System In South Korea Research Articles

‘State Brokerage’ in Migration Infrastructure: A Case of State-Led Multilevel Governance of the Employment Permit System in South Korea

This paper examines ‘state brokerage’ in migration infrastructure through South Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS). It introduces the concept of state-led multilevel governance (sMLG)—a synthesis of multilevel governance (MLG) and state transformation (ST)—as a framework for understanding state brokerage, thereby contributing to the greater diversity in migration infrastructure scholarship. By analyzing state archival documents, the paper examines how South Korean state has developed a governance framework that spans multiple political-territorial boundaries through state transformation. The transformation encompasses forging diplomatic relationships with foreign governments and orchestrating cross-border policy collaborations as well as (re)arranging domestic governance by establishing new institutions, enacting and revising laws, and reconfiguring the relationships among these entities. These processes have allowed the EPS to facilitate the migration of less-skilled labor without the involvement of private actors.

Development of a wastewater based infectious disease surveillance research system in South Korea.

Wastewater-based epidemiology has been used in pathogen surveillance for microorganisms at the community level. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence and trends of infectious pathogens in sewage from Yongin city and the relationships between these pathogens and the incidence of infectious diseases in the community. From December 2022 to November 2023, we collected inflow water from six wastewater treatment plants in Yongin city twice a month. The analyzed microorganisms included 15 respiratory viruses, 7 pneumonia-causing bacteria, 19 acute diarrhea-causing pathogens, SARS-CoV-2, Zika virus, hepatitis A virus, poliovirus, Mpox, and measles. They were detected through real-time PCR and conventional PCR. The concentrations of 9 pathogens among them were additionally analyzed using quantitative real time PCR. The correlation was confirmed through statistical analysis with the rate of detection for pathogens reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Influenza A virus, human adenovirus, and human rhinovirus were moderately correlated (rho values of 0.45 to 0.58). Campylobacter spp. and sapovirus were strong correlated (rho values of 0.62, 0.63). Enteropathogenic E. coli, human coronavirus, and norovirus GII were very strong correlated (rho values of 0.86 to 0.92). We were able to identify the prevalence of respiratory viral infections, pneumonia, and acute diarrhea-causing pathogens in the community through wastewater-based epidemiology data. This study will be helpful in establishing a system for future surveillance of infectious diseases present in sewage.

Upgrading of Quality Control for Herbal Medicine Use in South Korea by Introducing an Accreditation System: a brief report.

This study aimed to present a government-led accreditation system for upgrading the quality control of herbal medicine by introducing the process and evaluation standard of external herbal dispensaries (EHDs) of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) clinics in South Korea 2018 to refer to other countries where herbal medicine were used similarly in Korea. We organized an EHD accreditation committee for the establishment of an accreditation system. The committee consisted of 9 experts an official of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW), a professor expert of TKM, a good manufacturing practice expert, a hazard analysis and critical control point expert, and an accreditation system expert. After 3 meetings, a draft of the evaluation standard and evaluation system was established in 2017. Based on the draft, a pilot test was conducted to determine the applicability of the evaluation standards in 2017. Two additional meeting was held to confirm the accreditation standards and was finalized in 2018. The evaluation standard for EHDs was developed. In the case of herbal medicine EHDs, the evaluation standard consisted of 9 evaluation categories, 25 evaluation parts, and 81 evaluation items were developed. The results of the evaluation of the pilot tests are as follows, and the results show that there is a deviation between the EHDs. As a world's first, Korea MoHW successfully launched the accreditation system for upgrading the quality control system of herbal medicine not approved by Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2018. Our report hope to provide a good reference to other countries where having similar herbal medicine system in South Korea hoping to make better quality control of herbal medicines.

Developing a list of Alert Alien Species in South Korea.

