• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.49-81
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• 2023

South Korea is currently facing many changes and challenges. To make matters worse, society has struggled to function as it did before COVID-19. This study describes the past and current COVID-19 situation to offer lessons on management during and after COVID-19. We provide implications from COVID-19 and the foundation for future disasters by employing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis and indigenous administrative conceptual framework on culture, institution, and instrument to add a circumstance perspective. This study used secondary data from prior research and literature. Resolutions for these policy issues are presented using the strength-opportunity (SO), strength-threat (ST), weakness-opportunity (WO), and weakness-threat (WT) strategies. We suggest utilizing instruments that consider diverse societies and preventing the disease with climate change by collaborating with social institutions. We hope these implications and resolutions will provide insights for the future and other countries.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.159-178
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• 2011

Korea ranks high among the OECD member countries with a high out-of-pocket share. In 2006, the government implemented in full scale the policy of extending the health insurance benefit coverage. Included in the policy are lowering the out-of-pocket share of patients of serious case and expanding the medical bill ceiling system to mention just a few. This study proposes to confirm effectiveness of the benefit extension policy by identifying changes in 'out-of-pocket expenditure as a share of the ability to pay' and 'incidence rate of catastrophic health care expenditure' of each individual household as manifested before and after the benefit extension policy was implemented. The 1st and 3rd year data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS), conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA), were used for the analysis, where low-income households and ordinary households are sampled separately. While the absolute amount of 'out-of-pocket expenditure' occurred to the average household increased for the period 2005-2007, the 'out-of-pocket expenditure as a share of the ability to pay' decreased. At the same time, the share decreased in the case of low-income households and households with patients of chronic or serious case as contrasted with ordinary households. 'Incidence rates of catastrophic health care expenditure' of ordinary households for 2007 stood at 14.6%, 5.9% and 2.8% at the threshold of 10%, 20% and 30%, respectively. The rates decreased overall between 2005 and 2007, while those of low-income households with patients of serious case statistically significantly increased. An analysis of this study indicates that it is related with the medical bill ceiling system regardless of incomes introduced in 2007.

• STI Policy Review
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2010

To achieve the "low carbon green growth" vision, the first step is securing core technologies. Therefore, S&T policy direction for green technology development is urgently needed. As of 2008, investment in green technology (GT) development hovered around 10% of the government's total R&D budget. Thus, the Korean government developed a plan to increase that percentage to 15%, by 2013. To develop reasonable investment strategies for green technology development, targeted strategies that reflect technology and market changes by green technology area are needed. However, the overall planning and coordination of national GT development is currently split among, approximately, 10 government ministries. To establish an efficient green technology development system, the so-called "Green Technology R&D Council" should be launched in collaboration with the Presidential Committee on Green Growth and the National Science and Technology Council. Furthermore, to build a solid foundation for commercializing the outcomes of GT development projects and promote GT transfer, the government should undertake two initiatives. First, the government should reinforce GT R&D performance management, by establishing a GT R&D performance management and evaluation system. Second, the government should implement the "customized packaged support for promoting green technology business rights and commercialization" and present "e-marketplace for market-oriented green technologies". Creating a pan-ministerial policy for GT development policy would necessitate restructuring the HR(Human Resources) development system, which is currently separated by technology area. Based upon mid/long-term HR supply and demand forecasts, the government should design differentiated HR development projects, continuously evaluate those projects, and reflect the evaluation results in future policy development. Finally, to create new GT-related industries, the "Green TCS (Testing, Certification, and Standards) System" needs to be implemented. For objective evaluation and diffusion of R&D results by green technology area, a common standardization plan for testing, analysis, and measurement, like the "Green TCS", should be developed and integrated.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.41-50
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• 2010

