烟鎖) of the first gok and Jesiinganbyeolyucheon of the ninth gok established in Jaecheon, Chungbuk by Se-hwa Park(朴世和, 1834~1910), which is inferred to be the name of Gugok having the same origin. In addition, the Daeeunbyeong(大隱屛) of the sixth gok. of land route corresponds to the Chu Hsi's Wuyi-Gugok of the seventh gok, which is acknowledged as the basis for Gugok Wollim, and the rock writings and stonework of 'Amseojae(巖棲齋)' and 'Pogyeongjae(抱經齋)' between the seventh gok and eighth gok is a trace comparable with Wuyi Jeongsa(武夷精舍) placed below Wuyi Gugok Eunbyeon-bong, which is understood to be the activity base of Cheongryu-dong of the Giho Sarim(畿湖士林). The rock writings in the Mt. Dongak area, including famous sayings by masters such as Sunsaeuhje(鮮史御帝, Emperor Gojong), Bogahyowoo(保家孝友, Emperor Gojong), Manchunmungywol(萬川明月, King Joengjo), Biryeobudong(非禮不動, Chongzhen Emperor of the Ming Dynasty)', Samusa(思無邪, Euijong of the Ming Dynasty), Baksechungpwoong(百世淸風, Chu Hsi), and Chungryususuk-Dongakpungkyung(淸流水石 動樂風景, Heungseon Daewongun) can be said to be a repository of semantic symbolic cultural scenery, instead of only expressing Confucian aesthetics. In addition, Cheongryu Gugok is noticeable with its feature as a cluster of cultural scenery of the three religions of Confucian-Buddhism-Taoism, where the Confucianism value system, Buddhist concept, and Taoist concept co-exists for mind training and cultivation. Cheongryu Gugok has a semantic feature and spatial character as a basis for history and cultural struggle for the Anti-Japan spirit that has been conceived during the process of establishing and utilizing the spirit of the learning, loyalty for the Emperor and expulsion of barbarians, and inspiration of Anti-Japan force, by inheriting the sense of Dotong(道統) of Neo-Confucianism by the Confucian scholar class at the end of the Joseon era that is represented by Ik-hyun Choi(崔益鉉, 1833~1906), Woo Jeon(田愚, 1841~1922), Woo-man Gi(奇宇萬, 1846~1916), Byung-sun Song(宋秉璿, 1836~1905), and Hyeon Hwang(黃玹, 1855~1910).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.308-322
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• 1996

Background : Neutrophils are considered to play critical roles in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Histamine, which is distributed abundantly in lung tissue, increases the rolling of neutrophills via increase of P-selectin expression on the surface of endothelial cells and is known to have some interrelationships with IL-1, IL-8 and TNF-$\alpha$. We studied to investigate the effect of the histamine on the acute lung injury of the rats induced by intratracheal insufflation of TNF-$\alpha$ which has less potency to cause lung injury compared to IL-1 in rats. Methods : We intratracheally instilled saline or TNF(R&D, 500ng), IL-1(R&D, 50ng)or histamine of varius dose(1.1, 11 and $55\;{\mu}g/kg$) with and without TNF separately in Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 270-370 grams. We also intratracheally treated IL-1(50ng) along with histamine($55\;{\mu}g/kg$). In cases, there were synergistic effects induced by histamine on the parameters of TNF-induced acute lung injury, antihistamines(Sigma, mepyramine as a $H_1$ receptor blockade and ranitidine as a $H_2$ receptor blockade, 10 mg/kg in each)were co-administered intravenously to the rats treated TNF along with histamine($1.1\;{\mu}g/kg$) intratraeheally. Then after 5 h we measured lung lavage neutrophil numbers, lavage cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractants(CINC), lung myeloperoxidase activity(MPO) and lung leak. We also intratracheally insufflated TNF with/without histamine($11\;{\mu}g/kg$), then after 24 h measured lung leak in rats. Statistical analyses were done by Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric ANOVA test with Dunn's multiple comparison test or by Mann-Whitney U test. Results : We found that rats given TNF, histamine alone(11 and $55\;{\mu}g/kg$), and TNF with histamine(l.1, 11, and $55\;{\mu}g/kg$) intratracheally had increased (p<0.05) lung MPO activity compared with saline-treated control rats. TNF with histamine $11\;{\mu}g/kg$ had increased MPO activity (P=0.0251) compared with TNF-treated rats. TNF and TNF with histamine(1.1, 11, and $55\;{\mu}g/kg$) intratracheally had all increased (p<0.05) lung leak, lavage neutophil numbers and lavage CINC activities compared with saline. TNF with histamine $1.1\;{\mu}g/kg$ had increased (p=0.0367) lavage neutrophil numbers compared with TNF treated rats. But there were no additive effect of histamine with TNF compared with TNF alone in acute lung leak on 5 h and 24 h in rats. Treatment of rats with the $H_1$ and $H_2$ antagonists resulted in inhibitions of lavage neutrophil accumulations and lavage CINC activity elevations elicited by co-treated histamine in TNF-induced acute lung injury intratracheally in rats. We also found that rats given IL-1 along with histamine intratracheally did not have increase in lung leak compared with IL-1 treated rats. Conclusion : Histamine administered intratracheally did not have synergistic effects on TNF-induced acute lung leak inspite of additive effects on increase in MPO activity and lavage neutrophil numbers in rats. These observations suggest that instilling histamine intratracheally would not play synergistic roles in neutrophil-mediated acute lung injury in rats.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.65-96
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• 2012