Along with transportation development, climate change and socio-economic changes, invasive alien species (IAS) are causing a significant decline in biodiversity around the world. Internationally, policies for pre-invasion management of IAS are being emphasised to minimise damage from biological invasions. In South Korea, through the 2nd Alien Species Management Plan (2019-2023), IAS that are not yet present in the country but are likely to be introduced are designated as Alert Alien Species (AAS). In this study, the overall process of AAS designation is summarised and improvements to the current system are presented. To select AAS, an invasive alien species database (IASD) of 8,456 species was built by integrating the IAS lists from many countries. Amongst them, 1,534 species, included in IASD at genus, family and order level, were excluded and 3,298 species confirmed to have been introduced to South Korea were excluded from the AAS candidate species. After the creation and review of species profiles by experts, 150 species were finally designated as AAS in 2023. The AAS discovery process needs to reflect international trends of IAS and be continuously supplemented through policy research of other countries. In addition, the IAS management system in South Korea, in which various ministries play their own roles with sufficient data sharing, should be systematically linked from introduction to control of IAS.

Evaluation of an influenza-like illness sentinel surveillance system in South Korea, 2017-2023

BackgroundGuided by the data from the surveillance system, public health efforts have contributed to reducing the burden of influenza in many countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many surveillance resources were directed at tracking the severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus 2. However, most countries have not reported surveillance evaluations during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsUsing the U.S. CDC surveillance evaluation method, we evaluated the influenza-like illness (ILI) sentinel surveillance performance in South Korea between January 2017 and September 2023. For the timeliness, we measured the mean time lag between the reports from the sentinel sites to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and surveillance result dissemination from KDCA. For the completeness, we measured the submission rate of complete reports per overall number of reports from each sentinel site to the KDCA. For the sensitivity, we calculated the correlation coefficient between the monthly number of ILI reports and the patients with ILI from the Korea national reimbursement data by either Pearson’s or Spearman’s test. For the representativeness, we compared the age-specific distribution of ILI between the surveillance data and the national reimbursement data using a chi-squared test. ResultsWe found that the surveillance performance of timeliness (less than 2 weeks) and completeness (97 %−98 %) was stable during the study period. However, we found a reduced surveillance sensitivity (correlation coefficient: 0.73 in 2020, and 0.84 in 2021) compared to that of 2017–2019 (0.96–0.99), and it recovered in 2022–2023 (0.93–0.97). We found no statistical difference across the proportion of age groups between the surveillance and reimbursement data during the study period (all P-values > 0.05). ConclusionsOngoing surveillance performance monitoring is necessary to maintain efficient policy decision-making for the control of the influenza epidemic. Additional research is needed to assess the overall influenza surveillance system including laboratory and hospital-based surveillance in the country.

Does political conflict hurt immigration? Evidence from the South Korea–China THAAD dispute

AbstractWe estimate the impact of political conflict on immigration using economic sanctions imposed by China on South Korea as a natural experiment. Due to the deployment of the Terminal High‐Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea in 2016 (in cooperation with the United States), China started a series of retaliatory actions that could potentially hurt immigration by increasing anti‐immigrant sentiment among Koreans. We use the synthetic control method and find no evidence suggesting a significant decline in the number of Chinese immigrants in South Korea. To explore the mechanism of this null effect, we also examine the impact of the dispute on attitudes toward China among Koreans and experiences of discrimination among Chinese people in South Korea. While negative perceptions of China greatly increased, experiences of discrimination did not increase. Taken together, this suggests that negative views of a country do not necessarily lead to a decrease in immigration from that country.

The Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Sentinel Surveillance System in South Korea: Retrospective Evaluation Study.