In recent study, we are referencing the necessity by examining the environment for housing policies for elderly Koreans. In reality, Japan, who is ahead of our country, has already experienced and is currently in progress for the aging society. They have developed a profound housing policy under all circumstances with the change of aging society. There forth, we are in progress of examining the series of helpful characteristics being presented by Japan, and how they have expanded and improved their housing support services. Our country must clearly ensure a resolution for investigating a new direction in housing policy and housing support services by learning through the development process of Japan's housing support services for the aging society. For instance, Japan have provided housing policy in both housing and welfare for senior citizens. Recently, the reason they are well adjusted for housing and welfare linked with special care and supportive living services and being skillfully focused on the maintenance policy is because they have great implications on how to successively organize housing policies for the aged society. Recent studies show preferred living arrangement and housing policy of the elderly for stabilization in the aging society. First, must be aware of the leading factors for housing in later life, organize dwelling patterns for diverse characteristics and give consideration for future life plans. Second, must continuously maintain an accessible environment in all community levels without changing the required services in their livelihood by adjusting to diverse changes for the aged. In addition, must organize flexibility in choice following these housing-support services for the elderly's desire and self reliance which raises profound questions on cultural policy.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.87-99
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to examine an organizational ICT(Information and Communication Technology) performance by ICT investment and policy consistency of government organizations. As the rapid development of ICT is becoming an essential element of social culture, the ICT operation of bureaucratic government also is becoming important. The central government has invested substantially new ICT for improving the quality of nationwide service and to promote administrative efficiency. However, various departments of government occur frequently duplication investments of ICT, and budget conflicts between organizations caused difficulties in maximizing ICT competency. I will confirm the ICT operational performance by ICT investment behavior and organizational work competency as well as the significance of ICT policy consistency. The method of study used a structural equation. The research model set ICT investment behavior as independent variables, organizational work competencies and policy consistency as mediations, and operational performance as dependencies. As a result of the research, New ICT interests show negative effects that caused work change between government organizations and government-funded body. But, New ICT convergence shows positive effects on increasing the two competency variables. The two competency variables show negative effects that caused changes in ICT policy consistency and show no impact on the ICT operational performance. The ICT policy consistency shows a positive effect on enhancing ICT operational performance. The study contribution explain updated the contingency theory and because the ICT policy consistency is essential, negotiation between government organizations will be important. Future research will require a qualitative study through interviews in government organizations about consistency enhance of ICT policy.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1034-1040
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate inequalities in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates in Korea and trends therein using the slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII) across income and education groups. Materials and Methods: Data from the Korean National Cancer Screening Survey, an annually conducted, nationwide cross-sectional survey, were utilized. A total of 17174 men and women aged 50 to 74 years were included for analysis. Prior experience with CRC screening was defined as having either a fecal occult blood test within the past year or a lifetime colonoscopy. CRC screening rates and annual percentage changes (APCs) were evaluated. Then, SII and RII were calculated to assess inequality in CRC screening for each survey year. Results: CRC screening rates increased from 23.4% in 2005 to 50.9% in 2015 (APC, 7.8%; 95% CI, 6.0 to 9.6). Upward trends in CRC screening rates were observed for all age, education, and household income groups. Education inequalities were noted in 2009, 2014, and overall pooled estimates in both indices. Income inequalities were inconsistent among survey years, and overall estimates did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Education inequalities in CRC screening among men and women aged 50 to 74 years were observed in Korea. No apparent pattern, however, was found for income inequalities. Further studies are needed to thoroughly outline socio-economic inequalities in CRC screening.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.1-17
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• 2020

Purpose - Since China has been South Korea's biggest export destination, uncertainty shocks originating from it would influence South Korea's exports. This paper evaluates the effects of China's economic policy uncertainty on Korea's exports to explore the transmission channels. Design/methodology - Incorporating endogeneities and nonlinearities, this study employs a quarterly time-varying parameters vector autoregressive model to investigate the relationships between China's economic policy uncertainty and Korea's exports, where the overparameterization due to time-varying specifications is overcome by a novel stochastic model specification search framework. According to previous theoretical studies, this paper assesses two channels, demand shock channel and exchange rate channel, through which foreign uncertainty affects Korea's exports. This paper identifies the primary drivers of Korea's aggregate exports and analyzes the rationales for the time-variant impacts of China's economic policy uncertainty on Korea's exports to China. Findings - Our empirical results reveal that Korea's aggregate exports are less responsive to China's economic policy uncertainty shocks and significantly move together with global demand. In contrast, its bilateral exports to China are highly responsive in a negative and time-variant way. Moreover, Chinese investment is an important channel through which China's economic policy uncertainty affects Korea's exports to China after 2010. Further, the time-variant effects of China's economic policy uncertainty on Korea's exports to China are related to changes in China's foreign trade policies, global economic conditions, and China's degree of economic freedom. Originality/value - Few previous studies touch the effects of external uncertainty shocks on South Korea's exports. This paper attempts to fill this gap and explicitly investigate the impacts of China's economic policy uncertainty on Korea's exports from a time-varying perspective. As Korea is an export-oriented economy, this study provides insights for the Korean government to understand the transmissions of external uncertainty better.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.325-337
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• 2023

