Facilities In South Korea Research Articles

Distribution coefficient prediction using multimodal machine learning based on soil adsorption factors, XRF, and XRD spectrum data

The distribution coefficient (Kd) plays a crucial role in predicting the migration behavior of radionuclides in the soil environment. However, Kd depends on the complexities of geological and environmental factors, and existing models often do not reflect the unique soil properties. We propose a multimodal technique to predict Kd values for radionuclide adsorption in soils surrounding nuclear facilities in Republic of Korea. We integrated and trained three sub-networks reflecting different data domains: soil adsorption factors for physicochemical conditions, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra for inherent soil properties. Our multimodal model achieved high performance, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.84 and root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.89 for natural log-transformed Kd. This is the first study to develop a multimodal model that simultaneously incorporates inherent soil properties and adsorption factors to predict Kd. We investigated influential peaks in XRD spectra and also revealed that pH and calcium oxide (CaO) were significant variables in soil adsorption factors and XRF data, respectively. These results promote the use of a multimodal model to predict Kd values by integrating data from different domains, providing a cost-effective and novel approach to elucidate the mechanisms of radionuclide adsorption in soil.

Leveraging media for demand control in an optimal network of renewable microgrids with hydrogen facilities in South Korea

Abstract In pursuit of a sustainable 2030 strategy in the Republic of Korea, this study addresses the oversight in recent optimal renewable energy microgrid designs, which, despite encompassing all feasible renewable sources, neglected the pivotal role of hydrogen as an energy carrier. This research explores the feasibility of reprogramming media platforms to dynamically shape energy consumption during peak intervals. It further proposes the retrofitting of microgrids with industrial hydrogen production and storage facilities, aligning with controlled electricity demand. A comprehensive social survey investigates the impact of media content on energy-conscious behaviour and cooperation, specifically targeting energy savings during peak hours. Utilizing a probabilistic model, the study quantifies responses from the surveyed sample and decomposes the energy demand time series to reveal three new consumption patterns: demand reduction by lowering residential electricity consumption at peak intervals without shifts, intense demand shifting by redistributing electricity consumption from peaks to valleys without human intervention, and moderate demand shifting achieved through cooperation with consumers. With these novel energy demand patterns in hand, the study optimally designs renewable microgrids in 17 sites in South Korea, comparing two strategies: Plan A, involving electrolysis-based hydrogen production and storage tanks, and Plan B, which excludes hydrogen facilities. Comparative results demonstrate that media content contributes to a 10.28% and 16.11% reduction in peak electricity consumption, with and without human intervention, respectively. In Plan B, a demand cut saves 937.3 MWh/yr, resulting in a 12.88% reduction in the levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) and a 4.67% reduction in net present costs (NPC) of optimal renewable microgrids in Korea. Conversely, in Plan A, intense demand reduction exhibits superior performance, leading to $981K less NPC, 1,046 MWh/yr less excess electricity, and a 3.76% smaller LCOE. The study recommends the implementation of smart gadgets to control residential electricity consumption, producing industrial hydrogen at Korean sites based on consumer attention and agreement with specific media content. However, it underscores the importance of studying the socio-psychological effects of this plan in future research.

Why People in Prison Disobey the Rules: The Influence of Legitimacy on Misconduct in South Korean Prisons

ABSTRACT Research has demonstrated that individuals with higher levels of perceived legitimacy toward police or legal institutions are less likely to engage in antisocial behavior. However, a limited number of empirical studies have directly examined the relationship between the perceived legitimacy of prison officers and misconduct in prisons. The goal of this study is to examine the role of legitimacy in misconduct among people incarcerated in South Korean prisons. Using a nationwide sample of adults in correctional facilities in South Korea, logistic regression models are used to examine whether the perceived legitimacy of prison officers is associated with verbal and physical aggression against officers and other incarcerated persons. The equality of regression coefficients test is employed to examine whether the independent variable has varying impacts on each measure of interpersonal aggression. The study found that perceived legitimacy was negatively related and varied with the target of misconduct, with a larger influence on interpersonal aggression toward prison officers than those toward other incarcerated individuals. The findings are consistent with the normative perspective and suggest the need for policies encouraging just and fair management of prison populations by prison officers to sustain order in prisons. Policy implications are discussed.

Factors Associated With Reporting Attitudes of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Direct Care Workers in South Korea.

