Korean Households Research Articles

Determinants of indoor air quality in Korean households: A nationwide study using the Eighth KNHANES

This study aimed to elucidate the determinants of indoor air quality in Korean households, analyzing data from the Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Measurements focused on Particulate Matter 2.5, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde (HCHO), and total volatile organic compounds. We analyzed the impact of household characteristics and lifestyle factors on indoor air pollutant levels. Key factors such as household composition, the floor of residence, floor area, and living room floor material were significantly associated with pollutant concentrations. Additionally, lifestyle choices including type of cooking fuel, ventilation habits, cleaning frequency, usage of air fresheners, presence of smokers, use of humidifiers, and air purifiers were linked to variations in air quality. These findings highlight the importance of both architectural modifications and lifestyle adjustments in mitigating indoor air pollution. This study contributes to the existing knowledge on indoor air quality determinants, offering pivotal insights for public health strategies aimed at reducing exposure to indoor air pollutants.

Who engages in electricity conservation and to what effect after real-world, high-resolution feedback? An empirical analysis of Korean households with smart meters

Engagement with households to fully realize the potential of demand-side solutions has attracted policy attention. The potential of feedback has been understudied, especially regarding who engages more in electricity conservation. Furthermore, most studies have been limited to the Western context, with only a few that explore Asia. This study fills these gaps by investigating changes in household hourly electricity consumption patterns after its members receive high-resolution feedback. After data balancing, we partitioned 63 households into distinct groups using K-means clustering and investigated consumption changes after the provision of high-resolution electricity feedback through a mobile application. The results indicate mixed effectiveness of feedback: some households reduced consumption by about 13 %, while others increased it between 7 % and 20 %. In addition, statistical analysis using survey responses revealed that households with greater awareness of electricity costs and a stronger interest in climate change were more receptive to feedback. Demographic and housing attributes such as age, building type, and floor count also influenced the feedback effect. The findings recommend enhancing awareness of electricity costs and climate change and developing a better understanding of individuals’ challenges with changing conservation behaviors based on their demographic and housing characteristics.

Is the new mission-oriented R&D policy feasible?: evidence from the national R&D programs in Korea using CVM

IntroductionThe new mission-oriented national R&D programs, aligned with a transformative paradigm to address societal challenges, face challenges in economic feasibility analysis due to the ongoing development of innovative solutions and the time required for marketization.MethodsIn this study, we employed a Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) to survey 300 Korean households, exploring their willingness to pay for R&D programs hypothetically funded by their taxes. We estimated the mean willingness to pay (WTP) and multiplied it by the total number of households in Korea to project the annual total benefit for each program.ResultsUsing metrics like the value-added ratio, marketization success rate, and R&D contribution rate, we assessed the economic value of program benefits. Our analysis indicates a total benefit of KRW 285 billion (KRW 242.5 billion net present value) for a total investment of KRW 990 billion (KRW 505.4 billion net present value), with a benefit-to-cost ratio of 2.08, arming significant economic feasibility.DiscussionGiven the importance of respecting researchers' autonomy, decision-makers may find the CVM a suitable method for validating evidence for new mission-oriented R&D programs across diverse fields.

Public Willingness to Pay for Interstate Cooperation to Preserve the Ecological Integrity of the Han River Estuary in Korea

The Han River Estuary (HRE), Yellow Sea, forms part of the border between South Korea and North Korea, and these two countries are militarily hostile. Since the HRE has quite excellent ecological integrity, the task of preserving it well is emerging as important. Thus, the South Korean Government is attempting to preserve the ecological integrity of the HRE through interstate cooperation. By employing contingent valuation, this study delves into South Korean households’ willingness to pay (WTP) for this preservation. One thousand households nationwide were sampled and surveyed through face-to-face individual interviews. Annual household income tax was selected as the payment vehicle. Dichotomous choice questioning was chosen as the WTP induction method. A spike model was selected as a method for modelling a WTP of zero. The main results showed statistical significance. Annual WTP per household and national WTP were obtained as KRW 4487 (USD 3.92) and KRW 125.75 billion (USD 109.83 million), respectively. When a 10-year payment period and a 4.5% discount rate were adopted, the value was KRW 766.14 billion (USD 669.12 million). South Korean households placed considerable value on the preservation of the ecological integrity of the HRE through interstate cooperation.