Brand has received much attention from considerable marketing research. When consumers consume product or services, they are exposed to a lot of brand related stimuli. These contain brand personality, brand experience, brand identity, brand communications and so on. A special kind of new crisis occasionally confronting companies' brand management today is the brand related rumor. An important influence on consumers' purchase decision making is the word-of-mouth spread by other consumers and most decisions are influenced by other's recommendations. In light of this influence, firms have reasonable reason to study and understand consumer-to-consumer communication such as brand rumor. The importance of brand rumor to marketers is increasing as the number of internet user and SNS(social network service) site grows. Due to the development of internet technology, people can spread rumors without the limitation of time, space and place. However relatively few studies have been published in marketing journals and little is known about brand rumors in the marketplace. The study of rumor has a long history in all major social science. But very few studies have dealt with the antecedents and consequences of any kind of brand rumor. Rumor has been generally described as a story or statement in general circulation without proper confirmation or certainty as to fact. And it also can be defined as an unconfirmed proposition, passed along from people to people. Rosnow(1991) claimed that rumors were transmitted because people needed to explain ambiguous and uncertain events and talking about them reduced associated anxiety. Especially negative rumors are believed to have the potential to devastate a company's reputation and relations with customers. From the perspective of marketer, negative rumors are considered harmful and extremely difficult to control in general. It is becoming a threat to a company's sustainability and sometimes leads to negative brand image and loss of customers. Thus there is a growing concern that these negative rumors can damage brands' reputations and lead them to financial disaster too. In this study we aimed to distinguish antecedents of brand rumor transmission and investigate the effects of brand rumor characteristics on rumor spread intention. We also found key components in personal acceptance of brand rumor. In contextualist perspective, we tried to unify the traditional psychological and sociological views. In this unified research approach we defined brand rumor's characteristics based on five major variables that had been found to influence the process of rumor spread intention. The five factors of usefulness, source credibility, message credibility, worry, and vividness, encompass multi level elements of brand rumor. We also selected product involvement as a control variable. To perform the empirical research, imaginary Korean 'Kimch' brand and related contamination rumor was created and proposed. Questionnaires were collected from 178 Korean samples. Data were collected from college students who have been experienced the focal product. College students were regarded as good subjects because they have a tendency to express their opinions in detail. PLS(partial least square) method was adopted to analyze the relations between variables in the equation model. The most widely adopted causal modeling method is LISREL. However it is poorly suited to deal with relatively small data samples and can yield not proper solutions in some cases. PLS has been developed to avoid some of these limitations and provide more reliable results. To test the reliability using SPSS 16 s/w, Cronbach alpha was examined and all the values were appropriate showing alpha values between .802 and .953. Subsequently, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted successfully. And structural equation modeling has been used to analyze the research model using smartPLS(ver. 2.0) s/w. Overall, R² of adoption of rumor is .476 and R² of intention of rumor transmission is .218. The overall model showed a satisfactory fit. The empirical results can be summarized as follows. According to the results, the variables of brand rumor characteristic such as source credibility, message credibility, worry, and vividness affect argument strength of rumor. And argument strength of rumor also affects rumor intention. On the other hand, the relationship between perceived usefulness and argument strength of rumor is not significant. The moderating effect of product involvement on the relations between argument strength of rumor and rumor W.O.M intention is not supported neither. Consequently this study suggests some managerial and academic implications. We consider some implications for corporate crisis management planning, PR and brand management. This results show marketers that rumor is a critical factor for managing strong brand assets. Also for researchers, brand rumor should become an important thesis of their interests to understand the relationship between consumer and brand. Recently many brand managers and marketers have focused on the short-term view. They just focused on strengthen the positive brand image. According to this study we suggested that effective brand management requires managing negative brand rumors with a long-term view of marketing decisions.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 1984

