• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has been reshaping the world by accelerating non-contact services and technologies in various domains. Hospitals as a healthcare system lie at the center of the dramatic change because of their fundamental roles: medical diagnosis and treatments. Leading experts in health, science, and technologies have predicted that robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) can drive such a hospital transformation. Accordingly, several government-led projects have been developed and started toward smarter hospitals, where robots and AI replace or support healthcare personnel, particularly in the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment procedures. This article inspects the remaining element of healthcare services, i.e., surgical treatment, focusing on evaluating whether or not currently available laparoscopic surgical robotic systems are sufficiently preparing for the era of post-COVID-19 when contactless is the new normal. Challenges and future directions towards an effective, fully non-contact surgery are identified and summarized, including remote surgery assistance, domain-expansion of robotic surgery, and seamless integration with smart operating rooms, followed by emphasis on robot tranining for surgical staff.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.341-346
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• 2023

This study aimed to suggest an alternative income generation (AIG) for local artisanal fisheries communities in the southern coastal area of Bangladesh, which is vulnerable to climate change. To analyze the problems of local artisanal fisheries caused by climate change, field surveys and in-depth interviews with fishermen and government officials were conducted. Livelihood risk factor (LRF) in the marine fishing sector included reduction of fishing days and fish production and damage to fishing vessels and fishing gear due to cyclone and sea-level rise. LRF in the aquaculture sector included cultured fish escape, reduction of aquaculture production, and water pollution due to Monsoon flood. A common challenge for two sectors was high interest rate on commercial loans. Small-scale tank aquaculture is recommended as AIG for securing income of artisanal fisheries communities. In the early stages of dissemination of small-scale tank aquaculture technology, it is necessary to prevent fishermen from struggling to repay high-interest rate loans through technology transfer and facility support by official development assistance. The aquaculture training center, along with the technical education, will also contribute toward expansion of local distribution network and marketing support to establish a value chain for local artisanal fisheries communities.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.27-45
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• 1990

Two opposing views prevail regarding the economic impact of rural out-migration on the rural areas of origin. The optimistic neoclassical view argues that rapid rural out-migration is not detrimental to the income and welfare of the rural areas of origin, whereas Lipton (1980) argues the opposite. We developed our own alternative model for rural to urban migration, appropriate for rapidly developing economies such as Korea's. This model, which adopts international trade theories of nontraded goods and Dutch Disease to rural to urban migration issues, argues that rural to urban migration is caused mainly by two factors: first, the unprofitability of farming, and second, the decrease in demand for rural nontraded goods and the increase in demand for urban nontraded goods. The unprofitability of farming is caused by the increase in rural wages, which is induced by increasing urban wages in booming urban manufacturing sectors, and by the fact that the cost increases in farming cannot be shifted to consumers, because farm prices are fixed worldwide and because the income demand elasticity for farm products is very low. The demand for nontraded goods decreases in rural and increases in urban areas because population density and income in urban areas increase sharply, while those in rural areas decrease sharply, due to rapid rural to urban migration. Given that the market structure for nontraded goods-namely, service sectors including educational and health facilities-is mostly in monopolistically competitive, and that the demand for nontraded goods comes only from local sources, the urban service sector enjoys economies of scale, and can thus offer services at cheaper prices and in greater variety, whereas the rural service sector cannot enjoy the advantages offered by scale economies. Our view concerning the economic impact of rural to urban migration on rural areas of origin agrees with Lipton's pessimistic view that rural out-migration is detrimental to the income and welfare of rural areas. However, our reasons for the reduction of rural income are different from those in Lipton's model. Lipton argued that rural income and welfare deteriorate mainly because of a shortage of human capital, younger workers and talent resulting from selective rural out-migration. Instead, we believe that rural income declines, first, because a rapid rural-urban migration creates a further shortage of farm labor supplies and increases rural wages, and thus reduces further the profitability of farming and, second, because a rapid rural-urban migration causes a further decline of the rural service sectors. Empirical tests of our major hypotheses using Korean census data from 1966, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985 support our own model much more than the neoclassical or Lipton's models. A kun (county) with a large out-migration had a smaller proportion of younger working aged people in the population, and a smaller proportion of highly educated workers. But the productivity of farm workers, measured in terms of fall crops (rice) purchased by the government per farmer or per hectare of irrigated land, did not decline despite the loss of these youths and of human capital. The kun having had a large out-migration had a larger proportion of the population in the farm sector and a smaller proportion in the service sector. The kun having had a large out-migration also had a lower income measured in terms of the proportion of households receiving welfare payments or the amount of provincial taxes paid per household. The lower incomes of these kuns might explain why the kuns that experienced a large out-migration had difficulty in mechanizing farming. Our policy suggestions based on the tests of the currently prevailing hypotheses are as follows: 1) The main cause of farming difficulties is not a lack of human capital, but the in­crease in production costs due to rural wage increases combined with depressed farm output prices. Therefore, a more effective way of helping farm economies is by increasing farm output prices. However, we are not sure whether an increase in farm output prices is desirable in terms of efficiency. 2) It might be worthwhile to attempt to increase the size of farmland holdings per farm household so that the mechanization of farming can be achieved more easily. 3) A kun with large out-migration suffers a deterioration in income and welfare. Therefore, the government should provide a form of subsidization similar to the adjustment assistance provided for international trade. This assistance should not be related to the level of farm output. Otherwise, there is a possibility that we might encourage farm production which would not be profitable in the absence of subsidies. 4) Government intervention in agricultural research and its dissemination, and large-scale social overhead projects in rural areas, carried out by the Korean government, might be desirable from both efficiency and equity points of view. Government interventions in research are justified because of the problems associated with the appropriation of knowledge, and government actions on large-scale projects are justified because they required collective action.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.325-347
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• 2010

