• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.57-78
• /
• 2004

The economic crisis in $1997{\sim}1998$ caused massive unemployment and unprecedentedly increased the number of the poor in Korea. As many unemployed families fell into poverty, the poverty rate skyrocketed to higher than 10 percent. Not later than 2000, unemployment late got back to normal and real average income among urban households approached to the income level prior to the economic crisis. Although the economic crisis has been passed through, poverty was not decreased to the low level prior to the crisis by 2000. Why does it remain high? This study attempts to provide an answer to this question by analysing the poverty trend over the 1990s. Data come from the National Survey of Household Income and Expenditures 1991, 1996, and 20001. Results show that poverty was rapidly reduced in the first half period of the 1990s. This reduction in poverty is largely explained by steady and rapid economic growth. Modest improvement in income inequality also contributed. In contrast, the poverty rate considerably increased in the latter half of the 1990s. Average income was not fully recovered to its prior level, which reflected the economic crisis and the subsequent economic stagnation. Worsened income inequality led to higher poverty rate too. In addition, demographic changes increased the share of economically vulnerable types of families, such as families headed by single parents and the elderly. The most significant factor in explaining the higher poverty rate was extended income differential among non-elderly adults, while the next was the increased number of the elderly families. Yet, findings a little differ depending on which concepts of poverty to adopt. In the analyses based on the concept of absolute poverty, economic growth the most significantly affected the poverty trends in the 1999s. Changes in income inequality played the most important role in explaining the trend in relative poverty. Adopting the concepts of quasi-absolute poverty, which is preferred in this study, results show that rapid economic growth significantly reduced poverty in the first half of the 1990s and both worsened income inequality and stagnated economic growth increased poverty in the latter 1990s.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.73-93
• /
• 2005

This study explores the determinants of economic status and well-being among elderly Koreans. Particular emphasis is paid to the role of intergenerational support in these processes because institutional responses to an aging population in Korea are currently inadequate. Path model results indicate that status maintenance variables have significant effects on economic status and well-being as measured by comprehensive income. Further, inequality in comprehensive income - as measured by the Gini and Theil's indices - is substantial and increases in successive age groups. However, market-based and family-based income, two components of comprehensive income, show different patterns. Inequality in market-based income is apparently increasing, while inequality in family-based income is decreasing gradually in successive age groups. With respect to the role of intergenerational support, results indicate that family-income-focused persons possess highly vulnerable sociodemographic characteristics, and that for the socially disadvantaged elderly Koreans, intergenerational support plays a crucial role in the later stages of life. This study also discusses the implications of these findings for the transition from latency to manifestation of intergenerational support in Korea.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.425-440
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to understand the ability of the elderly to activity of daily living, assess their quality of sleep and level of depression at home and analyze how such relate health related quality of life. The subject was 223 senior over 65 years old who lived in B Metropolitan City. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression were performed using SPSS WIN 14.0. The major findings of this study are as follow: 1) 34.1% of the respondents experienced a degree of sleep disorder and 57.8% were vulnerable to depression. 2) Activity of daily living, quality of sleep and depression were related to health related quality of life to a statistically significant degree. quality of sleep, activity of daily living positively related to health related quality of life. level of depression related to health related quality of life. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed the most powerful predictor of health related quality of life was depression. While age, level of education and quality of sleep were also found as significant predictor variables. Based on these results, it is necessary to perform more studies on health related quality of life and related factors according to that in various settings. Especially, to develop a program intended to improve the health related quality of life of the elderly at home, we need to consider not only physical factors but also psychological factors.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.569-592
• /
• 2018

This study purported to investigate the current state of human rights of older adults residing in rural areas of Korea. The study utilized, as an analytic framework, 4 priority directions (1. "older persons and development", 2. "rural area development", 3. "advancing health and well-being into old age", and 4. "ensuring enabling and supportive environments") with 13 task actions recommended by Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA). Furthermore, the study examined gender differences in all items included in the analytic framework. Data was collected by the face-to-face survey on 800 subjects aged 65 and over. Statistical analyses were conducted using STATA 13.0 program. The main results were summarized in order of 4 priority directions as follows. First, average working hours per day were 6.2, and men reportedly participated in economic activities and needed job training more than women, while women participated in lifelong education programs more than men. Awareness of fire and disaster prevention facilities was low in both genders. Second, accessibility to the support center for the elderly living alone as well as protective services for the vulnerable elderly was found to be low. IT-based services and networking were used more by men than women, and specifically, IT-based financial transactions and welfare services were least used. Third, medical check-ups and vaccinations were well received, while consistent treatments for chronic illnesses and long-term care services were relatively less given. In addition, accessibility to mental health service centers was considerably low. Fourth, although old house structures and the lack of convenience facilities were found to be circumstantial risk factors for these elders, experiences of receiving housing support services were scarce. The elderly were found to rely more on informal care, and concerns for their care were higher in women than men. Plus, accessibility to elderly abuse services was markedly low. Based on these results, discussed were implications for implementing policies and practical interventions to raise the levels of the human rights for this population.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
• /
• v.66
• /
• pp.243-272
• /
• 2021

