• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.87-107
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• 2010

This paper purports to compare the differences and similarities of social exclusions in Korea with those in the European countries, notably Germany, France, Sweden, Finland, Ireland and U.K. For this purpose, chapter two examines political and social origins of social exclusion as an alternative concept to poverty or unemployment. Chapter three discusses social exclusion paradigms of Silver(1994) in reference to welfare regime theories of Esping-Andersen(1990). Subsequently chapter four, using two artificial social exclusion indicators by principal component analysis, defines the basic nature of social exclusion of Korea in comparison with those of the six European countries. Chapter five duly concludes that social exclusions in Korea are very similar to those of liberal countries (Ireland and U.K.) in that income indicators (poverty and inequality) of Korea are much worse, whereas unemployment rate is relatively low.

• Journal of Information Management
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.37-58
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• 2007

The current notion of digital divide is quite different from the traditional definition of digital divide. People have considered that digital divide and social capital are separated notions and are not related with each other. However, in this current information society, the digital divide affects the process of building social capital, and thus these two concepts have become closely related with each other. Now, the notion of digital divide is combined with social capital theory and has created new social phenomena that multiple divisions of social structure. Information and Communication Technologies(ICT) plays important roles in this new social and informational environment. This research identifies the relationships between digital divide caused by ICTs and social capital. To investigate the relationship between digital divide and social capital, this research used datasets provided by the Pew Internet & American Life Project (March 2002 survey).

• 한국사회정책
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.31-60
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• 2017

This paper aims to reveal the background and issues of the current reform proposals for social insurance in Germany and to draw their implications for Korea. The essence of the German social insurance crisis is that of normality of industrial society on which it has been based, revealing itself by the dual crisis of finance and dualization. Reform proposals are regarded as diverse responses to the crisis of the normality within individual social insurance schemes. They are searching for transforming health insurance into citizen's insurance, pension insurance into various alternatives including all worker's insurance and citizen's pension, unemployment insurance into employment insurance. One of the commonalities of the them is that they attempt to reconstruct the old normality. However, due to the economic recovery, the historical experiences of improving social insurance, and high satisfaction, they are expected to struggle with the gradual improvements rather than radical shift from their tradition. In Korea, where the maturity of social insurance is low, it is necessary to mark the crisis faced by German social insurance as a teacher. We need to go back to the fundamental spirit of social policy and redraw the blue prints of social policy by opening minds to plentiful alternatives in the eyes of normality reconstruction.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.568-577
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• 2022

Objectives: Many studies have shown that social distancing, as a non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) that is one of the various measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is an effective preventive measure to suppress the spread of infectious diseases. This study explored the relationships between traditional health-related behaviors in Korea and social distancing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2020 Community Health Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (n=98 149). The dependent variable was the degree of social distancing practice to cope with the COVID-19 epidemic. Independent variables included health-risk behaviors and health-promoting behaviors. The moderators were vaccination and unmet medical needs. Predictors affecting the practice of social distancing were identified through hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Smokers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.924) and frequent drinkers (aOR, 0.933) were more likely not to practice social distancing. A greater degree of physical activity was associated with a higher likelihood of practicing social distancing (aOR, 1.029). People who were vaccinated against influenza were more likely to practice social distancing than those who were not (aOR, 1.150). However, people with unmet medical needs were less likely to practice social distancing than those who did not experience unmet medical needs (aOR, 0.757). Conclusions: Social distancing practices were related to traditional health behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and physical activity. Their patterns showed a clustering effect of health inequality. Therefore, when establishing a strategy to strengthen social distancing, a strategy to protect the vulnerable should be considered concomitantly.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.220-227
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess how different social determinants of health (SDoH) may be related to variability in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rates in cities and towns in Massachusetts (MA). Methods: Data about the total number of cases, tests, and rates of COVID-19 as of June 10, 2020 were obtained for cities and towns in MA. The data on COVID-19 were matched with data on various SDoH variables at the city and town level from the American Community Survey. These variables included information about income, poverty, employment, renting, and insurance coverage. We compared COVID-19 rates according to these SDoH variables. Results: There were clear gradients in the rates of COVID-19 according to SDoH variables. Communities with more poverty, lower income, lower insurance coverage, more unemployment, and a higher percentage of the workforce employed in essential services, including healthcare, had higher rates of COVID-19. Most of these differences were not accounted for by different rates of testing in these cities and towns. Conclusions: SDoH variables may explain some of the variability in the risk of COVID-19 across cities and towns in MA. Data about SDoH should be part of the standard surveillance for COVID-19. Efforts should be made to address social factors that may be putting communities at an elevated risk.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.786-801
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• 2003

