• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.614-623
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of the financial performance of regional public hospitals on their efficiency. In addition, the analysis of their efficiency using environmental factors, such as the market share, operating mode, and size of the regional public hospitals, as well as the factors influencing their efficiency, are selected by selecting the input and output factors of the hospitals and some differences were found between them. The DEA index and financial performance of the 31 regional public hospitals were calculated for the three years from 2012 to 2014. ANOVA and hierarchical regression analysis were used. As a result, there was a significant difference in their efficiency according to the environmental factors, such as the city scale of the regional public hospital, the number of hospital beds, and their business performance, productivity, and publicness. The medical profit margin (p<0.05), labor cost investment efficiency (p<0.05) and HHI (p<0.05) were found to affect the efficiency. In order to identify the inefficiencies of the regional public hospitals and increase their efficiency, it is necessary to measure the efficiency of the input resources and to reduce their cost. In addition, if the regional public hospitals were to provide specialized services, such as specialized functions of medical care that would give them a competitive advantage over private hospitals, their operational efficiency would be enhanced and they would be able to fulfill their role as public medical institutions.

• Korea and Global Affairs
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.87-130
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• 2019

This paper aims to analyze the recent progress(current situation) and tasks of arms control in North and South Korea. To this end the paper is composed of 5 chapters titled instruction; recent progress(current situation) of arms control in South and North Korea; constraints and tasks of arms control on the Korean peninsula; and conclusion. One of the most important tasks for the establishment of a peace structure for the coexistence of the Korean people in the 21st century is the realization of military control in order to resolve the acute military confrontation situation and mutual threats. With the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the North-South summit and the subsequent talks for peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, the North Korea-US summit, and subsequent talks are creating conditions for trust building and arms control between the two Koreas. The military trust between the two Koreas and operational arms control are being achieved through the declaration of the April 27 Panmunjom and the 'Military Agreement for the Implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration.' However, since there are constraints on the control of arms control, such as the persistence of hostility and distrust of the two Koreas, the defense treaty between the two Koreas and neighboring countries, the competition of neighboring countries and the complex interests of the Korean peninsula, Trust Building is important. We should resolve the issue of arms control between the two Koreas, taking into account the trend of international arms control over the internal and external dynamics of the Korean peninsula gradually and carefully, with a vision of long-term unification security.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.232-232
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• 2019

The persistence of drought periods and water scarcity is a growing public concern, as climate change projections indicate a more critical scenario in the future. The sustainability of water resources for the increasing population, and to ensuring crop production will unarguably be a daunting task for the water resources managers, with a projected 9.8 billion people by 2050 as well as the need to increase food production by 70 to 100%. Consequently, there is a need for significant irrigation water use for more crop production in the face of stiff competition among water users. However, the available natural resources are already over-constrained, and the allocation of more resources for food production is not feasible. Currently, about two-thirds of global water withdrawer is used by the agricultural sector while 48% of water resources in Korea is used for agricultural production. Despite the apparent ecological deficit and unfavorable conditions of resources utilization, a staggering amount of food waste occurs in the country. Moreover, wastage of food translates to waste of all the resources involved in the food production including water resources. Food waste can also be considered a serious potential for economic and environmental problems. Hence, exploring an alternative approach to efficient resources utilization in a more sustainable way can ensure considerable resources conservation. We hypothesized that reducing food waste will decline the demand for food production and consequently reduce the pressure on water resources. We investigated the food wastage across the food supply chain using the top-down datasets based on the FAO mass balance model. Furthermore, the water footprint of the estimated food wastage was assessed using the representative of selected food crops. The study revealed that the average annual food wastage across the food supply chain is 9.05 million tonnes, signifying 0.51 kg/capita/day and 48% of domestic food production. Similarly, an average of 6.29 Gm3 per annum of water resources was lost to food wastage, which translates to 40% of the total allotted water resources for agriculture in the country. These considerable resources could have been conserved or efficiently used for other purposes. This study demonstrated that zero food waste generation would significantly reduce the impact on freshwater resources and ensure its conservation. There is a need for further investigation on the food waste study using the bottom-up approach, specifically at the consumer food waste, since the top-down approach is based on estimations and many assumptions were made.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.408-408
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• 2019

