South Korea has decided to increase the mandatory biodiesel (BD) blending ratio from 5.0% to 8.0% in 2030 to mitigate CO2 emissions. This study provides a nationally representative empirical estimate of public willingness to pay (WTP) specifically for increasing the mandatory BD blending ratio, and addresses a critical gap in the literature on biofuel policy acceptance. Although a one-and-one-half-bound format was employed, the single-bound spike model is adopted as the main specification due to evidence of response effects. This paper seeks to delve into public acceptance of the increase by gathering and analyzing the data on the public’s WTP through the application of contingent valuation (CV). Based on a national CV survey administered over a five-week period from mid-April to mid-May 2025, 1000 valid observations were obtained and analyzed. Since 60.5% of all respondents stated a WTP of 0, a spike model that could account for this was adopted. The key coefficients and the model achieved statistical significance. The average household WTP figure obtained was KRW 5052.3 (USD 3.50) per annum. Expanding this value to the entire population gives us KRW 111.69 billion (USD 77.46 million) annually, based on December 2024 constant prices. The additional costs in 2030 resulting from the increase will reach KRW 456.24 billion (USD 316.41 million). Since the WTP figure is smaller than these additional costs, it seems that public acceptance is not sufficiently high. Therefore, it is necessary to implement policy measures such as government subsidies and research and development support to reduce the price of BD.

Factors associated with unmet healthcare needs among community-dwelling older adults in South Korea: a cross-sectional study using KNHANES 2023.

The influence of station-to-station line orientation on sea current speed observations using Coastal Acoustic Tomography (CAT) was quantitatively investigated. For this purpose, we conducted CAT experiments at five stations in Yeosu Bay, South Korea. Through these experiments, the sea current speeds were estimated along a total of six tomographic observation lines with different orientations, and the results were compared with current speeds measured simultaneously by an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). The comparison showed that the concordance between tomography-estimated sea current speed and ADCP-measured sea current speed tended to decrease as the acute angle between the predominant tidal current direction in Yeosu Bay and a tomographic observation line increased. This tendency is interpreted as arising because the smaller the difference between the two one-way travel times obtained during tomographic observations, the greater the effect of the travel time measurement error whose magnitude is relatively direction-independent. This interpretation was supported by a simple numerical simulation. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of these simulation results indicated that a smaller acute angle between the predominant sea current direction in the survey area and a tomographic observation line enhances the robustness of sea current speed estimation against travel time measurement errors. The results show that the station-to-station line in CAT should be arranged considering the predominant sea current direction in the survey area, which can provide an important guideline for selecting station locations.

North Korean defectors in South Korea offer a rare natural model to trace cancer risk evolution after rapid environmental transition, given shared genetics but markedly contrasting early life exposures with South Korean residents. Using the Korean National Health Insurance database, we constructed a nationwide matched cohort of 25,798 North Korean defectors and 1,276,601 South Korean residents (1:50 frequency matching by sex, age, and index year). We compared overall and site-specific cancer risks and examined time-varying hazard ratios (HRs) since resettlement. Overall cancer risk was higher among defectors (HR 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.18), particularly in men (HR 1.31). Liver (HR 2.53), uterine cervical (HR 2.10), and lung cancer (HR 1.69) were markedly elevated, reflecting infection- and deprivation-related legacies. In contrast, cancers more prevalent in developed countries, notably breast (HR 0.48) and colorectal (HR 0.71), were initially lower. However, HRs began to rise over time, especially for breast cancer, indicating a trend toward convergence with host-population patterns. The cancer profile of North Korean defectors demonstrates a dual burden: persistent risks from infection-related cancers rooted in pre-defection exposures and growing vulnerability to lifestyle-related cancers after resettlement. These findings highlight the importance of dual-track prevention strategies that address both legacy and emerging cancer risks in rapidly transitioning populations.

Prioritising development criteria for alternative water resources: A comparative AHP analysis of South Korea and Vietnam

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the longitudinal structural relationships among top management's support for employee development, the perceived strength of the HR department's strategic role and organizational commitment in the context of South Korean business. In particular, this study focuses on the mediating role of the perceived strength of the HR department's strategic role in bridging the relationship between top management's support for employee development and organizational commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic, when external uncertainty was prevalent. Design/methodology/approach Multivariate Latent Growth Modeling was applied to analyze three-wave longitudinal data collected from 2020 to 2022. Findings Significant and positive relationships were found among top management's support for employee development, the perceived strength of the HR department's strategic role and organizational commitment over time. This study confirms the mediating effect of the perceived strength of the HR department's strategic role in the relationship between top management's support for employee development and organizational commitment over time. Originality/value The results of this study extend the concept of HR system strength by highlighting the importance of consistency in implementing HR practices, particularly during environmental disruptions.