South Korea has implemented a hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) surveillance system since 2009 to monitor incidence trends and identify disease burden. This nationwide surveillance involves a network of approximately 100 pediatric clinics that report all probable and confirmed HFMD cases. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious disease surveillance systems must be evaluated to ensure the effective use of limited public health resources. This study aimed to evaluate the HFMD sentinel surveillance system in South Korea from 2017 to 2022, focusing on the transition period after the COVID-19 pandemic. We retrospectively reviewed the HFMD sentinel surveillance system from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency using systematic guidelines for public health surveillance system evaluation developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We assessed the system's overall performance in 5 main factors: timeliness, stability, completeness, sensitivity, and representativeness (ie, the age and geographic distribution of sentinels). We rated these factors as weak, moderate, or good. Our study showed that the completeness, sensitivity, and age representativeness of the HFMD surveillance performance were temporarily reduced to moderate levels from 2020 to 2021 and recovered in 2022, while the timeliness and geographic representativeness were maintained at a good level throughout the study period. The stability of the surveillance was moderate from 2017 to 2021 and weak in 2022. This is the first study to evaluate the HFMD surveillance system after the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified a temporarily reduced level of performance (ie, completeness, sensitivity, and age-specific representativeness) during the acute phase of the pandemic and good performance in 2022. Surveillance system evaluation and maintenance during public health emergencies will provide robust and reliable data to support public health policy development. Regular staff training programs and reducing staff turnover will improve HFMD surveillance system stability.

Effects of work environments on satisfaction of nurses working for integrated care system in South Korea: a multisite cross-sectional investigation

BackgroundNurses’ satisfaction has an impact on organizational and patient outcomes. Integrated care system in South Korea was established in 2015 to improve care quality and decrease caregiving burden. Since then, nurses’ satisfaction has increased due to an increase in nursing staffing. However, besides nurse staffing, various work environments still affect nurse satisfaction.MethodsIndividual online surveys were conducted with participants to determine their personal characteristics, work environments, and hospital characteristics. We used mixed-effects linear regression equation contained both fixed and random effects.ResultsThis study included 2,913 nurses from 119 hospitals. Their average job satisfaction was less than 6 points out of 10 points. Age, shift type, perceived workload, and delegation criteria were significant factors influencing nurses’ satisfaction. There was no significant factor among hospital characteristics. The satisfaction level of nurses was high for no-night rotating shift, low perceived workload, and clear delegation criteria.ConclusionsNurses’ satisfaction is affected by several work environmental factors. Low nurse satisfaction has a substantial impact on both patients and nurses. Therefore, nurse managers and hospitals should determine factors influencing their satisfaction and develop strategies to improve their satisfaction.

청년희망키움통장 사업 참여 경험이 있는 생계 급여 수급 근로 빈곤 청년의 정서적 자립과 경제적 자립 간의 관계 검증을 통한 자립 과정에 대한 탐구

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between emotional independence and economic independence among young adults receiving livelihood support in South Korea. Emotional independence is a concept composed of hope and barriers related to labor and employment, involving a process of increasing hope and overcoming obstacles. This research conceptualizes economic independence as transitioning from livelihood support to regular employment and examines the relationships between employment barriers, employment hope, labor in regular jobs, and the transition from livelihood support using structural equation modeling with a sample of 417 young adults receiving livelihood support. The results indicate that hope serves as a mediator between employment barriers and the transition from livelihood support. The findings highlight the importance of overcoming practical and psychological employment barriers and fostering employment-related hope, including recognizing one's own worth and abilities, being motivated by future prospects, setting goals related to work, and utilizing skills and resources to achieve these goals, for low-income young adults to achieve economic independence through the transition from livelihood support. The study's results extend the understanding of independence by revealing the importance of enhancing emotional capacities in the process of economic independence for low-income young adults. Furthermore, it is expected that these findings will stimulate related research and contribute to the development of a more multidimensional and integrated support system in South Korea's youth-related policies, moving beyond a focus on support for employment, housing, and education to support various aspects of young adults' lives, including entrepreneurship.