Workers' reporting of work-related injuries or illnesses is important for treatment and prevention, yet research often focuses on reporting barriers. This study aimed to identify factors related to work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD) reporting attitudes and their connection to reporting intention and behavior. We analyzed data from 377 direct care workers employed in 19 long-term care facilities in South Korea. A self-administered questionnaire collected demographics, job characteristics, physical and psychosocial factors, musculoskeletal symptoms, reporting attitudes, and WRMSD reporting intentions and behavior between May and August 2022. We used a generalized linear mixed model with a random intercept by employers to identify factors influencing reporting attitudes. To explore the relationship between reporting attitude and reporting intention and behavior, simple logistic regression was also conducted. We achieved an 86% response rate. The majority of the study participants were female (87.2%), married (95.9%), and non-immigrant (72.8%). Of the study participants, 48.9% had no intention to report WRMSDs, and 44.3% held negative reporting attitudes. Among 200 workers with WRMSDs, 86.5% did not report them. Attitudes were associated with work duration, safety training, management safety priority, WRMSD experience, and symptom severity and frequency. Management safety priority did not moderate this relationship. Significant links existed between attitudes and reporting intention and behavior. This study highlights the vital influence of workers' attitudes on reporting work-related injuries and illnesses. Occupational health providers should employ strategies, such as tailored safety training and management commitment, with a focus on addressing the unique needs of long-tenured and musculoskeletal-exposed workers. Fostering a safety culture that promotes open and timely reporting is crucial, and implementing these strategies can significantly enhance workplace safety and health.

Educational needs of community visiting nurses for infection prevention and control: Application of the Borich needs assessment and the Locus for Focus models.

This study aimed to assess the educational needs and analyze the priorities of infection prevention and control (IPC) for community-visiting nurses. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. This study was conducted with 144 visiting nurses working in public health centers and long-term care facilities in South Korea. A total of 23 questions in five subcategories were used to measure the current knowledge and perceived importance of IPC in community-visiting nursing. Data were collected from June 23 to October 30, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed paired t-test, the Borich needs assessment, and the Locus for Focus models. Top-priority content was defined as content belonging to two models, the first 10 contents of Borich needs assessment and the contents located in the Quadrant I of the Locus for Focus models. "Reporting in case of infection-related accidents," "Mandatory vaccination for visiting nurses," "Standard precaution," "Airborne precaution," "Contact precautions," "Respiratory infection control," and "Post-visit management." This study suggests that it is necessary to provide visiting nurses with more opportunities for IPC education and to develop standardized IPC programs that consider educational priorities.

Deep Learning (Fast R-CNN)-Based Evaluation of Rail Surface Defects

In current railway rails, trains are propelled by the rolling contact between iron wheels and iron rails, and the high frequency of train repetition on rails results in a significant load exertion on a very small area where the wheel and rail come into contact. Furthermore, a contact stress beyond the allowable stress of the rail may lead to cracks due to plastic deformation. The railway rail, which is the primary contact surface between the wheel and the rail, is prone to rolling contact fatigue cracks. Therefore, a thorough inspection and diagnosis of the condition of the cracks is necessary to prevent fracture. The Detailed Guideline on the Performance Evaluation of Track Facilities in South Korea specifies the detailed requirements for the methods and procedures for conducting track performance evaluations. However, diagnosing rail surface damage and determining the severity solely rely on visual inspection, which depends on the qualitative evaluation and subjective judgment of the inspector. Against this backdrop, rail surface defect detection was investigated using Fast R-CNN in this study. To test the feasibility of the model, we constructed a dataset of rail surface defect images. Through field investigation, 1300 images of rail surface defects were obtained. Aged rails collected from the field were processed, and 1300 images of internal defects were generated through SEM testing; therefore, a total of 1300 pieces of learning data were constructed. The detection results indicated that the mean average precision was 94.9%. The Fast R-CNN exhibited high efficiency in detecting rail surface defects, and it demonstrated a superior recognition performance compared with other algorithms.

Development and validation of the resident safety activity questionnaire for long-term care facility staff

This study developed and tested a questionnaire to evaluate the safety activities supporting older adult residents’ quality of care among long-term care facility staff. The process included item construction, expert review and pilot testing, testing of reliability and validation with 268 staff from 12 targeted facilities in South Korea. The final questionnaire yielded 28 items across six domains: proactive activities for emergency situations, comfort management, prevention of infections, staff training and communication, sufficient goods and equipment, and adequate personnel. These factors explained 73.48 % of the total variance. The fit indices in the confirmatory factor analysis were acceptable, and the total Cronbach's ⍺ was 0.952 (sub-domains: 0.823 – .895), indicating high reliability. The findings suggest the reliability and validity of the newly-developed Resident Safety Activity Questionnaire, enabling an accurate evaluation of the safety of long-term care facility residents and serving as an indicator for improving care quality in such establishments.