Stomach cancer remains the fifth leading cause of cancer death, with racial/ethnic and geographic differences. As survival improves, these survivors face elevated risks of second primary cancers (SPCs). We evaluated SPC risk and post-SPC survival by race/ethnicity and between the U.S. and South Korea. We analyzed patients with stage I-III stomach cancer (2012-2020) from the U.S. SEER-17 and Korea Cancer Public-Library Database. SPCs were defined as non-gastric cancers diagnosed > 1 year post initial diagnosis. Cumulative SPC incidence was estimated using Aalen-Johansen method to account for competing death. Cox regression assessed survival impact of SPC development. Among 19,595 U.S. and 204,240 Korean patients, 1,050 and 6,908 developed SPCs, respectively. In the U.S., 5-year SPC incidence was highest in Black (7.4% [6.1-8.6]) and lowest in Pacific Islanders (4.5% [2.3-6.7]). Notable heterogeneity in SPC incidence was observed across Asian subgroups, with Korean Americans showing the highest (6.9% [4.7-9.1]) and Filipinos the lowest (4.4% [1.9-7.2]). In contrast, Korean survivors in South Korea had the lowest SPC incidence (3.8% [3.7-3.9]). SPC development was associated with higher mortality (HR = 2.22 [1.96-2.52]), with a stronger effect in Asians (HR = 3.12) than Whites (HR = 1.96; interaction P<0.1). Among Asian subgroups, SPC development was associated with the highest mortality in Vietnamese (HR = 13.6) and the lowest in Filipino survivors (HR = 1.54; interaction P<0.01). Among Korean survivors in South Korea, SPC development conferred a modest increase in mortality risk (HR = 1.68 [1.61-1.75]). SPC risk and outcomes in stomach cancer survivors vary by race/ethnicity and country, particularly within Asian subgroups.

Background and Objectives: Emergency physicians practice in high-pressure environments and face occupational stressors that may affect their mental health. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of depression among emergency physicians in South Korea and examined environmental, sociolegal, and individual factors associated with depressive symptoms in the post-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2025 Korean Emergency Physician Survey. Screening positive for depressive symptoms was defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10, indicating moderate-to-severe depressive symptom severity. Measures included the PHQ-9, the Korean Epworth Sleepiness Scale (KESS), and the Adult APGAR, a brief self-administered instrument assessing overall wellness. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with depression after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and work-related variables. Results: Of the 1050 physicians who responded (response rate: 37.5%), 743 emergency physicians completed the PHQ-9 section (completion rate: 70.8%; mean age, 43.2 ± 7.78 years; 86.5% male), and 111 (14.9%) screened positive for depressive symptoms. Objective workload indicators, including total work hours and number of night shifts, did not differ between physicians with and without depression. However, emergency physicians screening positive for depression reported higher perceived burdens related to staffing shortages and patient-related stressors. Protective factors included being married (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08–0.58), longer sleep duration (AOR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.50–0.86), better sleep quality (AOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.27–0.74), fixed mealtimes (AOR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39–0.93), and higher Adult APGAR scores (AOR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60–0.86). Factors associated with increased odds of depression included a history of cancer (AOR, 14.63, 95% CI, 2.53–84.61), current alcohol consumption (AOR, 2.54, 95% CI, 1.14–5.68), daytime sleepiness (AOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04–1.31), and more frequent verbal abuse during the previous 12 months (AOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08–1.44). Conclusions: Depression was prevalent and was associated with perceived work burden, sleep health, lifestyle regularity, and psychosocial factors. Interventions should address sleep quality, workplace safety, and social support.