The COVID-19 pandemic and popular confidence in democracy: evidence from China, Japan, and South Korea

ABSTRACT The past decade has witnessed worldwide backsliding on democracy, and the COVID-19 pandemic might have exacerbated this trend. This study examined popular confidence in democracy in China, Japan, and South Korea, which represented authoritarian and democratic contexts. The results show that Chinese citizens had a negative perception of the capacity of democracy to control the outbreak of COVID-19 and achieve economic growth, with an unfavourable evaluation of democracy as a better political system than alternatives. Although Japanese and South Korean citizens had more favourable evaluations of democracy than their Chinese counterparts, such positive evaluations were lukewarm in the former two countries. Confidence in the home political system in South Korea did not correlate with confidence in the capability of democracy to address economic challenges, as observed in Japan. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted ordinary people to seek a strong leader, reinforcing Chinese citizens’ beliefs in the superiority of their authoritarian political system. Simultaneously, it weakened South Korean citizens’ confidence in the effectiveness of their home political system. However, it had no discernible impact on Japanese citizens’ belief in the superiority of their political system.

Long-term care services for the elderly and the brain lesion disability system in South Korea

Long-term care services for the elderly and the brain lesion disability system in South Korea

Evaluation of Yield and Yield Components of Rice in Vertical Agro-Photovoltaic System in South Korea

Renewable energy from photovoltaic power plants has increased in amount globally as an alternative energy to combat global climate change by reducing fossil fuel burning and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The agro-photovoltaic (APV) approach can be a solution to produce solar energy and crop production at the same time by installing solar panels on the same farmland to increase land use efficiency. This study aimed to compare the yield and yield components of rice (Oryza sativa L.) between a vertical APV system and a control field across two years. The solar panels were installed around the rice field in four directions of rice cultivation. Based on the analysis of variance, the primary factor influencing measured yield and yield components was the year effect, whereas the direction effect did not show significance, except for amylose content and ripened grains. Especially for rice production, the rice yield in 2023 was 6.8 t/ha, which was significantly higher by 0.8 t/ha than in 2022. Compared with the control condition, however, there was no significant negative impact on the year-to-year rice yield of the vertical APV system across two years. As rice yield was mainly affected by year, rice yield trials will be required for multiple years to understand the genetic and environmental factors influencing rice production under the vertical APV system.

Strategies to enhance public health doctor system in South Korea

Background: South Korea’s public health doctor system requires physicians to provide primary healthcare in medically underserved areas, such as rural regions, as an alternative to mandatory military service. Recently, concerns have arisen over the decline in the number of public health doctors available in these underserved areas. This study reviews issues related to the public health doctor system and proposes strategies for enhancing its management.Current Concepts: The annual number of public health doctors has steadily decreased by approximately 46.6%, from 1,962 in 2008 to 1,048 in 2022. According to the survey, the reasons behind this decline include the lengthy service period of 36 months compared to the 18-month military service, poor working conditions, low financial support, unreasonable manpower deployment, and uncertain social status.Discussion and Conclusion: Several recommendations can enhance the effectiveness of the public health doctor system. First, the mandatory service period of 36 months should be shortened, and a military training period of 1–2 months should be incorporated into the overall service duration. Second, ensuring appropriate working hours, including holidays, along with improved working conditions and reasonable financial support and compensation, is essential. Third, the role of public health doctors should shift from solely providing basic primary healthcare to acting as public health managers in local communities. Lastly, a long-term plan should be developed to establish various types of medical institutions in medically underserved regions.

Safety Impact of Introducing Automated Road Debris Removal System in South Korea

Road debris should be removed quickly because it can cause road damage and traffic accidents. An automated road debris removal system—called ROBOS—was developed in South Korea to remove road debris automatically and quickly. It can be mounted and used on vehicles over 3.5 tons. The effects of ROBOS on the traffic flow need to be studied before it can be used on actual roads. In this study, these effects were investigated by performing driving and microscopic traffic simulations. The former can be used to analyze drivers’ reactions to new road equipment and driving behavior when detecting road debris. Driving behavior results that met the research purpose were employed in the microscopic traffic simulation to imitate reality. Finally, the number of conflicts and the conflict rate were compared between manual and ROBOS vehicle road debris removal scenarios to analyze traffic safety. The results showed that the overall traffic safety was low when road debris was present in curved sections, where it was generally difficult for the driver to easily detect it, and in the first lane and third lane, where lane changes were limited. Assuming that a ROBOS vehicle was used in these sections, the number of conflicts and the conflict rate can be significantly reduced. This study evaluated traffic safety after the use of a ROBOS vehicle input and obtained basic information needed for decision-making in future road debris removal work, such as the priority of input when choosing between manual removal and removal by a ROBOS vehicle.

