• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.397-405
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• 2001

The vision disturbances of school- age children has been recognized as and important school health problem. As the visual disturbances of the school-age children is recognized as the nation's health problem. the importance of the development of educational program for visual health should be emphasized. Recently, eyeball movement and other visual health management method has been introduced for prevention or recovery of decrease in visual acuity. But, the effect of eyeball movement was not confirmed yet. And, the controversy around the treatment effect is continued. The decrease of visual acuity is one of the important school health problem as well as it causes discomfort in daily life of the students. So, it should be considered as an important subject for school health and there is a need to develop an effective intervention program for visual health. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the program with the recognition of the need of the intervention for visual health. The visual health promotion program was developed by the researcher and the program was initiated by the school. Nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was applied for study which examined the effect of the visual health promotion program. The subjects were 742 children (experimental group: 398; control group: 344). The experiment was composed of health education and eyeball movement. Health education was provided 5 times to the children in the class room. Children of experimental group exercised eyeball movement in the class, watching video for 10 minutes two times a day. The exercise was continued for 10 weeks. The result of the study were as follows. 1) change of visual acuity Before the intervention, mean of the visual acuity was .86 for the experimental group and .91 for control group. After the intervention, mean of visual acuity was .95 for the experimental group and. 90 for the control group. There was no significant difference in the change of visual acuity between experimental and control group. 2) change of refraction. In the experimental group, 327 eyes (41.08%) were normal vision and 469 eyes (58.98%) were eyes of refraction errors, 38.82 % of the total eyes were myopia. There was no significant change in the refraction in the children with myopia after the intervention. 3) Awareness of visual acuity, change of knowledge, behavior. and attitude (1) After the intervention, there was a significant difference in the awareness of visual acuity (experimental group: 70.10%. control group: 50.97%, p<.01). (2) After the intervention, there was a significant knowledge increase in the experimental group (pp<.01). (3) There was no significant difference in the visual health behavior after the intervention. (4) There was a significant positive change in the attitude related to visual health in the experimental group ( pp<.05). 4) There was a significant positive change in the subjective discomfort of the students. But, there was no significant change in the objective eye symptom after the intervention. Even though there was no effect in the visual acuity and the change of the refraction. subjective visual health as well as the attitude and knowledge' of the children and parents toward visual health was improved significantly. Also, there was an increase in the intention of change and the awareness for the visual health management. It is suggested that various educational strategies for visual health promotion should be developed and examined for the visual health promotion of the students.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.347-367
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate drug abuse and to find related factors among high school students. The subjects for this study were 973 students from 10 high schools in Taegu city. The data were collected from September 30, 1996 to October 30, 1996. The questionnaire developed by Kim Soyoaja (1991) surveyed adolescent drug use and questions on smoking and drinking were readjusted and added by the researcher based on review. The data was analyzed using frequency, percentage, $X^2-test$, t -test, Pearson Correlation Coefficient with the SPSS /PC+. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. The proportion of students who drank alcohol 1-2 times or more per year was 52.4% and smoked Cigarette 1 -2 times or more per year was 20.8%. The 7 different drugs(Analgetics 5.7%. sleeping pills and sedatives 4.2%, antihistamines 1.1%. stimulants 7.7%, hallucinogens 0.8%, inhalants 3.3%, and narcotics 0.6%) were also evaluated. 2. There was a significant relationship between drinking and type of school($X^2$=62.97, p<.0l), grades($X^2$=33.86, P<.001), school life($X^2$= 19.04, p<.001), and delinquent friends($X^2$= 64.72, P<.001). 3. There was a significant relationship between smoking and type of school($X^2$=153.65, p<.001), grades ($X^2$=67.53, p<.001), their respect for teachers ($X^2$=33.80, p<.001) school life($X^2$ =50.87, p<.001), and delinquent friends($X^2$ =85.28, p<.001). 4. There was a significant relationship between the 7 different kinds of drug abuse and type of school ($X^2$=14.65, p<.01), grades($X^2$=12.89, p<.01), their respect for teachers ($X^2$=8.46, p<.05), and delinquent friends($X^2$=22.42, p<.001). 5. There was a significant relationship between a parent's habitual drug abuse and the 7 different kinds of drug abuse($X^2$=7.78, p<.01), as well as a parent's attitude toward drugs and the 7 different kinds of drug abuse($X^2$=6.33, p<.05). 