While COVID-19-related stigma perception is recognized as a mental health risk, its effects on the general population are understudied. This study examines the link between stigma perception and symptoms of anxiety disorder among the general population in South Korea. This study used data from a nationwide survey, the Korean National Mental Health Survey related to COVID-19. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7). Stigma perception was assessed with a single question and categorized as "No," "Yes," or "Strongly Yes." Logistic regression was used, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, COVID-19-related, and health-related factors. Results showed that 12.7% of respondents met the criteria for anxiety disorder. Compared with those who perceived no stigma, individuals who answered "Yes" had 2.12 (95% CI [1.31, 3.46]) times higher odds of anxiety, and those who answered "Strongly Yes" had 6.61 (95% CI [3.75, 11.62]) times higher odds. Other significant factors included marital status, lower income, worsened economic conditions during the pandemic, subjective stress, poor sleep quality, and underlying health conditions. These findings suggest that stigma perception related to COVID-19 is a strong and independent risk factor for anxiety. Public health interventions should incorporate anti-stigma strategies to support mental health during and beyond pandemic.

This study examines the structural dilemmas and optimization pathways for digitally integrating urban-rural public services through a collaborative governance lens, using South Korea as a critical case. Despite possessing world-class digital infrastructure, Korea's digital-driven integration process remains mired in deep-seated collaborative failure across four dimensions: design, provision, governance, and institutional support. Drawing on New Public Service and Collaborative Governance theories, this research constructs a 4C analytical framework to systematically diagnose these failures and their underlying causes. The findings reveal a fundamental paradox: technological advancement does not automatically translate into governance effectiveness or social inclusion. The success of digital integration fundamentally depends on the congruent evolution of institutions, mechanisms, and social capital. Based on this diagnosis, the study proposes an integrated optimization pathway encompassing mandatory digital inclusion mechanisms, multi-actor provision ecosystems, hybrid governance systems, and robust institutional foundations. These interconnected strategies offer a coherent blueprint for transitioning from techno-centric governance toward a genuinely inclusive, responsive, and sustainable digital future.

Background and ObjectivesPrevious studies have reported mixed findings regarding sex differences in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), with some indicating earlier ischemic events in men, whereas others found no significant difference in stroke onset. However, evidence from Asian populations remains limited, where clinical manifestations and NOTCH3 variant distribution differ substantially from those in European cohorts. We investigated sex-specific variations in clinical phenotypes and brain MRI characteristics among Korean patients with CADASIL.MethodsIn this nationwide retrospective study, 577 patients were screened for CADASIL across 26 centers in South Korea. After excluding those with benign or uncertain variants or insufficient clinical or MRI data, 368 individuals with pathogenic NOTCH3 variants were included in the final analysis. Clinical features, vascular risk factors, and NOTCH3 variant positions classified by epidermal growth factor–like repeat (EGFr) domains were compared between sexes. Brain MRI findings—including white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunes, cerebral microbleeds, and atrophy—were evaluated. Sex differences in the onset of ischemic stroke and dementia were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsThe mean age of the patients at data collection was 61.7 ± 11.9 years, and 48.6% were male. Thirty-six distinct pathogenic variants were identified. The most frequent variant was R544C (40.8%) located at the EGFr 13/14 interdomain boundary (corresponding to exon 11). Other recurrent variants were R75P (17.9%), C542R (5.4%), and R587C (4.6%). Men exhibited a higher prevalence of ischemic stroke (70.9% vs 44.4%, p < 0.001) and experienced their first event at an earlier age (median 53 vs 59 years, log-rank p < 0.001). On brain MRI, male sex was independently associated with a greater lacune burden (odds ratio 3.03, 95% CI 1.70–5.38, p < 0.001) while female sex tended to show higher WMH volume.DiscussionThis nationwide study highlights distinct sex differences in CADASIL presentation within a Korean population. Male patients exhibited a higher prevalence and earlier onset of ischemic stroke not fully explained by conventional vascular risk factors. These findings underscore the importance of integrating sex, hormonal, and genetic-epigenetic factors into future research to guide precision phenotyping and sex-informed clinical management in CADASIL.

South Korea faces a critical organ shortage, with only 31.2% of families consenting to deceased organ donation following brain death. Traditional public awareness campaigns targeting adults have achieved limited success, suggesting that deeply rooted cultural concerns require more fundamental intervention through youth education. We developed and implemented a values-based education program that integrated deceased organ donation awareness within broader life-respect education. Between November 2023 and July 2024, the program reached 2333 middle and high school students across 8 schools in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Busan regions. In the post-class evaluation, 1543 students (66% response rate) completed surveys, with 1174 providing open-ended responses (76%). Qualitative analysis employed dual large language models (ChatGPT and Google Gemini) for thematic analysis and contextual sentiment classification. The curriculum achieved high engagement, with 72.1% of students rating it highly helpful and 89.2% reporting increased appreciation for life's value. Thematic analysis identified seven major themes including rediscovery of life's intrinsic value, enhanced self-worth and empathy, suicide prevention awareness, and positive attitudes toward deceased organ donation. Sentiment analysis showed predominantly positive reception, with 86% (ChatGPT) and 87% (Gemini) of responses classified as positive (97.53% inter-model agreement). This implementation study suggests that values-based education cultivating adolescents' appreciation for life's interconnection may provide a promising foundation for deceased organ donation awareness.