To provide a satisfactory life for the elderly females who are the most impoverished among the elderly social strata, this study is geared towards, and focused on, the exploration on their attitudes towards death. For the purpose of this study, in-depth interviews with females aged 65 and over, who are officially classified as the beneficiary of national fundamental livelihood security, have been conducted. Then, the results from these interviews have been compiled and analyzed through qualitative research methods. As a result of this research, the attitudes of the destitute elderly females towards death are categorized into several themes, such as 'Feeling close to the death through a hard life', 'Positive acceptance of the death', 'Relying on funeral services from government and religious organization', 'Hoping for a death with dignity'. The attitudes of death means to them that 'they can get out of a hard life', and elderly female beneficiaries were positive in their acceptance of this meaning. Those who could obtain funeral services as a part of assistance from government and a religious organization did not feel stressful about their funeral arrangements. However, there were individuals who didn't know if their funeral services would be covered by the government. They were unsure if a funeral service would be held for them, or they would have nobody to hold a funeral for them. Accordingly, they were worried about that. The poor elderly females were unhealthy and indigent, and so, they had death anxiety. Therefore, based on the study results above, some ideas regarding elderly welfare are proposed to enable poor elderly females to face their deaths with dignity.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.23-43
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• 2004

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the performance of New Deal under the New Labour government in Britain and examines the nature of New Deal with respect to workfare. The time difference of five years after the New Deal was put into effect shows that New Deal has contributed not only to include the socially excluded groups such as the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, single parents, and the disabled into the labour market, but also to decrease the amount of income-based benefits providing for working generation. It can be said that the nature of New Deal under the New Labour is near to human capital development model rather than labour force attachment model. New Deal provides the opportunity of policy learning for the countries which pursue the reform of social security system to moving welfare beneficiaries being able to work into jobs. Policy learning can be summed up as follows. First, imposing mutual responsibility and obligations on unemployed person should be accompanied by implementing active labour market programmes of education and job training. Second, the delivery system which administrates workfare programmes should be decentralized in a local society. The cooperation between local government and enterprisers will be critical in implementing various employment programmes and moving unemployed person into jobs. Third, the case management for individual participating in workfare programme is necessary. The personal adviser should continue to provide employment services for the unemployed until he or she get a job and enter the state of self-reliance. Finally, the workfare programme should be firmly backed by the political leadership in order to overcome the oppositions of beneficiary groups under the existing social security system.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.33-45
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• 2014