6. There was a significant difference between drinking(t=-12.53, p<.001), smoking(t=-15.98, p<.001), the 7 different kinds of drug abuse(t=-5.77, p<.001), and the respondant's delinquent experience. 7. There was a correlation between drinking and smoking(r=.4166, p<.001), drinking and the 7 different kinds of drug abuse(r=.2200, p<.001), smoking and the 7 different kinds of drug abuse(r=.1428, p<.05). There was a correlation between drinking and smoking(r=.5977, p<.001), drinking and the 7 different kinds of drug abuse(r=.2849, p<. 001), smoking and the 7 different kinds of drug abuse(r=.1711, p<.05) among male students. There was a correlation between drinking and smoking(r=.4219, p<.001), drinking and the 7 different kinds of drug abuse(r=.2611, p<.001), smoking and the 7 different kinds of drug abuse(r=.1764, p<.001) among female students. 8. There was a correlation between drinking and family stability(r=.0709, p<.05) drinkry and parent -child relationships (r=.1321, p<.01), drinking and mother's rearing attitude(r=.0704, P<.05), smoking and parent -child relationships(r=.0813, P<.05). There was a correlation between drinking and family stability(r=.14S7, p<.01), drinkng and parent-child relationships(r=.2147, p<.001), smoking and family stability(r=.1544, p<.01), smoking and parent. -child relationships (r=. 2018, P<.01) among male students. There was a correlation between drinking and family stability(r=.1l21, p<.05), drinking and mother's rearing attitude (r=.0988, P<.05), smoking and parent -child relationships (r=. 0940, P<.05) among female students. 9. There was a significant difference between the 7 different kinds of drug abuse and family stability (t=2.23, p<.05), parent-child relationships (t=4. 34, p<.001), satisfaction with family (t=4.02, p<.001), father's rearing attitude(t=3.04, p<.01), mother's rearing attitude(t=2.87, p<.01). The distribution channel of drugs including alcohol beverages and cigarettes should be evaluated and restructured to discourage student's temptation and to limit accessibility. The step by step preventive teaching on alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking is needed from middle school to help prevent further drug abuse.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.67-90
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to develop and apply the practical problem-based teaching·learning process plan for 'interacting with neighbors' of home economics subject. The plan consisting of 3 lessons has been developed and implemented according to the ADDIE model. Various activity materials (7 student's activity sheets, 3 reading texts, 1 homework sheet, 3 sets of ppt, 6 videos, and 3 teacher's reading texts) as well as questionnaire were developed for the 3-session lessons. The plans were implemented by the researcher to 204 freshmen, 8 classes, of C middle school in Seoul during september, 2017. The result, of students' lower level of actual participation in interacting with neighbors comparing to their interests in, supported the need of this study. Students were satisfied with the whole 3-lessons in the aspects such as beneficial usage of the contents in their daily life and in building the sense of community, as well as adequacy of materials and activities. Students also reported that they would highly aware to the importance of interacting with neighbors and to practice the contents learned from the lessons in daily life at community. They had an opportunity to reflect one's own attitude to neighbors and recommended to teach it to other schools, too. It can be concluded that the teaching·learning process plan for 'interacting with neighbors' would raise students' housing values living together and attain the overall objective and achievement standards of 2015 home economics middle school curriculum.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.4
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• pp.21-41
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• 2003

The purposes of this study were to ; first, investigate High School Teachers health promotion behavior types; second, explore the effects High School Teachers perceived benefits and perceived barriers have on their health promotion behavior ; third, suggest a desirable course that will increase teachers health. To this end, this researcher conducted a survey on health promotion behavior, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers to 329 High School teachers working in Goyang-si, Gyonggi-do. The results of the survey are as follows: Health Promotion Behavior A closer look at high school teachers health promotion behavior shows that male teachers, compared with female teachers, more actively promote their health. However, female teachers are more aware of their personal hygiene and disease risks. Older teachers, rather than younger teachers, are more willing to promote their health through better eating habits and more frequent exercise. A comparison between married and single teachers revealed that married teachers promote their health through better eating habits, and single teachers receive less stress and are better at managing their stress. Teachers working in technical high schools are better at managing their stress and personal hygiene than academic high schools teachers. Teachers working after 8 o'clock show better health promotion behavior through proper eating habits, stress management, regular exercise, disease prevention: however, teachers working before 7:30 are poor