South Korea: Impact of The Ukraine and Russia conflict

The specter of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict looms large, casting a long and unsettling shadow across the tapestry of the global economy. Its chilling tendrils reach even the most seemingly insulated corners, ensnaring nations like South Korea in its vortex. This vibrant Asian tiger, deeply entwined in the intricate web of global trade, finds itself thrust into the maelstrom of this geopolitical quagmire. The economic ramifications, far from being mere ripples, have unfurled in a multifaceted storm, presenting a formidable challenge to the nation's economic stability and demanding a nuanced and multifaceted response. At the heart of this economic tempest lies the intricate web of financial sanctions woven by a resolute coalition of nations against Russia. These measures, meticulously crafted to sever the arteries of the Russian war machine and isolate its economy, have sent tremors through the very foundations of global finance. Traditional trade and investment flows, once predictable currents, have become turbulent eddies, swirling with uncertainty and risk aversion. South Korea, with its extensive economic tentacles reaching across the dynamic landscapes of Europe and Asia, has inevitably felt the tremors of this financial earthquake. Navigating this altered landscape, where familiar landmarks have shifted and once-reliable harbors now harbor hidden shoals, presents a significant challenge to the nation's financial institutions and policymakers. The delicate dance of mitigating potential exposure to the unfolding economic turbulence requires a deftness of footwork and a keen eye for the ever-shifting sands of the global financial market. Further compounding the economic woes is the pronounced surge in the prices of vital commodities, particularly energy and agricultural products. Both Russia and Ukraine, hitherto considered reliable bastions of resource abundance, have seen their production and export capacities crippled by the conflict. This disruption has sent shockwaves through international markets, triggering a vertiginous spiral in the prices of these essential resources. South Korea, heavily reliant on imported energy and foodstuffs, finds itself on the receiving end of this price escalation. Inflated import costs threaten to erode the very foundations of consumer purchasing power, casting a long shadow over economic growth and raising the specter of potent inflationary pressures. The specter of empty shelves and rising prices haunts Korean households, adding a layer of human anxiety to the broader economic quandary. Finally, the conflict has thrown international supply chains into disarray. The delicate arteries of global trade, once pulsing with the lifeblood of commerce, have been severely constricted by the disruption of land and sea routes, further exacerbated by the sanctions imposed upon Russia. South Korea, intricately woven into the fabric of these globalized production and trade networks, finds itself grappling with the ramifications of these disruptions. Delays in the delivery of raw materials and manufactured components threaten to hobble its own industrial output and hamper its export competitiveness. The very engines of the Korean economic juggernaut sputter and cough, their rhythm disrupted by the absence of vital parts sourced from across the globe. The anxieties of factory owners and the concerns of everyday workers alike paint a poignant picture of the human cost of this economic maelstrom.

Does an economic crisis deflate education bubble and inequality? Lessons from South Korea 1997–2020

Rapid education expansion has been a main driver of the remarkable economic growth in South Korea for last decades. However, in recent times, its excessive education credentialism is considered a hurdle against further developments. This study examined whether education bubble and inequality decreased during the Asian Financial Crisis 1997–98, the Global Financial Crisis 2008–09, and the COVID‐19 pandemic 2020. It tracked quarterly distributional changes in private education expenditure of Korean households with Changes‐in‐Changes. The findings indicate that Korean households postponed private education expenditure cut in the first quarter of the crises to prevent their children from falling behind in severe education competition. Then, they temporarily downsized it in the second quarter. During the pandemic, vulnerable students experienced higher fluctuations in private education expenditure than they did in previous crises closely related to disproportionate effects of the pandemic on household income and consumption expenditure. Therefore, this study suggests more expansionary measures for disadvantaged students to recover from a learning loss and improving the public education system as a fundamental measure to mitigate severe private education dependency.

