• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Purpose - This paper empirically investigates the relationship between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods imports and economic growth with a focus on the 13 Asia-Pacific economies during 2005-2016. In particular, this paper extends the study by breaking down the data of Asia-Pacific countries into High Income Countries (HICs) and Low Income Countries (LICs) according to the difference of income levels. Design/methodology - Our empirical model employs the standard growth model based on the Barro (1998)-type growth framework. Using static panel-data technique, we estimate the effect of ICT goods imports on economic growth in the 13 Asia-Pacific economies. In addition, we also estimate a difference of the ICT goods imports-economic growth link between HICs and LICs. Findings -The estimation results indicate that ICT goods import has a significant positive effect on economic growth, while ICT goods export has a positive but statistically insignificant effect on it. When we break down the panel data into HICs and LICs in order to gain further insight, ICT goods imports has been effective in spurring growth in only LICs but not in HICs. The other supplementary results show that both domestic investment (GCF) and life expectancy (LE) have a significantly positive impact on economic growth in both HICs and LICs. Originality/value - The main findings of the paper suggest that ICT goods imports has a positive effect on economic growth in only LICs but not in HICs. This result supports the so-called 'leapfrogging' hypothesis through ICT goods imports in the Asia-Pacific countries, in which LICs are gaining more from ICT goods imports than HICs.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 2010

These days, traditional and complementary/alternative medicine (TM/CAM) becomes more upsurging topics of increasing importance and the use and popularity of TM/CAM is rapidly expanding, Since the tradition and situation on TM/CAM of each country is quite different, the concept and system of TM/CAM expressed by different countries shows the variety of range. Some countries recognize TM/CAM as one part of two branches of medical science and have integrated into national health care system. In these countries, education systems for TM/CAM are also well organized formal education systems, such as the Republic of Korea, DPR Korea, China (including Hong Kong and Macao), and Viet Nam. However, other countries in Asia and the Pacific. still do not have formal and/or informal education system and do not recognize TM/CAM as a kind of health care systems. This paper reviews the current situation of education and training on TM/CAM in the Asia and the Pacific. As a result, fifteen countries (31.3%) of 48 member countries in Asia and the Pacific have formal education systems for TM/CAM, twelve countries (25.0%) do not have formal education system and twenty one countries (43.7%) do not have available information. At least six countries are allocating the curriculum of medical school to the education of both allopathic and traditional medicine. For the proper use and development of TM/CAM, the development of formal education system as well as the integration into the national health care system are needed.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.269-289
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• 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chains across the world. When the pandemic broke out, the disruptions were mainly due to the lockdowns imposed in various countries. The WTO has predicted that the pandemic might cause world trade to decline by 13 to 32 per cent in 2020. This paper will examine the implications of COVID-19 on digital trade, particularly the use of blockchain in the Asia Pacific. The Asia Pacific (particularly Singapore and Hong Kong) is a leader in the use of digital technologies. This paper will thus attempt to draw out lessons from the first movers for the rest of Asia. It will examine the bottlenecks in the application of this technology in the Asia Pacific countries, and the need for regulatory changes in the Asia-Pacific. It will trace the technology's barriers to adoption, both as regards interoperability, and regulatory framework. The advantages of blockchain technology in trade finance are clear; it can promote trade efficiency, mitigate risk and expand trade to other regions. However, earlier efforts to introduce digital technologies have failed. More collaborative efforts are required, so that networks can connect seamlessly on a single technology platform, and meet the demand for trade finance. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have provided an enabling environment for the intensification of digital efforts, increasing their urgency; should these measures indeed successfully occur, they will improve the resiliency of supply chains across the region.

• East Asian Economic Review
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.129-168
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• 2016

The Asia-Pacific region is not typically seen as one geographic or socio-economic space. Yet, 58 regional economies occupying the space of 28 million square kilometers from Turkey in the West, Russian Federation in the North, French Polynesia in the East and New Zealand in the South belong to the Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). This commission provides a forum for member states that "promotes regional cooperation and collective action, assisting countries in building and sustaining shared economic growth and social equity". In 2013, ESCAP's members adopted the Bangkok Declaration to enhance efforts towards deeper regional economic integration. Yet this document neither proposes a concrete modality or modalities of achieving deeper integration, nor provides a sense of distance of individual countries to a "perceived" integrated Asia-Pacific.This paper aims to comprehensively quantify recent integration efforts of economies in the Asia-Pacific region. We provide an "index of integration effort" based on twelve metrics that measure the relative distance of a given economy to the region as an economic entity. Generally, we find that while the region has trended towards becoming integrated in general, both the level of integration and integration effort are inconsistent among Asia-Pacific economies. We discuss potential applications and extensions of the index in developing our perspective of the region's economic and social dynamics.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.83-100
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• 2016