at managing their stress. Teachers not teaching supplementary lessons and not supervising night self-study are better at managing their stress, exercise schedule, and disease prevention than teachers who are. Perceived Benefits, Perceived Barriers, and Health Promotion Behavior A Comparison between male and female teachers shows that female teachers firmly believe improved eating habits and regular exercises would greatly enhance their health. However, female teachers felt more discomfort in their working environment and in utilizing medical institutes. Teachers in the 20s and 40s perceived health benefits through regular lifestyle and exercise. Teachers with less experience feel more pressure from their work environment. Teachers below their 30s feel more dissatisfaction towards using medical facilities. Teachers working in Technical High Schools are more aware of promoting their health through regular health checkups, exercise, and lifestyle ; however, teachers from Academic High Schools feel more pressure from their work environment. Teachers not performing supplementary lessons and supervising night self-study sessions are more willing to go through regular health checkups than those performing them. Also, teachers with supplementary lessons and night self-study supervisions claimed lack of leisure time, pressure from work environment, and inconvenience in using medical facilities a deterrent to promoting their health behavior. The Relationship between Health Promotion Behavior, Perceived Benefits, and Perceived Barriers The correlation ratio between Health Promotion Behavior and Perceived Benefits shows a positive relationship. The results show that High School teachers believed regular health checkups are necessary in maintaining their health. This research shows that teachers consider the following factors important in the order shown ; regular lifestyle and exercise, prevention of geriatric diseases, improving ones eating habits. In short, teachers who are more aware of the importance of regular health checkups are also more aware of the importance of promoting their health. The correlation ratio between Health Promotion Behavior and Perceived Barriers shows negative relationship. High School Teachers believe that lack of leisure activity, pressure from work environment, familys financial burden, fear of diseases, inconvenience in using medical facilities are a deterrent in promoting their health behavior. In other words, teachers with less leisure time and negative pressures from their work environment were less active in promoting their health behavior. This study shows that High School teachers will be able to promote their health behavior by maintaining regular health checkups, lifestyle, exercise, and preventing geriatric diseases. However, teachers believed that insufficient leisure time and negative pressure from their work environment acted as a deterrent to maintaining their health behavior. Most High School teachers believe they are at present healthy, and they were actively engaged in Preventative Health Promotion. The result of this study demonstrates that External factors have a large impact on teachers, which in turn acts negatively on their Health Promotion Behavior. In order to guarantee teachers health promotion behavior, systematic health checkups and increased leisure time, improvement in their work environment are necessary. Teachers also need to take a more active interest in their health.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.15-29
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• 2003

Objectives: This study was done to find out fatigue and self-reported physical symptoms of Vinylhouse farmers. The results of this study could be used as a basic data to develop health promotion program for Vinylhouse farmers who are suffering from fatigue and physical symptoms. Methods: The 166 respondents, who were working in Vinylhouse and were living in a remoted area where the primary health post located, were participated in this study. Thirty: 30 items of self-reported fatigue scale was used to evaluate the farmers fatigue level which made by Japanese industrial and hygenic association(1988). Twenty four: 24 items of index used by researcher for self-reported physical symptoms was from Lee In Bae's(1999) modified Index which was originated from Cornell Medical Index(1949). Another questionnaires used in this study were developed by researcher through related documents. Results: The results of this study were as follows; Fatigue scores were high in accordance with women(t=-2.212, p<0.05), worse recognized health state(F=20.610, p<.001), lack of sleeping hours(F=3.937, p<0.05), eat irregularly(t=-3.883, p<0.001), don't take a bath after application of chemical(t=-2.950, p<0.01), working time per a day(F=5.633, p<0.01) & working time per a day in Vinylhouse(F=5.247, p<0.01) were long. Subjective physical symptoms were high in accordance with women(t=-3.176, p<0.01), worse recognized health state(F=35.335, p<0.001), and low education(F=3.467, p<0.05). eat irregularly(t=-3.384, p<0.01), alcohol drinking(t=-2.389, p<0.05). When farmers don't take a bath after application of chemical show high(t=-3.188, p<0.01). As a result, the factors affecting to Vinylhouse worker's health were irregular diet habit, scarce exercise, lack of proper rest, symptoms oriented from Vinylhouse work in contaminated environment with high temperature and humidity. Conclusions: Based on this study, health promotion program is necessary for Vinylhouse workers. Also, the development of continuously practical strategy of healthy life style including exercise and comprehensive health promotion program considered the country's social and cultural background are needed.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.257-270