The Politics of South Korea: A Comprehensive Introduction

ABSTRACT Over the past seven decades, South Korea has developed a distinctive trajectory in its public administration (PA) through balancing the domains of research, education, and engagement with government. Our analysis shows that it embodies a connected yet distinct character, closely linked to Western administrative science and global PA scholarship, yet continually reshaped by Korea's bureaucratic culture, Confucian legacies, and pragmatic governance needs. To map this evolution systematically, we examine the entire Korean PA ecosystem by (1) analyzing 4447 scholarly articles published in four leading domestic and international journals over the past two decades, (2) reviewing PA curricula across Korean universities, and (3) tracing government‐funded research projects and faculty appointments to senior public positions over the same period. The findings suggest that the strong institutional linkages between research, education, and government have enhanced Korea's administrative capacity and responsiveness, while also highlighting the need for greater intellectual independence and theoretical inquiry.

ABSTRACT Background The Asian Breast Surgery Forum (ABSF) is a training and knowledge‐sharing platform that advocates for multidisciplinary collaborations among participants. Based on the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model, the forum aims to foster virtual case‐based learning and skill‐building to democratize access to specialty care. Methods With Malaysia as its hub, the ABSF has engaged medical experts from Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China, Vietnam and India. The paired samples t‐ test was used to determine if there were significant differences ( p &lt; 0.05) in participants' engagement and learning outcomes. The Chi‐square test (goodness‐of‐fit and test of independence) was used to determine significant differences in post‐session survey questions. Results Between 2023 and 2025, ABSF had conducted 15 sessions, connecting 400 participants from 61 cities in 24 countries. The paired samples t ‐test found significant difference in the level of comfort/preparedness in using the knowledge gained ( p &lt; 0.001). Goodness‐of‐fit analysis highlighted meaningful differences in participants' perceptions across key aspects. In the test of independence, fulfillment of learning objectives was closely aligned with pre‐session expectations [ χ 2 (4) = 17.20, p = 0.002], indicating that the likelihood of fulfillment was significantly varied between objective categories. Overall feedback achieved a 100% satisfaction rate and a net promoter score (NPS) of 68. Conclusion Most participants found the sessions to be highly relevant, with nearly all agreeing that the balance between lectures and interactivity was optimal. Through feedback and integration of cutting‐edge techniques, the forum could continue leveraging digital platforms to enhance healthcare outcomes.

Two novel bacterial species, designated as CJ85T and CJ88T, were isolated from the agricultural soil and the Han River, South Korea, respectively. Cells of both strains were Gram-staining-positive, short rod-shaped, non-motile, and yellow-pigmented. Strain CJ85T exhibited optimal growth in tryptic soy broth at 37°C and pH 7.0 in the absence of NaCl. Strain CJ88T showed optimal growth in lysogeny broth at 30°C and pH 7.0 in the absence of NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CJ85T belonged to the genus Paramicrobacterium, showing the highest sequence similarity to Paramicrobacterium fandaimingii HY82T (97.6%). Strain CJ88T was assigned to the genus Microbacterium, with the highest sequence similarity to Microbacterium azadirachtae DSM 23848T (98.5%). The DNA G + C content was 64.8% for strain CJ85T and 70.5% for strain CJ88T. The genome-based analyses, including phylogenomic tree, digital DNA-DNA hybridization, and average nucleotide identity, clearly indicated that these strains represent novel species within their respective genera. The major fatty acids of both strains were anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0, and iso-C16:0. Based on the polyphasic taxonomy study, strains CJ85T and CJ88T represent novel species of the genera Paramicrobacterium and Microbacterium, respectively, for which names Paramicrobacterium salitolerans sp. nov. and Microbacterium fluminis sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains CJ85T (= KACC 23064T = JCM 36217T) and CJ88T (= KACC 24080T = JCM 38050T).

