• Journal of Cadastre & Land InformatiX
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.237-254
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• 2020

Housing vacancies have become a major issue in urban areas, there have been many efforts to address this issue at the national and local levels. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors contributing to housing vacancies in old town Incheon in South Korea. In particular, the research focuses on examining the effects of multiple levels of factors on housing vacancies in a comprehensive way; the three levels of factors were identified with a literature review including housing (Level 1), Neighborhood (Level 2), and Region (Level 3). A multi-level logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between 13 factors in three spatial levels and housing vacancies. As a result, the factors in all three levels were able to explain housing vacancies including site area and shape, proximity to major roads (Level 1), ratio of houses in designated urban renewal area and slope (Level 2), and ratio of the elderly living alone, land price, changes in land price and ratio of new houses (Level 3). These results show that the combination of the physical inferiority of the housing site and the neighborhood environment and the economic and social vulnerability of the region is likely to increases the number of vacant houses. This study also suggested that a multi-dimensional policy strategy is needed to solve the problem of housing vacancies, and urban policies, such as supplying new housing or urban renewal area designation, should be carefully implemented in a way not to create housing vacancies.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.9-19
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze the difference in suicide rates between regions and to determine the effect of social workers on the regional suicide rate. The main analysis results are as follows. First, the suicide rates in metropolitan cities were lower than was lower than in other regions, and cities and districts were lower than those in the county area. Second, suicide rates were high in areas with many cultural and social welfare facilities per population. Suicide rates were high in low mental health facilities and low social welfare budgets. The suicide rate in rural areas was high. Third, suicide rates were high in areas with low economic requirements, areas with a high proportion of the elderly, divorce rates, and areas with a small number of social security recipients and living alone. In other words, the suicide rate in rural areas was high. Finally, social workers did not affect the difference in local suicide rates. Local social services and budgets have no real impact on suicide rates. In the future, it is necessary to improve the quality and quantity of community welfare practices that can lower community suicide rates.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.69-83
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• 2024

Objective : This study investigated the prevalence of dysphagia in older adults in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and its impact on Quality of Life (QoL) and educational needs. Methods : A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August 1 to 15, 2023, with 207 cognitively normal older adults from three senior welfare centers. Data included general characteristics, Korean-version of the Eating Assessment Tool (K-EAT-10), Swallowing-QoL, and educational needs related to swallowing disorders. Dysphagia was defined by a K-EAT-10 score of 3 or higher. Participants were divided into normal and risk groups for analysis using chi-square and Independent t-test. Results : The prevalence of dysphagia risk (K-EAT-10 score of 3 or higher) was 41.5% (86 individuals). Among the 92 individuals reporting dysphagia symptoms, 64 (69.6%) were at risk. QoL was significantly lower in the risk group, especially among those living alone or with denture discomfort. The most preferred educational need was training in eating solid foods (Mean = 4.27), with higher needs in the dysphagia risk group. Conclusion : This study underscores the prevalence of dysphagia, its impact on QoL, and the need for educational programs. Emphasizing prevention, public awareness, and early detection, along with the role of dysphagia rehabilitation experts and community collaboration, is essential for supporting healthy aging.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.187-194
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• 2015

Objectives To examine direct causes of attempted suicides, methods adopted to commit suicide, and psychiatric diagnoses among suicide attempters in South Korea. Methods A total of 1359 suicide attempters who had visited emergency department of 17 medical centers due to suicide attempt from May 2013 to Nov 2013 were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Results Psychiatric symptoms were the most common cause of suicide attempts (62.2%), followed by interpersonal relationships (24.4%). Women attempted suicide more often for interpersonal reasons, whereas men were more likely to do so for financial and job-related reasons. Half of participants (55.8%) attempted suicide by drug intoxication, which was more prevalent among females and those who had previous history of psychiatric disease or previous suicide attempt. Men were more likely to use more lethal methods such as pesticide poisoning and gas inhalation than women. Pesticide poisoning was also prevalent among the elderly group and the rural population. Near ninety-five percent (94.5%) of participants received a psychiatric diagnosis : the most frequent diagnosis was depressive disorder. Conclusions This is the first nationwide study of cases of attempted suicide. When stratified by age groups, gender, urbanicity, living alone or not, presence of physical illness, previous psychiatric history, and previous suicide attempt, there were significant differences with respect to causes, methods of attempted suicides and psychiatric diagnoses of suicide attempters.