Corona 19 brought about a major shift in the Korean church's pastoral style. Contact and non-contact ministry styles using the Internet and media devices are being held together. The elderly, who have been classified as digital vulnerable, need to see whether they are properly adapting to these changes and they have any difficulties in their religious lives. This study is to organize the current status of Corona 19 related to Korean churches, look at the current state of church programs for Christian elderly people, look at how important the religious life is to their lives, and to suggest educational pastoral methods for their religious lives based on the theory of Maria Harris' educational ministry. First, in terms of Koinonia, it was suggested that the heritage, beliefs, values and ways of life held by the Christian elderly be shared with people inside and outside the church in order to entertain and embrace everyone without alienation. Second, from the perspective of Leiturgia, educational ministry was proposed to expand prayer life from a personal area to a public area to become a life of practicing prayer and justice by providing public prayer content with media that can be used by the elderly to perform spirituality. Third, it was suggested that in terms of Didache, it should be required that the elderly should be educated to be familiar with the changing technologies, that teaching environment should be extended from church to online, and that the educational content of tradition and new forms should be dealt with extensively. Fourth, from the perspective of Kerigma, Christian elderly people who have suffered in various life environments, both personally and socially, should listen to the words again and gain the power to overcome the corona crisis through the God's words, so that they can be melted into the curriculum of koinonia, leiturgia, didache, and diakonia. Fifth, it was suggested that senior citizens should switch their consciousness to become subjects of service, not objects of service, and that digital literacy education should be provided individually at eye level to narrow the digital gap for Diakonia curriculum.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.497-505
• /
• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of private health insurance subscribers and non-subscribers as they relate to severely ill patients, and to identify the factors of participation. The study was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2015, and data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 23.0. The subjects were 417 patients with severe disease (cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease) over 19 years of age. Crossover analysis was employed to identify differences between the state of private health insurance participation, while binary logistic regression analysis was used to confirm the factors affecting private health insurance subscription. Analysis of the effects of the subjects on the private health insurance participation rate revealed that the social and demographic characteristics were higher in younger individuals regardless of sex, residence, or marital status. Moreover, higher household income, regardless of the education level, was associated with a higher participation rate of health insurance target individuals compared to medical benefit target individuals. The private health insurance participation rate was low and the explaining power was 51.7%, regardless of subjective health awareness and walking practice. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve the living environment and support local governmental programs for the elderly, low income households, socially vulnerable groups with limited activities and groups with limited health behavior. It is also necessary to consider various health policies, such as providing government health education or programs to prevent severe illness.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.131-145
• /
• 2019