This paper examines a spatial pattern and processes of academic achievement in deprived area, considering relationship between academic achievement and social deprivation as social context. It links academic achievement data with neighborhood data from the 2001 UK Census(by ward) in South East England and uses multiple regression modeling to estimate the contribution of social deprivation to academic achievement of primary schools. The findings suggest that there is a significant positive relationship between deprivation in the local residential environment and academic achievement in primary schools. It also argues that more deprived area in South East England would tend to promote greater inequality of academic achievement in the spatial aspects, relating to Key Stage 2 score.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.9
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• pp.755-767
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• 2020

The objective of this study is to examine and provide guidelines for regional governments, communities, and the private sector in planning and implementing poverty-reduction activities that are more effective, efficient, and targeted. Besides, this research's specific aims are: 1) increasing the rate of regional economic growth through optimization of potential sources of local income, 2) increasing per-capita income, and 3) reducing poverty, unemployment, and social-economic inequality of the community. The study was conducted in North Morowali District, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, in 2018-2019. The research approach used quantitative and qualitative descriptive analysis. Data sources include sources from the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Regional Statistics. The results of this study are based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's) indicators that there are four priority scales in poverty reduction, namely, Health and Infrastructure (Priority I), Education (Priority II), Food stability (Priority III), and Population and Employment (Priority IV). Therefore, as a solution to poverty alleviation strategies, the cost approach through regional economic optimization and local income sources and community empowerment factors are essential. Apart from that, the involvement between elements (government, organizations, society, universities, and institutions) is expected to continue as an effort to realize poverty reduction can be optimally overcome.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.43-57
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• 2022

Background: Avoidable mortality rate has been widely used as an indicator of the quality of health care and the degree of inequality in health levels. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the avoidable mortality rate in the region. Methods: The data was MDIS(Microdata Integrated Service) Causes of Death Statistics, and the analysis period was from 2010 to 2019. Panel analysis was performed to identify the influencing factors on the avoidable mortality rate. Findings: Result showed that the current smoking rate had a significant positive effects on the avoidable mortality rate of both men and women. And the smoking cessation trial rate, low salt diet rate, weight control trial rate, annual vaccination rate had a significant negative effect. In the social environment, the divorce rate had a significant positive effect. In the economy environment, financial independence and social welfare budget rate had a significant negative effect. In the physical environment, the factory area rate had a significant positive effect. Practical Implication: Practical implication in order to lower the local avoidable mortality rate, various social determinants of health as well as health care resources should be considered together.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2011

Objectives: We examined gender differential changes in employment-related health inequalities according to occupational position (professional/nonprofessional) in South Korea during the last decade. Methods: Data were taken from four rounds of Social Statistical Surveys of South Korea (1995, 1999, 2003, and 2006) from the Korean National Statistics Office. The total study population was 55435 male and 33913 female employees aged 25-64. Employment arrangements were divided into permanent, fixed-term, and daily employment. Results: After stratification according to occupational position (professional/nonprofessional) and gender, different patterns in employment - related health inequalities were observed. In the professional group, the gaps in absolute and relative employment inequalities for poor self-rated health were more likely to widen following Korea's 1997 economic downturn. In the nonprofessional group, during the study period, graded patterns of employment-related health inequalities were continuously observed in both genders. Absolute health inequalities by employment status, however, decreased among men but increased among women. In addition, a remarkable increase in relative health inequalities was found among female temporary and daily employees (p = 0.009, < 0.001, respectively), but only among male daily employees (p = 0.001). Relative employment-related health inequalities had clearly widened for female daily workers between 2003 and 2006 (p = 0.047). The 1997 Korean economic downturn, in particular, seemingly stimulated a widening gap in employment health inequalities. Conclusions: Our study revealed that whereas absolute health inequalities in relation to employment status increased in the professional group, relative employment-related health inequalities increased in the nonprofessional group, especially among women. In view of the high concentration of female nonstandard employees, further monitoring of inequality should consider gender specific patterns according to employee's occupational and employment status.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.242-248
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• 2011

Objectives: Busan is reported to have the highest mortality rate among 16 provinces in Korea, as well as considerable health inequality across its districts. This study sought to examine overall and cause-specific mortality and deprivation at the town level in Busan, thereby identifying towns and causes of deaths to be targeted for improving overall health and alleviating health inequality. Methods: Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for all-cause and four specific leading causes of death were calculated at the town level in Busan for the years 2005 through 2008. To construct a deprivation index, principal components and factor analysis were adopted, using 10% sample data from the 2005 census. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping techniques were applied to compare spatial distributions between the deprivation index and SMRs. We fitted the Gaussian conditional autoregressive model (CAR) to estimate the relative risks of mortality by deprivation level, controlling for both the heterogeneity effect and spatial autocorrelation. Results: The SMRs of towns in Busan averaged 100.3, ranging from 70.7 to 139.8. In old inner cities and towns reclaimed for replaced households, the deprivation index and SMRs were relatively high. CAR modeling showed that gaps in SMRs for heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and physical injury were particularly high. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that more deprived towns are likely to have higher mortality, in particular from cardiovascular disease and physical injury. To improve overall health status and address health inequality, such deprived towns should be targeted.