Reassessment of lower heating value calculations for municipal solid waste incineration facilities in South Korea

Energy recovery efficiency is the main criterion determining waste disposal charges under Korean law, encouraging the use of incineration heat energy. Measures to improve the energy recovery efficiency of incineration facilities are desirable as they can reduce waste disposal charges. To derive energy recovery efficiency objectively—providing direct financial benefits—its calculation formula should be reassessed continuously. Our study objective was to recalculate the heat loss modification factors of the formula for establishing the waste lower heating value (LHV), a key component of energy recovery efficiency. Sixteen municipal solid waste incineration facilities were classified by incineration type: pyrolysis/melting or general/high temperature. Instrumental measurement data for calculating the heat loss modification factors were collected, and field measurements were performed. Our heat loss modification factors for pyrolysis/melting facilities exhibited small errors (+0.4 to +3.3%) compared to the established ones. Contrastingly, in general/high-temperature facilities, our exhaust gas heat loss modification factor differed by >10% from the conventional one. Aging incineration facility infrastructure and changes in waste properties may be causal factors. This study contributes to the objective measurement of waste heat energy recovery efficiency, deriving and applying a waste LHV formula that reflects the current operational status of domestic waste incineration facilities.

Do procedural fairness and conflict perception affect the acceptance of the temporary nuclear spent fuel storage facility? Evidence from South Korea

This study uses data collected from the residents near South Korean nuclear power plants to explore the complex psychological factors that may influence the local acceptance of the expansion of temporary nuclear spent fuel (NSF) storage facilities in South Korea. Employing structural equation modeling, we examine the roles of perceived procedural fairness and perceived local conflicts in the traditional model of trust, knowledge, and perceptions of risks and benefits. Our findings demonstrate that perceived procedural fairness significantly influences trust, which further mediates the relationship between perceived local conflicts and benefit and risk perceptions, ultimately shaping local acceptance of temporary NSF storage facilities. Our findings underscore the importance of perceived procedural fairness and trust in shaping local acceptance and highlight perceived local conflicts’ role in amplifying the perceptions of benefits and risks. These findings inform new policy implications for the local acceptance of expanding temporal NSF storage facilities.

Evaluation of Incinerator Performance and Policy Framework for Effective Waste Management and Energy Recovery: A Case Study of South Korea

Waste incineration is a crucial component of waste management as it is the final stage of circular utilization and the initial phase of disposal. Effective waste management prioritizes energy recovery from waste and substantial waste volume reduction while committing to minimizing air pollutant emissions, particularly nitrogen oxides (NOx). This study involves an in-depth analysis of operational data from 44 incineration facilities in South Korea spanning 5 years, supplemented by empirical measurements from 14 sites. This study aimed to assess three key aspects of these incineration facilities: (1) waste volume reduction characteristics, (2) energy recovery capabilities, and (3) NOx emission reduction performance. We examined how these elements interact within the policy framework governing incinerator management in South Korea. Quantitatively, incinerating 100 tons of municipal waste resulted in a gain of 338.7 m3 in landfill capacity and recovery of 637.5 GJ of energy in the form of heat or electricity. Notably, South Korean incineration facilities significantly extend the lifespan of landfill sites, aligning closely with the objectives of the South Korean Ministry of Environment’s “No More Direct Landfilling of Household Waste Policy”. This positive outcome is further reinforced by the “Incineration Tax Reduction Policy”, which incentivizes active efforts toward energy recovery during incineration. Our study provides decision-makers with valuable insights for achieving a harmonious equilibrium between environmental sustainability and resource utilization, thereby contributing to the continuous improvement of policies aimed at South Korea’s vision of achieving a circular economy.

PERCEIVED WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OUTCOMES AMONG CARE STAFF IN LONG-TERM CARE SETTINGS DURING COVID-19

Abstract Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has severely affected residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities. However, how care staff in LTC facilities perceive their work environment during the pandemic and its potential impact on their work outcome are less understood. This study examined the associations between perceived work environment, staffing levels, and educational status of care staff and their general and COVID-19 specific work outcomes during the pandemic in LTC facilities. The study employed a cross-sectional, observational, correlational design. A total of 207 care staff were conveniently recruited from 30 LTC facilities in South Korea. The perceived work environment, staffing levels, educational status of care staff, and their work outcomes were collected using questionnaires. Multivariable binary logistic regressions were conducted, controlling for the characteristics of care staff and facilities included. Approximately 45% of the participants were either nurse aids or care workers, and 38% were registered nurses. Nearly half reported that their work environment was poor. Care staff who perceived their work environment to be poor were more likely to be dissatisfied with their work (odds ratio [OR] 15.40), experience high burnout (OR6.93), intend to leave the facility within a year (OR7.83), and experience increased overtime work due to COVID-19 (OR4.03). They were also less likely to perceive an immediate response to COVID-19 from their facility (OR0.45). The LTC work environment should be improved from its current state and government-led initiatives for infection control should be implemented to enable a better response to future public health crises in LTC settings.