Social network analysis for medical narcotics in South Korea: focusing on patients and healthcare organizations

BackgroundMedical narcotics must be administered under medical supervision because of their potential for misuse and abuse, leading to more dangerous and addictive substances. The control of medical narcotics requires close monitoring to ensure that they remain safe and effective. This study proposes a methodology that can effectively identify the overprescription of medical narcotics in hospitals and patients.MethodsSocial network analysis (SNA) was applied to prescription networks for medical narcotics. Prescription data were obtained from the Narcotics Information Management System in South Korea, which contains all data on narcotic usage nationwide. Two-mode networks comprising hospitals and patients were constructed based on prescription data from 2019 to 2021 for the three most significant narcotics: appetite suppressants, zolpidem, and propofol. Two-mode networks were then converted into one-mode networks for hospitals. Network structures and characteristics were analyzed to identify hospitals suspected of overprescribing.ResultsThe SNA identified hospitals that overprescribed medical narcotics. Patients suspected of experiencing narcotic addiction seek treatment in such hospitals. The structure of the network was different for the three narcotics. While appetite suppressants and propofol networks had a more centralized structure, zolpidem networks showed a less centralized but more fragmented structure. During the analysis, two types of hospitals caught our attention: one with a high degree, meaning that potential abusers have frequently visited the hospital, and the other with a high weighted degree, meaning that the hospital may overprescribe. For appetite suppressants, these two types of hospitals matched 84.6%, compared with 30.0% for propofol. In all three narcotics, clinics accounted for the largest share of the network. Patients using appetite suppressants were most likely to visit multiple locations, whereas those using zolpidem and propofol tended to form communities around their neighborhoods.ConclusionsThe significance of this study lies in its analysis of nationwide narcotic use reports and the differences observed across different types of narcotics. The social network structure between hospitals and patients varies depending on the composition of the medical narcotics. Therefore, these characteristics should be considered when controlling medication with narcotics. The results of this study provide guidelines for controlling narcotic use in other countries.

Disease prevention measures applicable to primary healthcare clinics

Background: Primary healthcare is a cornerstone of the healthcare system, playing a vital role in addressing individual healthcare needs, and organizing and strengthening the national healthcare system. Owing to the rapid growth in healthcare demand and the treatment-focused approach, primary healthcare may face challenges in providing preventive healthcare.Current Concepts: Disease prevention measures in primary healthcare including health education, nutrition counseling, and immunization have demonstrated clinical benefits such as increased life expectancy. Therefore, it is imperative to revise the insurance system and educate individuals on disease prevention practices to reduce disease incidence and control soaring medical expenses. Furthermore, it has been observed that underestimated fees for medical consultation and the absence of compensation for disease prevention measures in primary healthcare may have inadvertently led to excessive prescriptions, while counseling and education are insufficient. Unlike the fee-for-service system in South Korea, the United States has implemented the Affordable Care Act, which offers reimbursement for evidence-based preventive care activities, thus encouraging disease prevention measures.Discussion and Conclusion: South Korea’s healthcare system has undergone a shift towards treatment-focused care due to a rapid increase in medical demand. However, it may be necessary to revise the insurance system and educate individuals on disease prevention practices to reduce disease incidence and medical expenses.

