• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2018

Objective : In respect of the health and safety of the public, universal access to health care is an issue of the greatest importance. The geographic distribution of doctors is one of the important factors contributing to access to health care. The aim of this study is to assess the imbalances in the geographic distribution of neurosurgeons across Korea. Methods : Population data was obtained from the National Statistical Office. We classified geographic groups into 7 metropolitan cities, 78 non-metropolitan cities, and 77 rural areas. The number of doctors and neurosurgeons per 100000 populations in each county unit was calculated using the total number of doctors and neurosurgeons at the country level from 2009 to 2015. The density levels of neurosurgeon and doctor were calculated and depicted in maps. Results : Between 2009 and 2015, the number of neurosurgeons increased from 2002 to 2557, and the ratio of neurosurgeons per 100000 populations increased from 4.02 to 4.96. The number of neurosurgeons per 100000 populations was highest in metropolitan cities and lowest in rural areas from 2009 to 2015. A comparison of the geographic distribution of neurosurgeons in 2009 and 2015 showed an increase in the regional gap. The neurosurgeon density was affected by country unit characteristics (p=0.000). Conclusion : Distribution of neurosurgeons throughout Korea is uneven. Neurosurgeons are being increasingly concentrated in a limited number of metropolitan cities. This phenomenon will need to be accounted when planning for a supply of neurosurgeons, allocation of resources and manpower, and the provision of regional neurosurgical services.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2007

Objectives : We aimed to assess the relationship between long-term exposure to air pollution and lung cancer in the Republic of Korea. Methods : Using the Annual Report of Ambient Air Quality in Korea, Annual Report of National Cancer Registration, and Annual Report on the Cause of Death Statistics, we calculated the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of lung cancer for both sexes in 74 areas from 7 Korean metropolitan cities. We performed random intercept, Poisson regression using empirical Bayes method. Results : Both SMRs and SIRs in the 7 metropolitan cities were higher in women than in men. Mean SIRs were 99.0 for males and 107.0 for females. The association between $PM_{10}$ and lung cancer risk differed according to gender. $PM_{10}$ was not associated with the risk of lung cancer in males, but both incidence and mortality of lung cancer were positively associated with $PM_{10}$ in females. The estimated percentage increases in the rate of female lung cancer mortality and incidence were 27% and 65% at the highest $PM_{10}$ category $({\geq}70\;{\mu}g/m^3)$, compared to the referent category $({\geq}50\;{\mu}g/m^3)$. Conclusions : Long-term exposure to $PM_{10}$ was significantly associated with female lung cancer incidence in 7 Korean metropolitan cities. Further study is undergoing to estimate the relative risk of $PM_{10}$ using multi-level analysis for controlling individual and regional confounders such as smoking and socioeconomic position.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.72
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• pp.33-89
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• 2022

Recently, following the opening of the Gyeongsangnam-do Archives and the Seoul Archives, work to establish local archives management institutions in cities and provinces is being actively carried out. In this process, there is an institution directly or indirectly affected by the records management work following the emergence of metropolitan·provincial office of education records management institutions. Article 11 of the current Public Archives Act is centered on cities and provinces, such as giving only the mayor and provincial governor the duty to establish a local record management institution. When a management agency is established, only the obligation to transfer the records with a retention period of 30 years or more among the records under its jurisdiction is specified. This is not appropriate when considering that each metropolitan·provincial office of education and each metropolitan·provincial perform their own duties and roles at the metropolitan·provincial level in accordance with the Constitution and laws. Therefore, in this study, legally, institutionally and historically, the fact that metropolitan·provincial offices of education and metropolitan ·provincial are the core institutions that realize local educational autonomy and local autonomy, and are equivalent administrative agencies independently in charge of their own affairs in their respective jurisdictions. We compared and examined the need to revise Article 11 of the current Public Archives Act, which is overly composed of cities and provinces, and presented the expected effects of the establishment of local records management institutions by cities and provinces of education.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.31-44
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• 2022

