• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.220-225
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• 2017

Background: Benzene is a known occupational and environmental pollutant. Its urinary metabolite trans, trans-muconic acid (tt-MA) has been introduced by some environmental and occupational health regulatory associations as a biological index for the assessment of benzene exposure; however, recently, doubts have been raised about the specificity of tt-MA for low-level benzene exposures. In the present study, we investigated the association between urinary levels of tt-MA and inhalational exposure to benzene in different exposure groups. Methods: Benzene exposure was assessed by personal air sampling. Collected benzene on charcoal tube was extracted by carbon disulfide and determined by a gas chromatograph (gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector). Urinary tt-MA was extracted by a strong anion-exchange column and determined with high-performance liquid chromatography-UV. Results: Urinary levels of tt-MA in intensive benzene exposure groups (chemical workers and police officers) were significantly higher than other groups (urban and rural residents), but its levels in the last two groups with significant different exposure levels (mean = 0.081 ppm and 0.019 ppm, respectively) showed no significant difference (mean = $388{\mu}g/g$ creatinine and $282{\mu}g/g$, respectively; p < 0.05). Before work shift, urine samples of workers and police officers showed a high amount of tt-MA and its levels in rural residents' samples were not zero. Conclusion: Our results suggest that tt-MA may not be a reliable biomarker for monitoring low-level (below 0.5 ppm) benzene exposures.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.35 no.2 s.121
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• pp.81-90
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• 2007

This study used the functions for public benefits as a standard for evaluating Green Tourism. By referring to the existing literature, the "function of building emotion", the "function of providing a natural environment", the "function of preserving traditional cultures", and the "function of maintaining the local community" have been selected as the measuring variables. Detailed sub-variables of each function were prepared to examine and analyze the recognition of these are the part of Green Tourists. The Green Tourists of Yangsuri in Yangpyeong, Sinnonri in Yangpyeong, and Jurokri in Yeoju participated in the survey for which 13 variables were used as measurement. The results are as follows: First, Green Tourists recognize farm villages as places for rest and relaxation and they laid great importance on the function of providing access to the natural environment. Secondly, out of the 13 measurement variables, "beautiful scenery in farm village", "making a contribution to village income", and "trust in agricultural products" greatly influenced the overall evaluation of Green Tourism. Thirdly, regarding the relationship between the functions for public benefits and Green Tourism, it was found that "facilities and activities for experiencing farming", "facilities for rest", and "beautiful scenery in farm villages" are closely related to building the emotion experienced in these villages, and that "cultivating environmentally-friendly agricultural products" and "beautiful scenery in farm village" are closely related to the function of providing access to the natural environment.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.204-204
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• 2016

Thailand had set the National Water Management Strategy which covered main six areas in the next 12 years, i.e., by priority: (1) water for household, (2) water for agricultural and industrial production, (3) water for flood and drought management, (4) water for quality issue, (5) water from forest conservation and soil erosion protection, (6) water resources management. However due to the climate change impact, there is a question for all strategies is whether to complete this mission under future climate change. If the impact affects our target, we have to clarify how to mitigate or to adapt with it. Vulnerability assessment was conducted under the framework of ADB's (with the parameters of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity) and the assessments were classified into groups due to their different characteristic and the framework of the National Water Management Strategy, i.e., water supply (rural and urban), water for development (agriculture and others), water disasters (floods (flash, overflow), drought, water quality). The assessments identified the parameters concerned and weight factors used for each groups via expert group discussions and by using GIS mapping technology, the vulnerability maps were produced. The maps were verified with present water situation data (floods, drought, water quality). From the analysis result of this water resources management strategy, we found that 30% of all projects face the big impacts, 40% with low impact, and 30% for no impact. It is clear that water-related agencies have to carefully take care approximately 70% of future projects to meet water resources management strategy. It is recommended that additional issues should be addressed to mitigate the impact from climate risk on water resource management of the country, i.e., water resources management under new risk based on development scenarios, relationship with area-based problems, priority definition by viewpoints of risk, vulnerability (impact and occurrence probability in past and future), water management system in emergency case and water reserve system, use of information, knowledge and technology in management, network cooperation and exchange of experiences, knowledge, technique for sustainable development with mitigation and adaptation, education and communication systems in risk, new impact, and emergency-reserve system. These issues will be described and discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.318-339
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• 1994