The Government of South Korea is actively promoting entrepreneurship policies to help solve an age old problem of unemployment; however, the unemployment rate of youth entrepreneurship remains at a low. Primarily due to the government fragmented policies that are unable to solve the daily difficulties young entrepreneurs undergo. Therefore, this study aims at deriving a modern solution to an age old problem that exists through the use of co-creation by first interviewing young entrepreneurs to help derive a paradigm model. The model was developed through a grounded theory approach to help strengthen the young venture entrepreneurs. The results revealed that majority of the young entrepreneurship revitalization policies had exclusive participation structure, allowing only a selected few: complex policies of various government departments, short-term funding, one-size-fits-all training and support, lack of follow-up support policies after start-up, excessive administrative requirements, and performance-oriented fragmented support. Concluding that the policies were unrealistic and ineffective for the entrepreneurs. Accordingly, the result suggests that Co-creation entrepreneurship revitalization policy, based on the experiences of entrepreneurs, will need to be established to formulate an effective policy that provides practical assistance to the entrepreneurs in the field.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.31-46
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• 2011

This research suggests for efficient operation of the e-commerce guarantee financing system in domestic industries by reviewing the definition, current situation and problems of the e-commerce guarantee financing system in operation since 2001. Throughout the 10 years of the e-commerce guarantee financing system's implementation, technological development has solved many previously concerning factors. The goal of the study is to resolve the current issues of the e-commerce guarantee financing system and offer means by which to expand the accessibility of the system to domestic industries and further assistance to firms already using the system. One of the primary policies supported by the research is the reallocation of funds from archaic means of exchanging finances to the modem e-commerce guaranteed financing methods because of the increased transparency of the trading. Specifically, the funding operated by government guarantee agencies requires systematic promotion, justifying subsidies and tax breaks to companies that are using e-commerce guarantee financing because of the increased overall transparency. In addition, the benefits of e-commerce guarantee financing as a means of funding are numerous: the promotion of good business, relaxation of credit ratings for company loans, construction of the mobile operating system for small businesses, and creation of policy flexibility in operating fund agencies run by government. Future research areas include continued collection and analysis of the above data provided and new market feedback such as direct poll surveys of the operating staff in companies using e-commerce guarantee financing agencies.

• Strategy21
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• s.34
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• pp.128-148
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• 2014