발달지체 및 장애 영아 조기개입 서비스 제공에 대한 현장 전문가의 인식

This mixed methods analysis employed online surveys and semi-structured interviews to explore the perspectives of 60 early intervention service providers in South Korea regarding service delivery. This study aimed to comprehensively understand their perceptions of the barriers and facilitators in early intervention services. The online survey- consisting of 30 items related to participant characteristics, service information, and perspectives on barriers and facilitators- was conducted. Participants were intentionally categorized based on survey data, and six individuals were randomly selected for follow-up interviews to ensure a wide spectrum of perspectives. The results of the mixed-methods study indicated diverse experiences and perspectives among early intervention providers, with responses varying across each item. While there was relative consistency among respondents regarding facilitators, perspectives on barriers differed both among participants and across various variables. The significance of preservice educator preparation programs and in-service educators’ professional development opportunities in enhancing early intervention services was commonly emphasized. The study concludes with recommendations and implications aimed at enhancing the early intervention system in South Korea.

ТҮШТҮК КОРЕЯДАГЫ БИЛИМ БЕРҮҮ САПАТЫНЫН МОНИТОРИНГИ

This article examines the education quality monitoring system in South Korea, with a special focus on primary education. Covering key points about standardized testing, rating systems, and innovative teaching methods, it provides a comprehensive review of effective practices across the country. The author emphasized the importance of primary education in forming an educational culture that promotes the development of critical thinking and creative abilities of junior students. The findings of the study provide valuable lessons for other countries seeking to improve the quality of their education systems. Thе article discusses the education system and monitoring the quality of education in South Korea, which currently occupies a leading position in international educational rankings. Since 1995, South Korea has been participating in international studies to assess the quality of education TIMSS, since 2000 PISA and in recent years has been recognized as a leading country with a high level of education quality. One of the factors of the high quality of education in South Korea is the national character of the educational culture of Koreans, who traditionally consider education an important component of the future success of both the country and every family. According to the International Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the socio- economic development of South Korea does not have a direct impact on the educational achievements of the country, but is associated with an effective national education system. And as a result, the high quality of education leads to an increase in the socio-economic development of the country as a whole.

손해사정사제도의 실태분석 및 개선방안에 관한 연구

In modern society, compared to the past, the economic scale has grown, resulting in greater diversity in insurance coverage and an expansion of the market. Consequently, the causes of losses have become more complex. In this context, accurate determination of liability and indemnity, as well as the fair assessment of insurance claims, have become crucial tasks. As a result, the technical expertise and professionalism of claim-adjuster(CA) are continuously evolving. Claim adjustment primarily serves to realize the insured's interests for insurance claimants. It also plays a pivotal role in securing the competitiveness of insurance companies and providing a basis for determining insurance premiums, ultimately preventing ethical misconduct within the insurance industry. Therefore, this study examines the concept and current status of the loss assessment system, highlighting its issues. Specifically, the study explores the existing CA system in South Korea and relevant domestic laws. It also reviews international CA systems to provide insights. The research proposes several improvements to the CA system. Firstly, it suggests enhancing the independence of CA through a detailed delineation of their authority and the establishment of a legal protection framework. Secondly, it advocates for the enhancement of the professionalism of CA through the strengthening of qualification systems and the introduction of continuous education. Notably, it emphasizes the consolidation of loss assessor functions, focusing on strengthening examination subjects and recognition systems, introducing continuous education, and implementing license renewal procedures.

Implementation cost of net zero electricity system: Analysis based on Korean national target

We evaluated the costs of implementation of a sustainable electricity system with carbon net zero emission by 2050. To achieve this goal, it is assumed to reduce the use of fossil fuel-based power generation, increase carbon-free clean energy generation, and secure storage facilities. We compared the total costs including the capital cost of new generators and storage technologies, fuel costs, and emission costs by 2050. We also investigated the effects of various levels of carbon price, curtailment rates of renewable energy output, demand pattern shift, increasing nuclear power generation, building pumped hydro storage, and utilization of hydrogen storage as long-duration storage. One of our findings indicates that although a higher curtailment rate necessitates increased renewable energy installation to achieve national emission target, it leads to a reduction in total costs due to the decreased requirement for storage capacity. Our findings provided invaluable insights into the potential of these solutions to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable electricity system in South Korea and other countries with similar policy goals.