ABSTRACT This article examines the relationship between popular feminism and the rise of trans-exclusionary feminism in South Korea through the lens of mediation. Focusing on the Escape the Corset movement as an example of feminist mediation, I show how feminists’ repurposing of dominant, misogynist stories about feminine bodies has contributed to biological essentialism, trans exclusion, and the right-wing turn in feminism. Based on the analysis of the women-only online community Womad and trans-exclusionary social media posts, I argue the following: Drawing on multiplied mediation that enables affective immediacy toward the body and on neoliberal fetishization of the individual body, these feminists construct the bodies that “escaped” feminine markers, like make-up, as self-empowering. However, this gendered effort to de-gender the body reaffirms biological bodies as the foundation of feminism. Popular feminism’s decontextualized mirroring and premediation of trans women, underpinned by digital context collapse, denigrates trans women for reproducing sexualized femininity, overshadowing cis feminists’ visibility, and bringing potential danger. As a node of globally networked transphobia, such feminism has also been affiliated with right-wing politics. Using the lenses of popular feminism and mediation, the article provides a new approach to analyze the rise of trans-exclusionary feminism outside of the context of White supremacist feminism.

ABSTRACT In Hong Kong’s higher education landscape, where traditional academic pathways prevail, recent reforms seek to address skills gaps and align vocational education with industry demands through the establishment of Universities of Applied Sciences (UASs). However, the adaptation of international UAS models to Hong Kong’s unique socio-economic context remains underexplored. While policy borrowing is widely discussed in the literature, there is a notable lack of systematic approaches for selecting and adapting role models in vocational higher education, especially for regions like Hong Kong. This study addresses these gaps by proposing a theoretically grounded framework for role model identification in higher education reform. The framework integrates Busemeyer and Trampusch’s Vocational Training Systems Typology with Steiner-Khamsi’s policy borrowing model. A comparative analysis of 13 countries, with a focus on South Korea and Finland, highlights the suitability of Statist Skill Formation Systems – characterized by strong state leadership and selective industry collaboration – for Hong Kong. The findings contribute to international policy borrowing discourse and provide actionable insights for overcoming societal stigma associated with vocational education. This research emphasizes the importance of context-sensitive solutions and outlines a pathway for developing Hong Kong’s UAS system in alignment with its dynamic socio-economic landscape.

Purpose To investigate the “engagement paradox,” specifically when and how job engagement leads to exhaustion, this study develops and tests a novel theoretical integration of the self-control resource framework, self-determination theory, and dualistic model of passion. Design/methodology/approach A two-week diary study collected 596 observations from 60 early childhood educators in South Korea. This study measures daily job engagement, deep acting and exhaustion. Job autonomy was assessed at the baseline. The hypotheses were tested using time-lagged multilevel moderated mediation. Findings Daily job engagement predicted subsequent exhaustion via deep acting the next day. This indirect effect was significant only when job autonomy was low and disappeared when it was high. These findings demonstrate that autonomy determines the nature of engagement’s costs, transforming it from a depleting obsessive passion (under low autonomy) into a sustainable harmonious passion (under high autonomy). Originality/value This study contributes to resolving the engagement paradox by integrating the self-control resource framework with self-determination theory and the dualistic model of passion. The findings demonstrate that the energetic cost of engagement is not fixed but contingent on job autonomy, thereby identifying the boundary conditions of the passion-burnout link and advancing the needs-supply fit perspective of engagement literature.

Introduction This study examines the divergent economic trajectories of South Korea and Myanmar following military coups in the early 1960s. Despite similar starting points under authoritarian rule, the two regimes adopted fundamentally different economic strategies, resulting in contrasting developmental outcomes. Methods Drawing on a comparative political economy framework and Peter Evans' concept of the developmental state, the study employs a mixed-methods approach combining historical institutional analysis with Difference-in-Differences (DiD) estimation using World Bank and Maddison Project data (1955–1985). Results The DiD analysis indicates that South Korea experienced a statistically significant post-1962 treatment effect of approximately $620 in GDP per capita relative to Myanmar, alongside substantially higher urbanization growth. These findings demonstrate that export-oriented industrialization under a developmental state framework generated markedly stronger economic transformation. Discussion The results suggest that military regimes are not economically deterministic; rather, developmental outcomes depend on institutional capacity, leadership orientation, and strategic policy choices. The study contributes to debates on authoritarian development by highlighting the interaction between domestic institutions and geopolitical context.