U.S. had given large amount of cotton to Korea as food aid program since 1945. This cotton aid had negative impact on cotton culture in Korean agriculture. Korean government used counterparts funds (sale proceeds of food aid) not for investment to agriculture sector, but for military budgets. And food aid on program type had influenced general economic policies, which neglected agricultural sector too. Anti-agricultural policy which was helped by U.S. food aid, had caused cotton cultivator an economic loss. So this economic loss had made many farmers abandon cotton culture. But in our times, cotton is cultivated for the purpose of domestic consumption in a few rural villages. The purposes of this study are 1) to analyze the process of spatial reduction of cotton culture since 1945 in regional contexts in Korea, and 2) to identify the function and meaning of cotton culture which does not pay off in agricultural region. Materials for acreage of cotton culture are acquired through the agricultural statistical year book(1952-1989) and census. To clarify the meanings of cotton culture, field survey are conducted in a rural village which is identified as only one where cotton was cultivated in 1993. In these contexts, this study has come to the following conclusions. In the period of under the rule of Japanese Imperialism (1910-1945), G. arboreum, species of cotton which was traditionally cultivated since 1364, had been driven out. And G. hirustun species, which is suitable for the production of highly qualified textile, has been hierarchically diffused by policy. In these period, regional structure of Korean agriculture was reorganized for the provision with food to Japan. Crops leading this dependent spatial structure were rice and cotton. So agricultural region, specialized with cotton, were distributed in the hinterland of the area which is specialized with rice. U.S. cotton aid to Korea began in 1947. U.S. took an interest in agricultural export because of her domestic surplus of cotton. Cotton aid is one mechanism by which U.S government developed agricultural market in recipient countries, Specially in the exchange rates, up-valuation of won to the U.S. dollars made domestic cotton more expensive than cotton imported, Production cost of domestic cotton is higher than Government's purchasing price of cotton which was also more expensive than price of cotton imported. Korean farmer could not help abandoning the cultivation of cotton, and this gave rise to spatial reduction of cotton culture. Spatially, cotton culture was abandoned in early stage of reduction in regions where stand at a disadvantage climatically, and in next stage in regions where other up-land crops which paid off in urban market, eg, fruits, could be cultivated. In the stage of extinction, cotton was cultivated only in area where G. hirustun species was originated in Korean peninsula. This region is not only suitable climatically for cotton culture, but is far away from urban market. Use of cotton produced is not for spinning, but for fillings of comforter. The main purpose of cotton culture in rural village is not for cotton yields, but for increase of production of seasame, which is grown together with cotton as mixed crops. Cotton product are used for domestic consumption and sold out to gin house. Though cotton culture is not paid off, farmer wanted to cultivate continuously for the cultural purpose, and they wanted the cotton culture promotion policy with the goverment subsidy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.123-134
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• 2014

Identification of methods to optimize the growth of a plant community, including the capacity of the soil to further sequester carbon, is important in urban design and planning. In this study, to construct and manage an urban park to mitigate carbon emissions, soil organic carbon of varying biomass, different park construction times, and a range of vegetation types were analyzed by measuring aboveground and belowground carbon in Seoseoul Lake Park and Yangjae Citizen's Forest. The urban parks were constructed during different periods; Seoseoul Lake Park was constructed in 2009, whereas Yangjae Citizen's Forest was constructed in 1986. To identify the differences in soil organic carbon in various plant communities and soil types, above and belowground carbon were measured based on biomass, as well as the physical and chemical features of the soil. Allometric equations were used to measure biomass. Soil total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical properties such as pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen (TN), and soil microbes were analyzed. The analysis results show that the biomass of the Yangjae Citizen's Forest was higher than that of the Seoseoul Lake Park, indicating that older park has higher biomass. On the other hand, TOC was lower in the Yangjae Citizen's Forest than in the Seoseoul Lake Park; air pollution and acid rain probably changed the acidity of the soil in the Yangjae Citizen's Forest. Furthermore, TOC was higher in mono-layered plantation area compared to that in multi-layered plantation area. Improving the soil texture would, in the long term, result in better vegetation growth. To improve the soil texture of an urban park, park management, including pH control by using lime fertilization, soil compaction control, and leaving litter for soil nutrition is necessary.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.13-24
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• 2020

In modern society, the number of one-person households is increasing significantly. In particular, one-person households have rapidly increased around local small and medium-sized cities. This study examines the characteristics of local small and medium-sized cities by factor and cluster analysis. Analysis of variance are applied to the characteristics of one-person household in different local cities to find the relationship between different types of cities and the characteristics of one-person households. As a result of the study, local small and medium-sized cities are classified into growth stagnation cities, industrial leading cities, regional base cities, and population outflow cities. It is also found that there are several different types of local cities based on the characteristics of one-person households. The growth stagnation city is a city where the regional economy is revitalized due to the development of regional industries in the past. One-person households have a small age group in their 30s and 40s, which are the basis of industrial activities. They have a high proportion of older generation living in more than three rooms in their homes. It is necessary to supply long-term public rental housing and share houses for older generation. The leading city of the industry is a city where the local economy is revitalized as workers are concentrated. One-person households are evenly distributed among all age groups, and the apartment occupancy rate is the highest compared to other types. It is necessary to provide happy housing for youth generation and reconstruction or renovation housing of manhood generation. The regional base city leads the regional base function and the regional economy, but it has reduced workers. Many of one-person households are younger than 30 years old and college educated. They are also high rate of unmarried and live at one room as rental houses. It is needed to expand the supply of small houses such as apartments, officetels and rented houses for youth generation. The population outflow city has a slow local economy and a rural residential environment. It is found that the households of one-person households have high rate of bereavement and the age. They live more than four rooms in single-family homes. It is necessary not only to provide welfare housing but also to create a sound residential environment where cultural exchange is possible.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.81-90
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• 2009