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors related to the intent of using home nursing of chronic disease patients who got out of a university hospital. For the purpose, the study selected 153 patients who were hospitalized and left K university hospital with diagnoses of cancer, hypertension, diabetes and cerebral vascular accident and ordered to be discharged and performed interviews with them and surveys on their medical records to obtain the following results. For this study a direct-interview survey and medical record review was conducted from June 28 to Aug. 30, 1998. The frequency and mean values were computed to find the characteristics of the study subjects, and $X^2$-test, t-test, factor analysis and multiple logistic regession analysis were applied for the analysis of the data. The following results were obtained. 1) When characteristics of the subjects were examined, men and women occupied for 58.8% and 41.2%, respectively. The subjects were 41.3 years old in aver age and had the monthly aver age earning of 0.99 million won or below, which was the most out of the total subjects at 34.6%. Among the total, 87.6% resided in cities and 12.4 in counties. The most left the hospital with diagnosis of cancer at 51.6%, followed by hyper tension at 24.2%, diabetes at 13.7% and cerebral vascular accident at 7.2%. 2) 93.5% of the selected patients had the intent of using home nursing and 6.5%, didn't. Among those patients having the intent, 85.6% had the intent of paying for home nursing and 14.4%, didn't. The subjects expected that the nursing would be paid 9,143 won in aver age and 47.7% of them preferred national authorities as the main servers. 86.3% of the subjects thought that home nursing business had the main advantage of making it possible to learn nursing methods at home and thereby contributing to improving the ability of patients and their facilities to solve health problems. 3) Relations between the intent of use and characteristics of the subjects such as demography-related social, home environment, disease and physical function characteristics did not show statistically significant differences among one another. Compared to those who had no intent of using home nursing, the group having the intent had more cases of male patients, the age of 39 or below, residence in cities, 5 family member s or more, no existence of home nursing servers, leaving the hospital from a non-hospitalized building, disease development for five months or below, hospitalization for ten days or more, non-hospitalization with in the recent one month, two times or over of hospitalization, leaving the hospital with no demand of special treatment, operation underwent, poor results of treatment, leaving the hospital with demand of rehabilitation services, physical disablement and high evaluation point of daily life. 4) Among those patients having the intent of using home nursing, 47.6% demanded technical nursing and 55.9%, supportive nursing. As technical nursing,' inject into a blood vessel ' and 'treat pustule and teach basic prevention methods occupied for 57.4%, respectively, topping the list. Among demands of supportive nursing, 'observe patients 'status and refer them to hospitals or community resources as available, if necessary' was the most with percent age point of 59.5. Regarding the intent of paying for home nursing, 39.2% of those patients wishing to use the nursing responded paying for technical services and 20.2, supportive services. In detail, 70.0% wanted to pay for a service stated as 'inject into a blood vessel', highest among the former services and 30.7%, a service referred to as 'teaching exercises needed to make the body of patients move', highest among the latter. When this was analyzed in terms of a relation between the need(the need for home nursing) and the demand(the intent of paying for home nursing), The rate of the need to the demand was found two or three times higher in technical nursing(0.82) than in supportive nursing(0.35). In aspects of tech ical nursing, muscle injection(1.26, the 1st rank) was highest in the rate while among aspects of supportive nursing, a service referred to as 'teach exercises needed for making patients move their bodies normally'(0.58, the 1st rank). 5) factors I(satisfaction with hospital services), II(recognition of disease state), III(economy) and IV(period of disease) occupied for 34.4, 13.8, 11.9 and 9.2 percents, respectively among factors related to the intent by the subjects of using home nursing, totaled 59.3%. In conclusion, most of chronic disease patients have the intent of using hospital-based home nursing and satisfaction with hospital services is a factor affecting the intent most. Thus a post-management system is needed to continue providing health management to those patients after they leave the hospital. Further, supportive services should be provided in order that those who are satisfied with hospital services return to their community and live their in dependent lives. Based on these results, the researcher would make the following recommendation. 1) Because home nursing becomes more and more needed due to a sharp increase in chronic disease patients and elderly people, related rules and regulations should be made and implemented. 2) Hospital nurses specializing in home nursing should be cultivated.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.212-222