Background: While there are many studies estimating the effects of private health insurance on various types of health care utilization, few have examined how such effects change in conjunction with important policy reforms in national health insurance (NHI). This study examined how the effect of private health insurance (supplemental and fixed cash benefit) on high-cost outpatient imaging test utilization changed following the expansion of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coverage in 2018, which is a key example of the NHI benefit expansion policy in recent years. Methods: Data from the 2017 and 2019 Korea Health Panel Survey, which contained information about healthcare utilization before and after the expansion of MRI coverage in 2018, were used. The incremental effect of private health insurance on high-cost outpatient imaging test utilization for each period were quantified and compared, with special attention given to the type of private health insurance. Results: While people with supplemental private health insurance were more likely to use high-cost outpatient imaging tests than those without, both before and after the expansion of MRI coverage, the incremental effect increased from 1.6% points in 2017 to 2.5% points in 2019. Conclusion: Benefit expansion in NHI does not necessarily reduce disparities in the use of health care between private health insurance subscribers and non-subscribers. The results of our study also suggest that the path through which private health insurance affects healthcare utilization may not be limited to the price mechanism alone but can be more complex.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.160-197
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to review research trends and issues of economic geography in Korea for the last fifty years by sub-fields of agricultural geography, industrial geography, commercial and service geography, and transportation geography. Research in Korean economic geography has progressed significantly in terms of the scope and the number of papers published during the last a half a century. Agricultural geography was a leading field of economic geography in Korea before mid-1970s. Since the mid-1970s, however, agricultural geography has turned over the leading role in economic geography to industrial geography. Classification and structure of agricultural region has been the most popular research theme in Korea, even though diverse topics has been dealt in the research of agricultulal geography in Korea during the last fifty years. In recent years, emphasis is given to study on the dynamics of agricultural region and regional differentiation of part-time farming. It is suggested that the future issues of research in agricultural geography in Korea are agricultural restructuring and changes in agricultural space under the WTO system, changes in rural area and agricultural region with the progress of informatization, changes in agricultural structures and rural society by the increase of part-time farming, governments agricultulal policy and its impacts, competitive advantages of Korean agricultulal products, and environmental impacts of agricultural restructuring. Research in industrial geography has remarkably progressed since the 1980s. Locational changes, regional industrial structure and formation of industrial region were the major topics of interest in the research of industrial geography in Korea before 1980. Since the early 1980s, in addition to the topics which were interested in before 1980, changes of industrial organization and industrial location, changes of production systems and industrial space development of high technology industries and science parks, industrial restructuring and regional economy, foreign direct investments, industrial linkages and industrial districts, and industrial policy and regional development have been the major research themes of industrial geography in Korea. Considerable number of papers has been published both in Korean journals and in foreign journals during this period. Considering global changes in the organization of industrial space, future research should be more focused on firms strategy for regaining competitive advantages, local and global perspectives of industry, industry and environmental changes, in addition to the topics which have been dealt in recent years. Research in commercial and service geography and transportation geography was negligible in Korea before the late 1970s. These two sub-fields in economic geography have begun to develop since 1980s. Periodic markets, structure of commercial area, and distribution of products were the major topics of interest in the 1980s in the commercial and service geography in Korea. In the 1990s, however reserch in producer services has been active with growth of producer services in Korean economy. It is suggested that regional changes with progress of informatization and technology, changes of international trade and regional changes, development of efficient distribution system, role of producer services in regional development, and network of producer services are the major issues to be studied in the future in the field of commercial and service geography in Korea. Commuting, distribution of products, and transportation networks have been the major topics of research in transportation geography in Korea. Diverse quantitative techniques have been applied in the most of the researches in transportation geography. It is required that future studies in transportation geography should also focus on societal and behavioral issues, policy issues regional impacts of new transportation facilities, an analysis of transportation system at the global or international level. Since the 1980s economic geography in Korea has considerably progressed with publication of papers and books. The progress can be regarded as successful in quantitative aspect, but not in quantitative aspects. For the development of Korean economic geography in both quantitative and qualitative aspects, it is necessary to promote international collaborative researches and interdisciplinary cooperations. Attention should also be given to the research on changes in competitive advantages and economic restructuring, changes of economic space with the development of high technology and the progress of informatization. economic development and culture. and foreign regional studies.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.425-456
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• 2011

Background: Organizations in the pharmaceutical industry are highly dependent on the institutional environment. The introduction of pharmacoeconomics to the decision-making on the price and reimbursement decisions became strong constraints to pharmaceutical companies in Korea. As little is known about the issue on organization-environment interaction in the healthcare field, this study aimed to figure out how pharmaceutical companies adapted to the environmental changes. Methods: A multicase study method was used, selecting eight cases among multi-national pharmaceutical companies in South Korea. In-depth interviews were conducted with the managers of these organizations, and secondary data were reviewed to complement the interviews. Results: Pharmaceutical companies viewed the new policies as a big threat and sought for actions against them. One of the most distinguishing organizational changes was to construct a Market Access department. Other strategies managing the environment such as co-optation, forecasting, and bargaining were also implemented. These changes were consistent with the predictions of Resource Dependency Theory and Institutional Theory. Conclusions: The interactions between pharmaceutical companies and institutional environments in healthcare were first explored. This study presents a new perspective on how organizations change and the motives for the changes. The findings of this case study will form the basis of further empirical studies.