This study seeks those elements that form a sense of place in Yen-Ben Street, which represents a typical ethnic enclave in Seoul, to provide a basic resource in the creation of an urban landscape that can provide a positive space for cultural diversity. The results of the study can be summarized as follows: First, the element of a physical environment that develops a sense of place was in fact the poor dwellings that correspond to the economic condition of Korean Chinese. While this element has a negative cognition to outsiders, Korean Chinese feel positively toward it. Secondly, signboards were a physical element of sense of place which retains cultural identity as a means of communication inside the community. Thirdly, it was found that activities such as shopping, recreation, and the exchange of information that are found in the pursuit of daily life act as an essential element in the formation of a sense of place even more than architectural elements. Fourthly, the appropriation of space by Korean Chinese and the isolation from the surroundings were obvious. This isolation is perceived as a negative sense of place formation to outsiders in Yen-Ben Street. Fifthly, the aspects of cultural dualism, mingling the concepts of home country, language, writing, and food have also affected the formation of a sense of place in the area. Sixthly, transience was a prominent phenomenon of Yen-Ben Street and is strengthened by illegal immigration. Although transience causes negative impacts such as in a lack of concern for the residential environment, it acts as a positive factor in the sense of place by mitigating uneasiness, and strengthening insider ties and cooperation.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.51-67
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• 2004

This study analyzed the effects of nutrition technicians' hygiene education on cooking workers' performance of hygiene management in order to ensure the security of school meals. The situation of cooking workers' disposition in subject schools was elementary school(51.1%) and middle school(48.9%) and the type of meals was rural area type(54.2%), urban type(36.5%). and island and isolated area type(9.3%). The methods of meals management were single cooking(88.2%) and joint cooking and management(11.8%). The type of distributing meals was distributing in a dining room(93.5%), in a classroom(3.7%), and in both dining room and classroom(2.8%). Nutrition technicians' employment form included regular(53.5%) and daily(88.2%). Their education was junior college graduate(50.2%), university graduate(44.8%). and graduate school students(5.0%). Cooking workers' employment form included daily(88.2%) and regular (11.1%). suggesting that most were regular. Most cooking workers(77.4%) had at least high school certificate. Regarding the situation of cooking workers' disposition in subject schools, the number of student per one cooking worker was found as 91-120(37.2%), 61-90(22.6%). 60 and under(21.l %). 121-15006.7%). and 151 and over(2.5%). Cooking workers' level of performance of hygiene management was post-working stage(66.37/75 marks), pre-working stage(64.22/75 marks). and working stage(20.34/25 marks), The counting of meals articles in a pre-working stage(20.34/25 marks). temperature and required time in a working stage(18.78/25 marks), and machinery equipment and hygiene in a pre-working stage(21.40/25 marks) showed lowest of performance, which suggest poor service of hygiene. Cooking workers' performance of hygiene management by working stage showed the significant difference with school class(p<.001), type of schools with meals(p<.05). state of cooking workers' employment(p<.001), and cooking worker's disposition(p<.05). A working stage showed the significant difference with type of schools with meals(p<.05). A post-working stage showed the significant difference according to type of schools with meals(p<.05), and the methods of meals management(p<.05), and cooking workers' disposition(p<.05). In the execution of hygiene education, individual hygiene was highest(94.8%), followed by the management of machinery equipment and tools(89.7%), food poisoning and microorganism(94.7%), and the method of food treatment(76.4%). A yearly plan of hygiene education included established(83.9%) and not established(l6.1%). Regular education included not executed(25.1%), 2-3 times a month(l6.1%), and more than 4 a month(4.0%) and occasional education was not executed(57.0%), 1-3 times a month(26.3%), and more than 4 a month(l5.7%). In the methods for hygiene education, oral education(95.7%) was used most, followed by demonstration(10.5%), poster/photo(10.5%), video/slide(3.7%), and computer(3.7%). Frequency of improvement and complement of hygiene education included once a month(56.3%), once a year(20.7%), by quarter(l1.5%), and every six months(1l.5%). Newspaper was used most in materials of hygiene education, followed by internet, TV, nutrition technician's reeducation, information exchange between members, educational office's training, and reference book, and educational office's material. and symposium. Cooking workers' assessment of the effect of hygiene education was conducted through observation(56.8%), check table(l5.2%), question(l4.0%), and examination(14.0%). The reason of cooking workers' low level of performance included habitual custom(53.9%), lack of understanding(20.4%), overwork(l4.6%), and lack of knowledge(l1.l%) and the reason of difficulty in hygiene education included lack of time(55.3%), lack of understanding(27.6%), lack of knowledge and information(8.7%), and lack of budget(48.0%).