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• 1989

When the head nurse who is pivotal in the nursing service administration of the hospital performs efficiently as a first-line manager, the effectiveness of the nursing unit, which includes the quality of nursing care, the jab satisfaction of staff members, and the cohesiveness of staff members is increased. With this point of view in mind, the researcher carried out a study to determine the actual work (the content of the work, the work process, the role of the head nurse, the activity media, and the purpose of the work) of the head nurse in a university hospital in Korea. In addition, this study was also carried out for the purpose of preparing an ideal model for the work of the head nurse. The research subjects were 39 head nurses. This included all the head nurses in two university hospitals except those who were working in outpatient care, operating rooms, central supply, nursing administration, in-service education and emergency care. Data were collected from September 24th to October 21th, 1987 and April 4th to 12th, 1988. A work activity record on which the head nurse recorded directly in a chronological narrative form, was used as the research instrument. The 234 work activity records, 39 head nurse's continuous recording over 6 days(from Monday to Saturday) were collected and analysed. The results were as follows ; 1. With regard to the work content for the total daily work of the head nurse, 45.2% of the activities were managerial activities but 58.1% of the head nurse' s time was spent in direct patient care. 2. With regard to the work process of the head nurse, specifically the location, the size and membership of groups contacted, the results were as follows : 1) Of the total daily work activities 92.4% were carried out in the nursing unit and this occupied 84.5% of total daily work time. Direct patient care was generally performed on the nursing unit and managerial work was performed in other areas. 2) Of the total daily work activities, 73% was with one or more persons and 51.2% of total daily work time was spent in groups. 3) A total of 51 persons, working in different capacities were contacted. These included 21 persons giving patient care, 19 persons working in nursing unit management, and 7 persons working in human resource management. 3. With regard to the head nurse's role in work activity, 53.3% of total daily work activities involved the informational role, 26.9%, the interpersonal role and 19.9%, the decisional role. With regard to time, 57.7% was spent in the informational role, 23.9%, in the interpersonal role and 18.3%, in the decisional role. When the head nurse performed managerial work, she gave nearly equal emphasis to all three roles when she gave direct patient care the informational role was increased. 4. With regard to the activity media, the number of unscheduled activities accounted for 27.1% of the activities, scheduled activities, 24.3%, desk work activity, 22.1%, rounds, 12.5% and telephone calls, made or received, 14.0%. In daily total work time managerial work related to desk work and scheduled activities were high, ranging from 29.8% to 29.9% but for direct patient care time, scheduled activities and unscheduled activities were high, ranging from 23.6％ to 35.3%. 5. With regard to the purpose of the work performed, 54.4% of the total daily work was concerned with the team and 41.4% was concerned with the agency. The managerial work was concerned mainly with the team and the direct patient care was concerned mainly with the patient. When the frequency of an activity and time were compared no significant difference was found between the days for which the work was recorded for any of the variables : the work content, the work process, the work role, the activity media and purpose of the work. On the basis of this study the following are proposed as an ideal model for head nurse work in Korea : The managerial work should be increased to 70%. The decisional role activities should be increased to 40%. Twenty percent of the work activity should be allocated to agency, community and profession. It is believed that this model for the head nurse's work can contribute to guidelines for job description development. Finally, educational programs, organizational and structural devices, and administrative support are needed for the proper function of the head nurse in this proposed model.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.801-821
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• 2020

There are a number of prior studies on the poverty experience of Korean women, but little is known about the poverty experience of Korean elderly women in the U.S. The purpose of this study is to examine the poverty experiences of Korean elderly women who immigrated to the U. S. Qualitative case study methods were used to achieve these research objectives. Three Korean elderly women living in Oakland of California who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from the U.S. federal government were included in the study. The data were collected by conducting a total of six meetings per participant, and the researcher read the consent form directly to the participants and obtained a hand-written signature. The analysis and interpretation began by repeating the interview transcript several times, and the repeated keywords were to be understood in the context, focusing on time, space, and relationships with