In south Korea, the so-called 'conservative-liberal' rivalry over the assessment of the government's North Korean policies is seen to be impeding the road to right policy choices. For example, the liberals accused former President Lee Myung-bak's hardline policy of provoking Pyongyang and leading to a deterioration of inter-Korean relations, while the conservatives appreciated it for helping nurture mutually beneficial inter-Korean relations in the longer term by compelling North Korea to observe international norms. However, such debate over the vices and virtues of Seoul's North Korea policies is hardly meaningful as the measuring sticks used by the liberals and the conservatives are entirely different matters. The two major goals South Korea must pursue with its North Korean policies should be 'peaceful management of division' and 'change in North Korea'. The former is related to maintaining stability within South Korea and promoting co-prosperity with North Korea. For this, the nation needs to engage, encompass and assist the Pyongyang regime. The second goal is also necessary since South Korea, as a divided nation, must seek a unified Korea under the system of democracy and market economies by bringing change in North Korea. For this, South Korea needs powerful leverages with which it can persuade and coerce the North. This means that the nation is destined to simultaneously chase the above-mentioned two goals, while also both recognizing and negating the legitimacy of the North Korean regime. This situation necessitates Seoul to apply flexibility in reconciling with Pyongyang while applying firm principles to sever the vicious circle involving the North's military provocations. The May 25 Measures, which banned trade and economic cooperation with the North except those related to humanitarian assistance, were taken as sanctions against Pyongyang for sinking the South Korean corvette Chonan in March 2010. The Measures were taken by the Seoul government immediately after a multinational investigation team discovered evidence confirming that the South Korean naval ship had been torpedoed by a midget North Korean submarine. Naturally, the May 24 Measures have since then become a major stumbling block in inter-Korean exchange, prompting opposition politicians and concerned entrepreneurs to demand Seoul to unilaterally lift the Measures. Given the significant damages the Measures have inflicted on inter-Korean economic relations, removing them remains as homework for both Koreas. However, the Measures pertains to the 'principles on national security' the Seoul government must adhere to under all circumstances. This is why North Korea's apology and promises not to repeat similar provocations must come first. For now, South Korea has no alternative but to let North Korea solve the problems it has created. South Korea's role is to help the North do so.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1009-1018
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify normal chest radiography (CXR) from the worklist of radiologists in a health-screening environment. Materials and Methods: This retrospective simulation study was conducted using the CXRs of 5887 adults (mean age ± standard deviation, 55.4 ± 11.8 years; male, 4329) from three health screening centers in South Korea using a commercial AI (Lunit INSIGHT CXR3, version 3.5.8.8). Three board-certified thoracic radiologists reviewed CXR images for referable thoracic abnormalities and grouped the images into those with visible referable abnormalities (identified as abnormal by at least one reader) and those with clearly visible referable abnormalities (identified as abnormal by at least two readers). With AI-based simulated exclusion of normal CXR images, the percentages of normal images sorted and abnormal images erroneously removed were analyzed. Additionally, in a random subsample of 480 patients, the ability to identify visible referable abnormalities was compared among AI-unassisted reading (i.e., all images read by human readers without AI), AI-assisted reading (i.e., all images read by human readers with AI assistance as concurrent readers), and reading with AI triage (i.e., human reading of only those rendered abnormal by AI). Results: Of 5887 CXR images, 405 (6.9%) and 227 (3.9%) contained visible and clearly visible abnormalities, respectively. With AI-based triage, 42.9% (2354/5482) of normal CXR images were removed at the cost of erroneous removal of 3.5% (14/405) and 1.8% (4/227) of CXR images with visible and clearly visible abnormalities, respectively. In the diagnostic performance study, AI triage removed 41.6% (188/452) of normal images from the worklist without missing visible abnormalities and increased the specificity for some readers without decreasing sensitivity. Conclusion: This study suggests the feasibility of sorting and removing normal CXRs using AI with a tailored cut-off to increase efficiency and reduce the workload of radiologists.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.257-279
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• 2012

This study examined how employment status changes affects poverty transition of workable youth using 3years panel data from KoWePS(Korea Welfare Panel Study, 2007-2009). Findings and implications of this study as follows. First, although relative poverty rate of aged 18-34 is lower than other age groups, significant amount of youth experienced poverty once in 2007-2009(14.59%). This means that there are some of youth suffering for poverty and the aspect of youth poverty is very dynamic. Second, much of workable poor of youth had high level of education(45.9% in 2009) and they were unemployed or inactive in labor market(55.3% in 2009). These findings consistent with previous studies of youth poverty or youth employment. Third, workable youth who had changed employment status from employed to unemployed or inactive in labor market were likely to enter poverty and less likely to exit from poverty. Moreover youth who were non-standard employed had more possibility to be poor and less possibility to be not poor. These show that employment instability makes youth vulnerable to economic hardship, poverty. The result of this study suggest that anti-poverty programs which are related with the work-related programs and active labor market policy, should consider workable youth who have high level of human capital comparing other ordinary working poor. Because of much of youth are not poor in fixed time point, they can't be supported from existing social assistance program, like National Basic Livelihood Protection Program. As youth who experienced poverty in changing time need social support to prevent long-term poverty, government should contemplate adopting assistance program for workable poor youth.