Estimating the economic value of environmental education: a case study of South Korea

Environmental education (EE) has received more and more attention worldwide. In Korea, there is a national consensus on the importance of EE; however, it is not as much of a priority as other education subjects or themes, based on annual survey results. This study asks how much value Korean citizens place on EE, revealing its value more objectively than the opinion survey. This study estimates citizens’ benefits from EE using the contingent valuation method (CVM) to elicit willingness to pay (WTP). The survey scenario detailed information about the Green Movable EE Classroom program managed by the South Korean Ministry of Environment, and its 1,004 participants comprised a representative sample of Korea. The results are as follows. If the average household’s annual WTP (KRW 17,575; USD 14.85) were expanded to the total number of Korean households, the total benefit would be about KRW 367.2 billion (USD 310 million) per year. This result can be interpreted as citizens being willing to pay that amount for EE. This study estimated the economic value and is the first empirical attempt to reveal the value of EE nationwide. This study expands the theoretical discussion of the value of EE and provides evidence for policy revision.

초등 이하 및 중·고등 자녀가구의 주거이동 패턴과 이동 요인 비교 분석

Recently, as education investment increases along with interest in children's education due to the low birth rate, not only the commuting conditions of couples but also the educational environment of children are comprehensively considered when moving to housing. It is necessary to analyze where, how much, and why the household moves by dividing the households of children in Korea with high enthusiasm for education into elementary and middle and high schools. In particular, Korean households under elementary school and middle and high school children are interested in home ownership and residential environment when moving to housing, but the educational environment is also considered a factor that cannot be ignored. Many of the children's households, which also account for a significant portion of housing consumption, live in the metropolitan area with a good educational environment and travel conditions to work. This study is considered an opportunity to understand residential movement patterns and movement factors that reflect Korea's unique characteristics that place importance on the educational environment.

Assessment of the factors shaping the public’s perception of physical and virtual water: A case study of Korean households

Water demand management is a crucial approach for ensuring sustainable water supply. To ensure an effective water demand management, it is essential to have a good understanding of public perceptions of water use. In this study, we examined the perceptions of water use and virtual water of Daegu inhabitants in South Korea, with a focus on understanding their sociodemographic characteristics, water-saving behaviors, environmental attitudes, and accuracy in estimating water use and virtual water content. The results indicated that the majority of respondents were aware of the need for water conservation but exhibited only moderate engagement in water-saving behaviors. They consistently underestimated their water use across various activities (portable drinking water, shower, toilet flush, laundry and car wash), indicating a lack of understanding regarding the magnitude of water consumption. Similarly, respondents had limited awareness of the virtual water content in different products, with inaccurate perceptions of water-intensive products. Sociodemographic factors such as gender, education level, annual income, and family size significantly influenced perceptions of water use, while environmental attitudes played a significant role in the perceptions of both water use and virtual water content. The study highlights the need for educational initiatives to enhance public awareness and understanding of water use and virtual water, particularly in addressing misconceptions and promoting sustainable water management practices. While the findings are specific to Daegu city, they provide insights that can inform water management strategies in other cities globally.

A Study on the Characteristics of Medical and Health Expenditure in Korean Households

A Study on the Characteristics of Medical and Health Expenditure in Korean Households

Long-Term Relationships Between Negative Life Events and Suicidal Ideation Specifying Agnew's General Theory of Crime and Delinquency: A 7-Year Longitudinal Mediation Analysis.