Korea has set up a radiation emergency planning zone based on the 「Act on Physical Protection and Radiological Emergency」 to protect residents living near nuclear power plants in the event of nuclear disasters. Little research has been conducted on the appropriateness of existing nuclear evacuation facilities because of a general lack of interest in nuclear accidents. This research addresses this gap by analyzing the location adequacy of evacuation facilities in Busan's emergency protection planning area based on vulnerable populations and accessibility analyses. The Gijang-gun which has the greatest risk, shows that only 4.05% of the total urban area was included in the evacuation service area within 5 minutes while only 36.93% of Geumjeong-gu and 37.23% of Haeundae-gu were included in the evacuation-enabled area. In addition, evaluation facilities in the elderly population hotspots were lacking, and there was a wide gap between dongs within the same Gu. Thus, additional evacuation facilities need to be designated and installed considering the spatial equity between areas and safety of both the public and vulnerable populations.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.11 no.6
• /
• pp.833-841
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was investigation of quality and quantity of nutritional intake related oral health status among Korean elders. Methods : The nutrient intake and the dietary quality was evaluated on the basis of the Dietary Reference Intakes For Koreans(KDRIs). Chi-square test for Complex Samples was used to determine the relationship between oral health and inadequate nutrient intake in Korean elders. The complex samples general linear model was used to test difference of average value difference of nutrient intake percentage compared to dietary reference intake(DRI), energy intake rate from three major nutrients, average mean adequacy ratio(MAR) and index of nutritional quality(INQ) related oral health status. Age, sex and total energy intake was compensated for this analysis. PASW 18 was used for statistical analysis. Results : We could found the difference of the nutrient intake and the dietary quality related oral health status among Korean elders. Especially, Nutrient intake percentage and component ratio of protein among energy intake rate from three major nutrient was lower as oral health status became worse. The percentage of subjects with nutritional intakes under showed highest level in worst oral health status. As oral health status became worse, average mean adequacy ratio(MAR) was lower and the number of nutrient of which index of nutritional quality(INQ) was under 1 was more. Conclusions : From the result above, this study clearly shows the level of oral health affecting the inequalities of eating and the food for the people. And the various propose of oral health policies is needed for vulnerable groups who needs solution to solve the problem of inequality of food distribution where intensive distribution of nutrition problem occurred. Sufficient, safe, and a variety of healthy food intake is a fundamental right of our people. And also, to apply this policy in reality, institutional arrangements and organizations, and specific performing system will be needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.84-92
• /
• 2010

Objectives: To investigate the patterns of unintentional home injuries in Korea. Methods: The study population was 12,382,088 people who utilized National Health Insurance services due to injuries (main diagnosis codes S00 to T28) during 2006. Stratified samples(n=459,501) were randomly selected by sex, age group and severity of injury. A questionnaire was developed based on the International Classification of External Causes of Injury and 18,000 cases surveyed by telephone were analyzed after being projected into population proportionately according to the response rates of their strata. Domestic injury cases were finally included. Results: Domestic injuries (n=3,804) comprised 21.1% of total daily life injuries during 2006. Women were vulnerable to home injuries, with the elderly and those of lower income (medical-aid users) tending to suffer more severe injuries. Injury occurred most often due to a slipping fall (33.9%), overexertion (15.3%), falling (9.5%) and stumbling (9.4%), with severe injury most often resulting from slipping falls, falls and stumbles. Increasing age correlated with domestic injury-related disability. Conclusions: The present findings provide basic information for development of home injury prevention strategies, with focus on the elderly.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.283-290
• /
• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this paper was to examine the relationship between the summertime (June to August) heat index, which quantifies the bioclimatic apparent temperature in sultry weather, and the daily disease-related mortality in Seoul for the period from 1991 to 2000. Methods : The daily maximum (or minimum) summertime heat indices, which show synergetic apparent temperatures, were calculated from the six hourly temperatures and real time humidity data for Seoul from 1991 to 2000. The disease-related daily mortality was extracted with respect to types of disease, age and sex, etc. and compared with the time series of the daily heat indices. Results : The summertime mortality in 1994 exceeded the normal by 626 persons. Specifically, blood circulation-related and cancer-related mortalities increased in 1994 by 29.7% (224 persons) and 15.4% (107 persons), respectively, compared with those in 1993. Elderly persons, those above 65 years, were shown to be highly susceptible to strong heat waves, whereas the other age and sex-based groups showed no significant difference in mortality. In particular, a heat wave episode on the 22nd of July 2004 ($>45^{\circ}C$ daily heat index) resulted in double the normal number of mortalities after a lag time of 3 days. Specifically, blood circulation-related mortalities, such as cerebral infraction, were predominant causes. Overall, a critical mortality threshold was reached when the heat index exceeded approximately $37^{\circ}C$, which corresponds to human body temperature. A linear regression model based on the heat indices above $37^{\circ}C$, with a 3 day lag time, accounted for 63% of the abnormally increased mortality (${\geq}+2$ standard deviations). Conclusions : This study revealed that elderly persons, those over 65 years old, are more vulnerable to mortality due to abnormal heat waves in Seoul, Korea. When the daily maximum heat index exceeds approximately $37^{\circ}C$, blood circulation-related mortality significantly increases. A linear regression model, with respect to lag-time, showed that the heat index based on a human model is a more dependable indicator for the prediction of hot weather-related mortality than the ambient air temperature.