Optimizing an airborne mass-balance methodology for accurate emission rate quantification of industrial facilities: A case study of industrial facilities in South Korea

Accurate estimation of emissions from industrial point sources is crucial in understanding the effectiveness of reduction efforts and establishing reliable emission inventories. In this study, we employ an airborne Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry (CIMS) instrument to quantify sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from prominent industrial facilities in South Korea, including power plants, a steel mill, and a petrochemical facility. Our analysis utilizes the box mass balance technique to derive SO2 emissions and associated uncertainty. We evaluate the interpolation methods between 2D kriging and 3D radial basis function. The results demonstrate that the total uncertainty of the box mass balance technique ranges from 5 % to 28 %, with an average of 20 %. Mixing ratio ground extrapolation from the lowest altitude of the airborne sampling to the ground emerges as the dominant source of uncertainty, followed by the determination of the boundary layer height. Adequate sampling at multiple altitudes is found to be essential in reducing the overall uncertainty by capturing the full extent of the plume. Furthermore, we assess the uncertainty of the single-height transect mass balance method commonly employed in previous studies. Our findings reveal an average precision of 47 % for this method, with the potential for overestimating emissions by up to 206 %. Samplings at fewer altitudes or with larger altitude gaps increase the risk of under-sampling and elevate method uncertainties. Therefore, this study provides a quantitative basis to evaluate previously airborne observational emission constraints.

국내 관광·레저 시설의 사고 발생 특징 분석

The purpose of this study is to analyze the current status and change trends of tourism·leisure facilities in South Korea, and to identify factors (types and causes) of accidents in each facility by collecting accident cases (from 2011 to 2023) and conducting chi-square test. As a result, the tourism and leisure facilities have rapidly increased throughout the country within the last 10 years. Some facilities have become deteriorated, operated in unmanned systems, longer and higher, and more unique and combined. In tramway facilities (cableway, monorail), stationary facility mainly occurred due to mechanical defects compared with other facilities. In landscape facilities (pedestrian suspension bridge, sky-walk), fall accidents mostly caused by individual negligence and operating system problem. Finally, in adventure facilities (zip-line), collision (including rear-end) accidents significantly resulted from mechanical and operating system factors. Therefore, it should be required more intensive safety management for accident prevention of tourism and leisure by improving legal and institution, and developing safety education and training programs.

Development of Evaluation Indicators for the Safety Management of Sports Facilities in South Korea

Development of Evaluation Indicators for the Safety Management of Sports Facilities in South Korea

Ammonia Emission Estimation of Biogas Production Facilities in South Korea: Consideration of the Emission Factor Development

This study identified the need to develop ammonia (NH3) emission factors for biogas production facilities in Korea and examined the base unit that should be considered when developing emission factors. The analysis showed that the ammonia concentration of three biogas production facilities ranged from approximately 0.04 to 8 ppm. The NH3 emission factors were found to be 0.005 kg NH3 ton-waste and 0.150 kg NH3/10−3 Nm3-biogas. The estimated emission factors were also used to calculate the total emissions, which were found to be small. The uncertainty of the emission factors ranged from approximately −5% to +8% for the waste-based emission factors and approximately −5% to +7% for the biogas-based emission factors. Although the uncertainty of the emission factor differences is not large, it is low compared to the international emission factor uncertainty (maximum 191%, minimum −40.7%). Considering the development of waste-based and biogas-based emission factors, there is not much difference in terms of uncertainty of emission factors, so it is judged that it will be easier to develop emission factors based on biogas production in terms of securing and managing overall data.