The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal mediationa(l pathways on the link between various straining experiences and suicidal ideation and to test whether its relationship was mediated by the role of negative emotions, constraints, and motivations. Data for this study were collected as part of the Korean Welfare Panel Study, which was a longitudinal study conducted among 7,027 Korean households, surveyed annually from 2006 to 2012. The results indicated that bullying victimization had important effects on negative emotions, although bullying victimization was not significant for later suicidal ideation. Peer delinquency was significantly correlated with negative emotions and positively predicted later suicidal ideation. Also, the significant impact of bullying victimization was transmitted to suicidal ideation through negative emotions. It implies that individuals' negative life events predicted strain or stressors generating negative emotions that, in turn, led to a high risk of suicidal ideation as a possible coping skill.

Securities Market Participation of Korean Households: An Analysis of Intergenerational Differences

Securities Market Participation of Korean Households: An Analysis of Intergenerational Differences

Determinants of Households’ Intention to Take Out or Convert to a Trust-Type Home Pension: Evidence from South Korea

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the determinants of Korean households’ intention to take out a trust-type home pension (Korean reverse mortgage) or switch from a collateral-type home pension to a trust-type home pension. Using a proportional odds logit model, we analyzed 2018 survey data on home pension demand. Trust-type home pension enrollment is most significantly influenced by homeowners’ relationship with children after enrollment, followed by homeowners’ need for retirement-related financial education. The presence (or absence) of a homeowner’s spouse most significantly influenced conversion intention, affirming that for homeowners with a spouse, their priority in pension selection was securing their spouse’s future entitlement.

Utilization of early retiring coal-fired power plants as a cold reserve in South Korea: A public perspective

With an intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the South Korean government decided to retire thirty coal-fired power plants early by 2034. Rather than dismantling all of them, some of them are proposed to be used as cold reserves. This paper seeks to explore the public preference and cost bearing for utilization of early retiring coal-fired power plants as a cold reserve by adopting a contingent valuation. To this end, the public willingness to pay (WTP) for the utilization was elicited through a survey of 1000 South Korean households. The payment vehicle was set to be an increase in monthly electricity bill. The method of inducing the WTP was determined as one-and-one-half-bounded questioning. The spike model was selected to reflect the WTP observations with zeros. The average monthly household WTP was estimated as KRW 1596 (USD 1.32), which was worth 3.6% of the average monthly electricity bill (KRW 43,950 or USD 36.32) per household. If the average WTP is re-calculated for all households in the country, it will reach KRW 263.52 billion (USD 217.80 million) a year. Therefore, the utilization can be introduced to the extent that this level of cost is incurred. Several issues that need to be solved in order for the utilization to succeed are also discussed.

객관적-주관적계층 차이 변화의 결정요인

The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of changes in the perception of objective and subjective classes of Korean households. In particupar, this study focused on the cause of the decline in the subjective class perception, which was relatively high compared to the objective class among the various class changes. Using data from the 2010 (13th) to 2018 (21st) survey of the Korea Labor Panel, descriptive statistics and random effect panel logistic regression models were analyzed for 6,051 households (the number of observed cases = 42,778). The analysis result showed that not only the amount of income but also the stability of income had a significant effect on the perception change of the subjective class. Non-wage income, assets, and household debt also affected the decline in the subjective class. These results suggest that education on financial management including various income sources, real estate, assets, and household debt should be strengthened.

Carbon-neutral natural gas in South Korea: Households' perspective obtained through a contingent valuation experiment

The government and city gas companies need information on the price premium that households put on the consumption of carbon neutral natural gas instead of conventional natural gas. The objective of this article is to explore the South Korean households' price premium using the data collected through a contingent valuation survey of 1000 households. Person-to-person interviews with a well-prepared questionnaire and one type of dichotomous choice question to elicit incentive-compatible willingness to pay responses were used. Since 52 % of the total respondents reported zero values, the spike model was adopted and estimated. The price premium for carbon neutral natural gas over conventional natural gas was obtained as KRW 124 per Nm 3 (USD 2.58 per mmBtu), securing statistical significance. This value, which is 20 % of the conventional natural gas price of KRW 625 per Nm 3 (USD 12.93 per mmBtu), is higher than the costs additionally incurred by carbon neutral natural gas (USD 0.75 per mmBtu). This portrays that South Korean households can bear some additional burden in the consumption of carbon neutral natural gas. Therefore, policy makers can consider using carbon neutral natural gas as one of new greenhouse gas reduction measures, and it need to establish institutional preconditions such as monitoring, reporting and verification system.