other people. The contextual understanding of Korean elderly women's experiences in poverty was interpreted in three dimensions: extending poverty in their mother country, double torture as female immigrants, and limiting labor due to aging and diseases. Before moving to the U.S., they had a difficult livelihood by farming and one of them had to live in poverty due to the bereavement to her husband. But even after moving to the U.S., they have continued to live in poverty. As female immigrants with low education and no special skills, they were incorporated into the periphery of the labor market in the industrialized U.S. and were forced to make a living with low wages. Korean elderly women were unable to return to the labor market in the surrounding areas due to aging and diseases, and were continuing their impoverished lives relying on SSI. From the findings, we discussed the role of the Korean immigrants community as a way to improve the quality of life for Korean elderly women in the U.S.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.155-166
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• 2000

When the marcher visited Korea in fall 1994, he was shocked to see high rise apartment buildings around the capitol region including Seoul and Suwon, resulting from rising demand of housing because of urban migration followed by second and third industrial development. After 6 years in March 2000, the researcher witnessed more apartment buildings and vinyl house complexes, one of the evidences of continued economic progress in Korea. Korea had to receive the rescue finance from International Monetary Fund (IMF) because of financial crisis in 1997. However, the sign of recovery was seen in a year, and the growth rate of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in 1999 recorded as high as 10.7 percent. During this period, the Korean government has been working on restructuring of banks, enterprises, labour and public sectors. The major directions of government were; localization, reducing administrative manpower, limiting agricultural budgets, privatization of public enterprises, integration of agricultural organization, and easing of various regulations. Thus, the power of central government shifted to local government resulting in a power increase for city mayors and county chiefs. Agricultural extension services was one of targets of government restructuring, transferred to local governments from central government. At the same time, the number of extension offices was reduced by 64 percent, extension personnel reduced by 24 percent, and extension budgets reduced. During the process of restructuring, the basic direction of extension services was set by central Rural Development Administration Personnel management, technology development and supports were transferred to provincial Rural Development Administrations, and operational responsibilities transferred to city/county governments. Agricultural extension services at the local levels changed the name to Agricultural Technology Extension Center, established under jurisdiction of city mayor or county chief. The function of technology development works were added, at the same time reducing the number of educators for agriculture and rural life. As a result of observations of rural areas and agricultural extension services at various levels, functional responsibilities of extension were not well recognized throughout the central, provincial, and local levels. Central agricultural extension services should be more concerned about effective rural development by monitoring provincial and local level extension activities more throughly. At county level extension services, it may be desirable to add a research function to reflect local agricultural technological needs. Sometimes, adding administrative tasks for extension educators may be helpful far farmers. However, tasks such as inspection and investigation should be avoided, since it may hinder the effectiveness of extension educational activities. It appeared that major contents of the agricultural extension service in Korea were focused on saving agricultural materials, developing new agricultural technology, enhancing agricultural export, increasing production and establishing market oriented farming. However these kinds of efforts may lead to non-sustainable agriculture. It would be better to put more emphasis on sustainable agriculture in the future. Agricultural extension methods in Korea may be better classified into two approaches or functions; consultation function for advanced farmers and technology transfer or educational function for small farmers. Advanced farmers were more interested in technology and management information, while small farmers were more concerned about information for farm management directions and timely diffusion of agricultural technology information. Agricultural extension service should put more emphasis on small farmer groups and active participation of farmers in these groups. Providing information and moderate advice in selecting alternatives should be the major activities for consultation for advanced farmers, while problem solving processes may be the major educational function for small farmers. Systems such as internet and e-mail should be utilized for functions of information exchange. These activities may not be an easy task for decreased numbers of extension educators along with increased administrative tasks. It may be difficult to practice a one-to-one approach However group guidance may improve the task to a certain degree.