In this paper, we present the DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) application case study to investigate the regionally distinctive telco management characteristics of the Asia-Pacific countries. This study attempts to exploit the implications of DEA for the assessments of core process capabilities of telcos. Accordingly, we extract input variables of CAPEX (capital expenditure), operating expense, marketing expense, and number of employees, each to reflect the competitiveness of the core processes such as fixed asset utilization, operation & sales efficiency, and white collar productivity. In conjunction with the input variables, the output variables are chosen as EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization), ARPU (Average Revenue per User), and number of subscribers. The computational testing results, conducted with total 37 telcos of the 12 Asia-Pacific countries, are analyzed in various ways to understand the distinctive performance characteristics across the region. The managerial implication captured from this study provides useful insight for using DEA as the international telco management purpose.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4849-4853
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• 2012

Relatively low numbers of malignant mesotheliomas have been reported from Eastern Asia. In order to explore the causes of this fact, the available data on mesothelioma incidence/mortality in five countries (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore) were reviewed. Data on the industrial histories of the above countries were also examined. Mesothelioma incidence was low, despite a history of high shipbuilding and port activities, in which heavy exposure to asbestos generally has occurred. Underestimation of mesothelioma could partly explain the above discrepancy. Moreover, in some areas a sufficient latency period for mesothelioma development may have not yet elapsed, due to recent industrialization. However, other possibilities have to be considered. The cancer epidemiology in Eastern Asia differs deeply from that seen in Western countries, an indication of differences in etiologic factors of cancer as well as in co-factors. In addition, the oncogenic spectrum of asbestos is wide, and not completely defined. In a very different milieu from that of Western countries, asbestos could preferentially hit targets other than serosal membranes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.4115-4121
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• 2015

Background: Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death with half a million deaths per year. Incidence and mortality rates have demonstrated notable changes in Asian and African countries during the last few decades. In this study, we first aimed to determine the trend of colorectal cancer mortality rate in each Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) region, and then re-classify them to find more homogenous classes. Materials and Methods: Our study population consisted of 52 countries of Asia and North Africa in six IHME pre-defined regions for both genders and age-standardized groups from 1990 to 2010.We first applied simple growth models for pre-defined IHME regions to estimate the intercepts and slopes of mortality rate trends. Then, we clustered the 52 described countries using the latent growth mixture modeling approach for classifying them based on their colorectal mortality rates over time. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that males and people in high income Asia pacific and East Asia countries were at greater risk of death from colon and rectum cancer. In addition, South Asia region had the lowest rates of mortality due to this cancer. Simple growth modeling showed that majority of IHME regions had decreasing trend in mortality rate of colorectal cancer. However, re-classification these countries based on their mortality trend using the latent growth mixture model resulted in more homogeneous classes according to colorectal mortality trend. Conclusions: In general, our statistical analyses showed that most Asian and North African countries had upward trend in their colorectal cancer mortality. We therefore urge the health policy makers in these countries to evaluate the causes of growing mortality and study the interventional programs of successful countries in managing the consequences of this cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.293-306
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• 2005

In order to bridge the digital divide issues in the Asia Pacific region, Japan initiated the Asia Broadband Program, during implementing E-Japan and U-Japan Plans with collaboration among Asia Pacific Counties. This paper describes first joint experiments that were undertaken in Japan, Singapore and China. Then this paper also describes Japanese efforts to build space infrastructure for development of ICT Society in the Asia Pacific region for further international cooperation to bridge the digital divide Article 1, para. 1, of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, calls for exploration and use of outer space to be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development. The augmentation of common benefit from space communication could contribute to bridge the digital divide issues in developing countries in Asia Pacific region. Accordingly, space- infrastructure building would be very important to implement common benefit among countries concerned through international cooperation and collaboration

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.567-570
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• 2001

In the Asia Pacific Summit on Information Society in Tokyo, Ministers for information and communications of member countries of the APT(Asia Pacific Telecommunity) shared the view that it is necessary to take initiatives to unite efforts of all concerned and to tackle In(Information and Communication Technology)-related issues, so that a sound information-based society is established which respects the diversity of the Asia Pacific Region. At that meeting, Ministers adopted the Declaration and Action Plan for the Asia Pacific Renaissance through ICT. Thus, this paper focuses on analysis of the major issues regarding Declaration and Action Plan for the Asia Pacific Renaissance. In addition, this paper introduces the APT's following actions to implement the Declaration and Action Plan for Asia Pacific region.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2857-2870
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• 2015

Although the incidence of breast cancer in Asia remains lower than in North America, Western Europe, and Oceania, rates have been increasing rapidly during the past few decades, and Asian countries now account for 40% of breast cancer cases diagnosed worldwide. Breast cancer mortality has also increased among Asian women, in contrast to decreased mortality in Northern America, Western Europe, and Oceania. These increased rates are associated with higher prevalence of breast cancer risk factors (e.g., reduced parity, delayed childbirth, increased obesity) that have accompanied economic development throughout the region. However, Asian regions (western, south-central, south-eastern, and eastern) and countries differ in the types and magnitude of changes in breast cancer risk factors, and cannot be viewed as a single homogeneous group. The objective of this paper was to contrast the heterogeneous epidemiology of breast cancer by Asian regions and countries, and to suggest potential avenues for future research.