Association between occupational exposure to chemical or physical factors and sleep disturbance: An analysis of the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey

ObjectiveA range of risk factors in occupational environments can negatively affect the sleep of workers. Although psychosocial factors have been emphasized in various studies, few have reported on the relationship between physical or chemical exposure in the workplace and sleep disturbances. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between occupational exposure to physical or chemical factors and sleep disturbances. DesignCross-sectional study. SettingData from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS). ParticipantsThe target population of the fifth KWCS was economically active individuals aged 15 years or older in all Korean households in 2017, resulting in a total study population of 50,176 participants. After excluding the unemployed, full-time students, homemakers, and the retired, 36,996 employees were included in the current study. MeasurementsExposure to occupational physical or chemical risk factors was assessed by multiplying the exposure scales of physical or chemical risk factors and weekly working hours. Sleep disturbance was estimated using the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale. ResultsIn the fully adjusted logistic regression model, exposure to the following risk factors was positively associated with sleep disturbance: vibration (odds ratio [OR], 1.74)); noise (OR, 2.28); high temperatures (OR, 2.43); low temperatures (OR, 2.51); smoke, fume, and dust (OR, 2.12); vapors of solvents or thinners (OR, 3.78); chemical substances (OR, 3.78); and environmental smoking (OR, 5.03). ConclusionsThe results of this study provide evidence of a relationship between occupational exposure to physical or chemical factors and sleep disturbances.

Measuring the Economic Value of the Negative Externality of Livestock Malodor in South Korea

The South Korean livestock industry has increased in scale and production, generating positive impacts on the national economy. However, livestock externalities, primarily malodor, have subsequently led to increased conflicts between producers and affected communities. This study estimated Korean households’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for government subsidies to help address livestock malodor using a contingent valuation method (CVM) derived from a double-bounded dichotomous choice model. The annual average household WTP was estimated at 29,206 Korean won (KRW) (USD 25). This was slightly higher than the respondents’ self-reported average amount of KRW 25,457 (USD 22). The estimated economic value nationally is KRW 628 billion (USD 546 million) annually, for a total of KRW 3.14 trillion (USD 2.73 billion) over a proposed five-year period. The public’s estimated WTP can be leveraged to improve livestock management practices, more efficient waste disposal techniques, and improved husbandry methods to address conflicts between producers and surrounding communities.

The Relationship between Meal Regularity and Oral Health and Metabolic Syndrome of Adults in Single Korean Households

The Relationship between Meal Regularity and Oral Health and Metabolic Syndrome of Adults in Single Korean Households

영유아기 자녀를 둔 맞벌이 부부의 일-가정 양립 갈등이 우울 및 양육 스트레스에 미치는 영향: 성별의 조절 효과

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between work-family conflict, parental depression, and parenting stress. The role of gender (husband or wife) as a moderator was also explored. A total of 328 parents (164 couples) among dual-earner Korean households were surveyed. The respondents had at least one preschool-aged child. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, Pearson’s correlations, and hierarchical regressions including control variables. The results of this study were as follows. First, there was a statistically significant difference in work-family conflict, depression, and parenting stress according to parental gender. Second, significantly positive correlations were found between work-family conflict, parental depression, and parenting stress. Third, work-family conflict showed positive links between depression and parenting stress. Furthermore, parental gender moderated the relationship between work-family conflict and depression. Mothers were more likely to be vulnerable to depressive symptoms compared to fathers when they confronted work-family conflict. However, parental gender did not moderate the relationship between work-family conflict and parenting stress. These results imply that parental gender should be considered as an important issue when we intervene in work-family conflict and depression of dual-earner couples.