This study was conducted with the aim of confirming the relevance and effect of the characteristics of the cities and cities in the neighborhood area, focusing on the sale price per square meter of apartment. Specifically, it was intended to determine whether cities in the relevant city and neighborhood area have differential characteristics between the metropolitan area and the non-metropolitan area, whether industrial characteristics, urban planning and development project characteristics, and location characteristics. Comparing the research results of the city and metropolitan area, it was found that there was a correlation in all areas of population characteristics. Industrial and urban planning projects and development project characteristics sectors are not significant in the city, but they appear significant when analyzed in the urban area of the year. When classifying and analyzing the metropolitan area and the non-metropolitan area, both the metropolitan area and the non-metropolitan area were significant in the population sector, and only the distance from Gangnam-gu was significant in the local sector. Since the population is concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area now, the sale price per square meter of apartments is also concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, which is believed to result in such a result. This is judged to be an analysis that appears because the characteristics of the developable status of the metropolitan area and the non-metropolitan area are different. Accordingly, this study shows that the characteristics of neighboring areas as well as the city should be analyzed when analyzing the factors affecting the sale price per square meter of apartment, and suggests that housing market monitoring needs to be carried out together.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.9-34
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• 2004

The present study reviews the license registration status of dental technicians and dentists from 1970 to 2002, the number of technician members of The Korea Dental Technician Association from 1990 to 2003, and the number of dentist members in 2003. It also considers the yearly membership fluctuations, its growth rates, yearly increase/decrease, the rate of dentist to dental technician, regional distribution of association members, regional yearly increase/decrease of the members, and the regional distribution of dentists and dental technicians. The purpose is to identify and predict the problems in the demand/supply of dental technicians and the regional imbalance of manpower distribution. By doing so, this study attempts to propose the appropriate standard for the supply of dental technicians and point out the necessity of making mid- or long-term plans for ensuring the efficiency of manpower supply and balanced regional distribution. The result is as follows: 1. The number of dental technicians and dentists in 2002 has grown 36.79 and 9.27 times from 1970, and 2.20 and 2.05 times from 1990, respectively. It tool 11 years for the twofold increase of dental technicians from 1990, one year faster than the same increase of dentists. The number of dental technicians per a dentist was the lowest in 1972 (0.21 person), and the highest in 2002 (0.86 person). Specifically, the fastest growth was observed for a year from 1983 (0.47 technician per a dentist) to 1984 (0.6). From 1984 to 1986, the ratio grew by 0.1 every year. Summing up the numbers of dentists and dental technicians who passed the national certification examination, this study predicted the number of dental technicians per a dentist to be 0.88 in 2003, and 0.90 in 2004. 2. From 1990 to 2003, the average distribution of dental technician was 71.76% in the metropolitan areas and 28.24% in other smaller regions. The proportion of dental technicians working in the three major cities (Seoul, Busan, and Daegu) was the lowest in 2001 (52.39%) and the highest in 1996 (62.66%). The majority number of dental technicians who practiced in the metropolitan areas (about 70% of the entire population) were in service in the three major cities. 3. Compared with 1990, the number of dental technicians in 2003 grew 2.28 times in the large cities, and 2.05 times in other smaller regions. The yearly growth rate was the highest in 1994 over the previous year: 26.06% in large cities and 17.86% in the other regions. In the large metropolitan cities, the growth rate was the highest in Incheon (5.8 times for 5 years from 1998 to 2003), In the rest of the regions, the increase of dental technicians was the highest in Gyeonggi (6.5 times from 1990 to 2003). 4. In 2003, as much as 73.40% of all the members of the Korea Dental Technician Association were distributed in the large metropolitan cities, and the rest 26.60% were in other smaller regions. Meanwhile, 54.35% of the dentists practiced in the metropolitan cities, and the rest 45.65% were in service at other regions. This result indicates that more dental technicians than dentists are concentrated in large cities. More than half of all the technician members of the Association are distributed in the three major cities (i.e. Seoul, Busan, Daegu). On the other hand, 42.03% of dentist members are in these three cities and 53.97% of them practice in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Busan. In 2003, the ratio of dentist to dental technician is 1:0.43 in general, while the ratio is 1:0.58 in the metropolitan cities, and 1:0.43 in other regions. In 2003, 33.30% of all the certified dental technicians are the member of the Korea Dental Technician Association, while 66.82% of all the licensed dentists are its members.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-59
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• 2008