The persistence of drought periods and water scarcity is a growing public concern, as climate change projections indicate a more critical scenario in the future. The sustainability of water resources for the increasing population, and to ensuring crop production will unarguably be a daunting task for the water resources managers, with a projected 9.8 billion people by 2050 as well as the need to increase food production by 70 to 100%. Consequently, there is a need for significant irrigation water use for more crop production in the face of stiff competition among water users. However, the available natural resources are already over-constrained, and the allocation of more resources for food production is not feasible. Currently, about two-thirds of global water withdrawer is used by the agricultural sector while 48% of water resources in Korea is used for agricultural production. Despite the apparent ecological deficit and unfavorable conditions of resources utilization, a staggering amount of food waste occurs in the country. Moreover, wastage of food translates to waste of all the resources involved in the food production including water resources. Food waste can also be considered a serious potential for economic and environmental problems. Hence, exploring an alternative approach to efficient resources utilization in a more sustainable way can ensure considerable resources conservation. We hypothesized that reducing food waste will decline the demand for food production and consequently reduce the pressure on water resources. We investigated the food wastage across the food supply chain using the top-down datasets based on the FAO mass balance model. Furthermore, the water footprint of the estimated food wastage was assessed using the representative of selected food crops. The study revealed that the average annual food wastage across the food supply chain is 9.05 million tonnes, signifying 0.51 kg/capita/day and 48% of domestic food production. Similarly, an average of $6.29Gm^3$ per annum of water resources was lost to food wastage, which translates to 40% of the total allotted water resources for agriculture in the country. These considerable resources could have been conserved or efficiently used for other purposes. This study demonstrated that zero food waste generation would significantly reduce the impact on freshwater resources and ensure its conservation. There is a need for further investigation on the food waste study using the bottom-up approach, specifically at the consumer food waste, since the top-down approach is based on estimations and many assumptions were made.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.204-219
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate and analyze the characteristics of the plant community structure of vegetation distributed on the western slope and ridge connecting Mt. Noja to Mt. Gara. This basic research was executed not only to restore and manage forest vegetation, but also to monitor the trend of change in the long term. As a result of classifying the communitise in 86 survey quadrats, the Pinus thunbergii-Platycarya strobilacea comm. and P. thunbergii-P. densiflora comm. were distributed around the lowlands. The Carpinus tschonoskii-Deciduous broad-leaved comm., Styrax japonicus-Deciduous broad-leaved comm., Acer pictum subsp. Mono-Deciduous broad-leaved comm., Deciduous broad-leaved comm., and Zelkova serrata comm. appeared in the valley and all stone areas. Quercus serrata comm., Q. serrata-S. japonicus comm., S. japonicus-Carpinus cordata comm., Euonymus oxyphyllus comm. were classified as being distributed on steep slopes with relatively high altitude. According to the succession trend of the forest, evergreen conifers will be transition to deciduous broad-leaved trees. However, deciduous broad-leaved arboreous forests, such as Carpinus tschonoskii, zelkova serrata, and Acer pictum subsp. Mono, were considered to maintain their current succession stage because not only the stratified structure was developed over about 50 years tree age, but also ecologically stabilized. As environmental factors, it was analyzed that altitude, pH, content of clay and silt, Mg⁺⁺, Ca⁺⁺, etc. directly or indirectly affect the distribution of plant communities.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.239-261
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• 2011