중국 공공체육시설 서비스품질과 서비스가치, 고객만족, 재방문의사의 관계분석

This study explores the rrelationships between service quality, service value, customer satisfaction, and revisit intention in public sports facilities, as well as the moderating effect of age on the relationship between service quality and revisit intention. Data from 308 users of public sports facilities in South Korea were analyzed using structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis. The results indicate that service quality significantly affects service value, highlighting the importance of setting reasonable prices for physical services to ensure low perceived costs by customers. Moreover, service value was found to significantly impact customer satisfaction, emphasizing the need for public sports facilities to enhance the value of their services to increase utility compared to perceived costs. Additionally, customer satisfaction and service value were shown to significantly affect revisit intention, and public sports facility managers should segment users to provide appropriate services for each group. The study further suggests that understanding the moderating effect of age on the relationship between service quality and revisit intention is important in providing effective services to different age groups.BR Overall, this study highlights the significance of service quality, service value, customer satisfaction, and user segmentation in public sports facilities. Improving service quality and enhancing service value can increase customer satisfaction and revisit intention. Moreover, considering the differences in the relationship between service quality and revisit intention across age groups can enable managers to provide more effective services to each group.

Fine Particulate Matter Concentration and Early Deaths Related to Thermal Power Plants and National Industrial Complexes in South Korea

Thermal power plants (TPPs) and national industrial complexes (NICs) are widely known as being among the major causes of changes in the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). However, little is known about the changes in PM2.5 concentration caused by the operation of these facilities in South Korea and the health burden attributable to them, including early death. There were two purposes to this study. The first was to quantitatively evaluate the changes in PM2.5 concentration caused by TPPs and NICs in Korea. The second was to estimate the number of early deaths as a health burden attributable to such changes in PM2.5 concentration. The changes in PM2.5 concentration caused by the operation of TPPs and NICs were investigated within TPPs in 2013 and within NICs in 2015. The number of early deaths in 2015 caused by changes in PM2.5 concentration was estimated using the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP). Nationwide, the annual average concentration of PM2.5 caused by the operation of TPPs and NICs was estimated to increase by 0.611 μg/m3 and 1.245 μg/m3, respectively, suggesting that NICs contributed about twice as much to this concentration as TPPs. The same trend was also observed regarding the number of early deaths, with TPPs and NICs accounting for 1017 and 2091 early deaths per year, respectively, indicating that the operation of NICs causes a health burden about twice as high as that caused by TPPs. However, the changes in PM2.5 concentration were found to be high near TPPs and NICs, while the health burden caused by exposure to PM2.5 varied according to the level of population distribution and mortality in each air (quality) control zone (ACZ) to which one is exposed. The findings of this study are expected to be utilized as reference data when setting goals to strengthen air quality management (AQM) in each ACZ in Korea.

Physical properties of mine drainage sediment according to depth in settling ponds

ABSTRACT In order to effectively manage the sludge in the settling ponds, it is necessary to understand the physical properties of the sludge according to the depth in the pond. A new sludge sampling device and method was proposed in this study. Sludge was sampled at three depths in four facilities in South Korea, and the water content, particle size, density, composition, and viscosity of the sediment according to the depth were measured and evaluated. These results can be used to predict the shape of sediment and the lifetime of the settling pond, and to plan and effectively implement sediment removal.

Consideration on Proper Management and Final Disposal of Residues from SRF Manufacturing Facilities in South Korea

Solid Refuse Fuel (SRF) manufacturing facilities process 4.72 million tons of waste annually. The residues generated after manufacturing SRF products account for 35–40% of the input waste, and most of them are finally disposed of in landfills. The process flow and management status of SRF manufacturing facilities were investigated, and the residues generated from SRF manufacturing facilities using municipaland industrial waste, respectively, were separated by particle size. The appropriate separation conditions for the residues according to the characteristics of the input raw materials were presented through the analysis of loss on ignition (LOI), organic foreign substance content, heating value, and carbon content. Based on this, the appropriate management criteria (draft) for the subsequent treatment of final residues were derived to improve recyclability. Residues generated in the SRF manufacturing process need to be additionally separated into combustibles and incombustibles through cylindrical rotary separating devices before subsequent the final disposal process.

Analisis fasilitas wisata Halal di Korea Selatan : Studi kasus Seoul Central Mosque

South Korea, as a mecca country in various sectors, easily steals the international community's attention. These conditions make South Korea try to continue improving tourism quality. Considering the Islamic population is almost sixty percent of the world's population, South Korea started introducing halal industry in 2015. The increasing number of Muslim tourists to South Korea but the provision of inadequate facilities are one point of the weakness of South Korean halal tourism. The government is trying to overcome these weaknesses by providing halal facilities, starting with places of prayer. This article analyzes the availability of halal facilities in South Korea that have implemented the halal tourism industry. This article uses qualitative methods with data collection techniques through literature study techniques. The results are that places of prayer continue to increase and can support the success of halal tourism and provide benefits, although many challenges must be overcome.