The influences of applications of organochlorine insecticide (HCH: Hexachlorocyclohexane, 10 ppm), fungicide (TPN: Tetrachloroisophthalonitrile, 40 ppm) and manure ($3Kg/m^2$) each or together on changes in soil microflora for consecutive years were investigated in the experimental field plots. The insecticide had a little effect on soil microbial numbers. In particular, the number of total bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi were gradually increased at the latter stage of the consecutive application, but the number of sporeforming bacteria reduced. The fungicide reduced the counts of sporeforming bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi respectively, whereas increased prominently the counts of total bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. TPN-resistant bacteria, particulary TPN-resistant Gram-negative bacteria were gradually accumulated by the long-term application of TPN, and further the number of TPN-resistant total bacteria and the of TPN-resistant Gram-negative bacteria correlated fairly well during all the period. The influences of combined applications of both HCH and TPN on the number of soil microorganisms were equal to the respective sums of the effects of single application of each pesticide. The combined application of manure and these pesticides elevated the increasing extents of microbial numbers, while weakened the detrimental efforts of these pesticides on microbial numbers. These data suggest that the long-term application of these materials have resulted in the remarkable changes of composition of soil microflora.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2006

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of mud flat bacteria origin protease supplementation on growth performance, amino acid digestibility, blood characteristics, meat quality, fecal VFA (volatile fatty acids) and NH3-N (ammonia nitrogen) concentration in finishing pigs. Eighty pigs (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc, 60.08±2.69 kg average initial body weight) were used during experimental period. Dietary treatments included 1) high nutrient density diet, 2) high nutrient density diet+0.1% protease, 3) low nutrient density diet and 4) low nutrient density diet+0.1% protease. For overall period, ADG was improved in treatment of high nutrient density diet added protease compared with treatment of low nutrient density diet without protease (P<0.05). DM and N digestibilities were improved in treatments of high nutrient density diet and low nutrient density diet added protease compared with treatment of low nutrient density diet without protease (P<0.05). Essential amino acid digestibility was improved in treatment of low nutrient density diet added protease compared with other treatments (P<0.05). Nonessential amino acid digestibility was improved in treatment of high nutrient density diet added protease compared with treatments of high and low nutrient density diet (P<0.05). BUN (blood urea nitrogen)　concentration in blood was increased in treatment of high nutrient density diet added protease compared with treatment of low nutrient density diet without protease (P<0.05). L*value of M. longissimus dorsi muscle was increased in treatments of low nutrient density diet compared with treatments of high nutrient density diet (P<0.05). In conclusion, mud flat bacteria origin protease was effective for improving growth performance, amino acid digestibility and influencing BUN concentration and meat color in finishing pigs.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2013

Ethyl carbamate (EC) is a contaminant generated in the fermentation processes of various fermented foods. In this study, residue levels of EC in 95 alcoholic beverage samples were determined by using Gas Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). All the samples were purified by a liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) method using dichloromethane. The LLE method enables an improvement in time and cost to detection and specificity over the conventional extraction methods. The limits of detection and quantification (LOD and LOQ) to analyze EC were 1.3 and 4.0 ng/mL, respectively. The recovery rates of EC were ranged from 90.0 to 97.5% at the levels of 50, 100, and 500 ug/L. Among traditional grain-based alcoholic beverage samples (n = 34), the average residue levels of EC in takju, yakju, and cheongju were 0.63, 7.01, and 14.11 ug/L, respectively. Among fruit-based alcoholic beverage samples (n = 48), those of EC in japanese apricot spirits, bokbunjaju, grape wines, and other fruit wines were 79.18, 1.66, 2.64, and 2.39 ug/L, respectively. Among distilled or diluted alcoholic beverage samples (n = 13), those of EC in soju (distilled or diluted), general distillates, liquors, and brandies were 0, 3.30, 8.20, and 8.52 ug/L, respectively. Therefore, this study reports that the residue levels of EC in the alcoholic beverages, distributed in the current domestic markets, did not reach its maximum allowed levels of 30 and 400 ug/L established for grape and fruit wines in Canada, respectively.