This study investigated the main user types of the reading programs which are provided by sixty-two public libraries during September, "the Month of Reading," in seven metropolitan cities, Seoul. Pusan, Daegu, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju and Ulsan. For the analysis, the data are collected from 622 programs of "the Month of Reading." The content analysis method was used to analyze data and find meanings from it. The findings show, there are a little differences in the priority order of the main user types among the seven metropolitan cities, however, the children and all ages of the public libraries in seven metropolitan cities are identified as the main user types of the libraries.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.174-181
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• 2012

In 2010 there are 759 public libraries in Korea, and they have been increased constantly for the recent four to five years. In order to make them as cultural spaces in local communities, Korean government is now planning to increase the number of public libraries up to 900 and to build small to medium-sized multiple purpose libraries rather than large and single purpose ones. Especially in the case of public libraries in metropolitan cities, which are main libraries in those areas, they should be designed to play major functions of cultural experience, exhibition, and life-long education as well as to meet the basic needs of providing books for public reading and of building and developing branch libraries based on local characteristics. Above all, in order to make a public library as a center of local culture, a space planning focused on increasing utilization and satisfaction of the residents is required. It is essential to conduct a survey to understand the needs of the residential users and reflect their opinions. In this regard, our research process was constructed as follows. First, precedent studies on a certain densely populated area were reviewed. Second, a survey was conducted in Ulsan city to figure out the needs and the satisfaction level of the actual users. The purpose of this study is to propose a better space planning approach for public libraries in metropolitan cities based on the analysis.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2021

Purpose: The ability to access clinical trials for cancer treatment is important. This study investigated whether regional differences exist in oncologic clinical trial protocols conducted in South Korea. Methods: Records of all approved oncologic clinical trials conducted in 2019 were downloaded from the Republic of Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The study covered Seoul, the capital area, other metropolitan cities, and provincial areas. Descriptive statistics summarized the distribution patterns of clinical trials by region. Results: A total of 202 oncologic clinical trials were conducted in 63 institutions in 2019. Of these protocols, 186 (92%) were available in Seoul, 120 (59%) in the capital area, 64 (32%) in metropolitan cities, and 66 (33%) in provincial areas. More regional differences in protocol availability were observed in domestic trials, investigator-initiated trials, phase 1 and 2 trials, and smaller-scale trials. Conclusion: Most oncologic clinical trials were conducted in medical institutions located in Seoul, with the rest conducted in the capital area, metropolitan cities, and provincial areas. The findings reveal clear differences in protocol availability between Seoul and the other regions. Measures designed to improve geographical access to oncologic clinical trials may be needed given their growing importance in cancer treatment.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2004

The competitiveness of a country or a city plays an important role as a determining factor in this age of globalization In view of tourism studies, the potential for a region to develop depends primarily on its ability to use and maintain economic advantages in its provision of tourist products and services. In spite of the importance of competitiveness in tourism studies, few researches have been done on competitiveness in Korea The purpose of this study is, therefore, to conduct a comparative analysis of competitiveness between coastal metropolitan cities in Korea-Busan, Ulsan and Incheon- developing tourism index and finding out urban competitiveness. The findings of this study will contribute to enhancing tourism promotion and mutual network with other cities and attracting domestic and international tourists.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.113-120
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• 2008

Rapid urbanization occurred a variety of transportation problems. Parking problem is one of the most problems of transportation problem then transportation engineers would get involved in trying to solve parking problem. A way to overcome a variety of parking problems needs preliminary data for conditions of parking but it lacks the preliminary data to do so. Thus this study analyzed a characteristic of a parking through a field survey for parking in Daegu Metropolitan City and Ulsan Metropolitan City. This study analyzed parking turnover, parking use ratio and parking basic unit for characteristic of a parking of each use districts and each cities. This study result reveals difference between the use districts' parking characteristic and cities' parking characteristic. Thus a close examination for use districts' parking characteristic and cities' parking characteristic is a prerequisite for a rational parking policy.