The cyclicality of productivity has been one of the essential issues in macroeconomics. Since Solow(1957) developed the dominant approach to the measurement of productivity growth, Solow's approach, which assumes the perfect competition, the constant returns to scale, and the full use of input factor has been modified particularly in Hall's(1990) and Basu's(1996) works. Their researches take account of market power, returns to scale, and variable factor utilization. This paper establishes the empirical model based on Hall's(1990) and Basu's(1996) models, estimates 4 types of Solow's reidual in manufacturing and 2 service industries over the period 1975:1-2010:4, and analyzes the cyclicality of measured productivity. The result proved the measured productivity to be procyclical in manufacturing industries and electricity and water industry, and in contrast to the Basu's, the variable factor utilization transformed the countercyclicality of measured productivity into its procyclicality in the Korean economy.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.646-657
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to understand the ecological characteristics and vegetation structure of Mt. Daedun Provincial Park by setting up and surveying 42 plots ($100m^2$). The analysis using the TWINSPAN and DCA techniques found seven community groups: Quercus aliena community, Larix kaempferi community, Pinus densiflora community, Quercus variabilis-Quercus serrata community, Pinus rigida community, Carpinus tschonoskii community, and Quercus mongolica community. The results of a vegetation structure analysis showed that the dominant species of each community were likely to maintain the present structure, but, in the case of Pinus densiflora community, it is necessary to monitor the forest succession because of the competition with oak trees. The results of the DBH (diameter of breast height) analysis showed that the species in DBH 20-24cm and over 26cm were many observed, indicating that the communities were becoming stable. It is likely that the dominant species of tree canopies will maintain their state unless the unexpected physical environment changes, serious disturbance, pests or diseases occur. The results of the tree rings and annual growth analysis showed that the dominant trees had an average age of more than 40 years. The average annual growth was the highest for Quercus variabilis in community I at $3.51{\pm}2.39mm$ and the lowest for Quercus mongolica in community VII at $1.61{\pm}0.90mm$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.635-648
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• 2018

This study analyzed patent trends of seismic nodal systems and the technical characteristics of core patents of three major companies, including Fairfield, Sercel, and Wireless Seismic, to examine the focus of technology development of each company. From the analysis, the patent application growth rate of seismic nodal systems has steadily increased since early to mid-2000s and has recently shown a higher growth rate. Over the same period, the patent application growth rate of the three major companies examined was higher than that of the global trend, and patent infringement cases was also examined to evaluate market competition in this field. Analysis of the technical characteristics of the three companies' 33 core patents showed that they are generally focused on seismic signal detection. Sub-technologies included improved reliability of data acquisition, data transmission efficiency, and overall operating of the seismic nodal system. New entrants in field of technology development or manufacturing of seismic nodal systems where the market is growing must closely analyze the contents of major companies' products and patents to prevent possible patent disputes or duplicate research.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.121-145
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• 2019

This paper investigates the relationship between the oil price and the major petroleum products prices at the trading hubs such as Singapore, North West Europe and the US New York Harbor. We focus on the lead-lag relationship between the weekly petroleum prices from 2009 to 2016 based on the vector error correction model. We find that the oil price leads the prices of petroleum products in the long term, while there is bidirectional causality in the short term. On the other hand, prices of petroleum products in regions with high import dependency, such as Europe gas oil and jet fuel price, are exogenous in the long term. We also present evidence that prices of petroleum products in region with a large global-market share lead prices in other regions. However, if the region is in an over-production situation and low industry concentration, it may lose its price leadership due to intense competition. The result in this study can provide a useful information to petroleum refining companies in forecasting fluctuations of product price, and hence in planning their regional arbitrage trading activities.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.550-556
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• 2020

Over the past years, the role of ports in the global network of supply chains has becoming increasingly important, not merely as a physical location for loading and unloading goods, but also as an essential center of economic activity where additional value is added to cargo. Due to the overall growing importance of ports, each country has chosen to adopt hub growth as a primary economic strategy. Northeast Asia in particular, due to its high population density, experiences intense competition between its ports. Busan's port, as a result, has used the establishment of Distripark in order to attract high and stable trade volume, and compete more effectively with other ports in the region. This study estimates the unit cost of the logistic process for the all principal cargos handled at Busan New Port, with the findings revealing that unit cost increases gradually starting with chemical products, LME bulk goods, automobile parts, LME containers, general cargoes, and LME inland transportation goods coming in last. Future research will look more closely at all all categories of cargo handled in the Distrpark of Busan New Port, thereby enabling us to better understand the value created by the port, and how to best implement effective trade volume-attraction strategy.