• Title/Summary/Keyword: Christian North Korea study

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The Adaptation Status of North Korean Defectors to South Korean Society and Its Effect on their Problem Solving Ability (북한이탈주민의 적응실태 및 방안)

  • Chae, Kyung-Hee
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.18 no.10
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    • pp.524-530
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    • 2017
  • Unlike in the past, North Korean defectors are not merely satisfied at escaping the regime; they now consider their escape as a form of immigration to pursue a better life. This study examines the adaptation status of North Korean defectors and suggests a plan to cope with the associated challenges accordingly. The current status of North Korean defectors is analyzed based on a literature review and the latest data on their current status, along with their actual adaptation progress to South Korean society and other factors related to the difficulty in their social adjustment. The number of North Korean defectors has increased rapidly since 2000, but the number started to fall in the wake of the inauguration in 2012 of the Kim Jong Eun regime. In addition, North Korean defectors arriving after 1999 are significantly less educated and from lower levels in terms of their occupation and livelihood than those who arrived before. The factors related to North Korean defectors' maladjustment to South Korean society include: difficulties in performing economic activities, differences in the political and economic systems, and cultures, of the two Koreas, and other difficulties stemming from family relations. If the difficulties North Korean defectors experience in adapting to South Korean society are resolved with the support of North Korean defectors and facilities of South Korean society, North Korean defectors will be able to settle down successfully. It is also important for North Korean defectors to strive to adapt to South Korean society by sharing their emotion with the members of society. Therefore, in order for North Korean defectors to adapt smoothly to South Korean society, it is necessary to plan some concrete ways that would reduce social and financial burdens nationwide.

The Influence of Resilience of the North Korean Adolescents on their Social Problem-Solving Ability: Focused on Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem (탈북청소년의 적응유연성이 사회적 문제해결능력에 미치는 영향: 자아존중감의 매개효과를 중심으로)

  • Lee, Ha-Won;Chae, Kyung-Hee
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.18 no.9
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    • pp.395-402
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    • 2017
  • This study examinedthe adaptive flexibility of North Korean adolescent defectors in order to examine how they should see themselves and cope with various situations, and analyzedthe effect of their resilience on their self-esteem and social problem-solving ability. The study subjects were 223 North Korean adolescents (10 - 25 year olds) living in South Korea. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0 statistical programs. The study results showed that the resilience of North Korean adolescents had a statistically significant effect on their self-esteem and social problem-solving ability. In particular, resilience had a high correlation with self-esteem, and self-esteem had a high correlation with social problem solving ability. In addition, self-esteem was the mediating factor between resilience and social problem-solving ability. The self-esteem of North Korean adolescent defectors played a particularly important role. Therefore, professional protection and support should be provided with the help of related experts such as youth leaders and counselors who would be able to enhance the self-esteem of North Korean adolescent defectors.

The Mediating Effect of Social Support in the Relationship between Self-Differentiation and Interpersonal Relationship (북한이탈청소년의 자아분화와 대인관계의 관계에서 사회적지지의 매개효과)

  • Chae, Kyung-Hee
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.21 no.7
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    • pp.357-369
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    • 2020
  • This study examined the influential relationship between self-differentiation, interpersonal relationships, and social support of adolescent North Korean defectors as well as the mediating effects of social support in the relationship between self-differentiation and interpersonal relationships. For this study, the participants were selected among student North Korean defectors aged between 9 and 24 years. With these participants, a survey was conducted from November 4 to December 14, 2019. Two hundred eighteen questionnaires were used in the analyses, which were conducted with SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0. The analyses yielded the following findings. The self-differentiation of the adolescent North Korean defectors had a positive impact on interpersonal relationships. The self-differentiation of adolescent North Korean defectors had a positive impact on social support, and the social support of adolescent North Korean defectors had a positive impact on interpersonal relationships. In the relationship between self-differentiation of adolescent North Korean defectors and their interpersonal relationship, social support had a mediating effect. This study showed that by improving the level of social support and self-differentiation of adolescent North Korean defectors, it would be possible to improve their interpersonal relationship issues.

A Comparative Study on the Characteristics of Jangmadang Generation's Consciousness in North Korea (북한 장마당세대의 의식 특성 비교 연구)

  • Chae, Kyung-Hee
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.313-322
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    • 2019
  • This study poses a question on whether the Jangmadang Generation, which has been the focus of the sociological interest, can form an actual generation by transcending the social classes, status of students, ethnicity, and gender, etc. Therefore, in this study, the author compared the consciousness of the Jangmadang Generation in terms of politics, education, society, compliance with law, and education with their preceding generations. The data used in this study were gathered from the North Korean defectors who defected within the past five years over the period from November to December 2016. A total of 200 questionnaires were used for data analysis, which was conducted using SPSS 20.0, in order to show differences between groups and perform frequency analysis. The analysis results showed that the consciousness of the Jangmadang Generation in politics, society, compliance, and education was lower, while the economic consciousness was significantly higher compared to earlier generations. As their objective generational status, the Jangmadang Generation had experienced the 'March of Ordeal' and 'Collapse of Public Education' while they were still teenagers. Such a difference in their generational status influenced the formation of different consciousness as a generation compared to the earlier generations. Compared to the earlier generations who received 'proper public education,' the Jangmadang Generation, who did not receive 'decent public education' shows a generally lower level of consciousness compared to the earlier generations. As such, the Jangmadang Generation has the potential to form a separate generation with a different generation consciousness from that of earlier generations.

Research on Spiritual Direction in the Korean Protestant Context (한국 개신교 상황에서 영적 지도 연구)

  • Jingu Kwon
    • Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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    • v.73
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    • pp.139-157
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    • 2023
  • In Korean Protestantism, interest in Christian spirituality has grown significantly since the 1980s. Spirituality is now studied and used as a crucial term and topic in theology and ministry. As research on spirituality expanded to various areas of study and ministry and various topics related to spirituality were dealt with, research on spiritual direction also began. Oe-Shik Kim and Hae-Yong Yoo, who studied in North America, are the early scholars who began to study spiritual direction in Korean Protestantism in the 1990s. Their research has influenced Korean Protestant scholars and pastors to understand spiritual direction and apply it to seminary education and the Korean Protestant churches. Spiritual direction has been practiced in the Korean church in the form and content of faith education, spiritual training, devotional training, discipleship training, small groups, and pastoral counseling. The spiritual direction practiced by Eastern, Western, and monastic traditions throughout Christian history is not shared by Korean Protestants. Because Korean Protestantism has developed a unique spiritual tradition in the Korean context, its contents and forms of spiritual direction reflect the Korean context. Korean Protestants are more familiar with Tongsung Kido, early morning prayer, Bible study or Bible meditation, and small groups than contemplative traditions and individual spiritual direction. Thirty years have passed since research on spiritual direction began. The Korean Protestant academia needs to critically reflect on its research and practice. Spiritual direction is a term and tradition of different Christian cultures around the world and is part of Christian history and tradition. Korean Protestant scholars and church ministers need to accept the concept and application of spiritual direction considering the context and spiritual tradition of Korean Protestant churches, a flexible understanding, perspective, and attitude toward the concept and application of spiritual direction in Korean Protestant churches are needed.

Isotretinoin exposure in pregnant women in Korea

  • Kim, Nae Ry;Yoon, So Ra;Choi, June Seek;Ahn, Hyun Kyong;Lee, So-Young;Hong, Dal Soo;Yun, Jeong Sup;Hong, Seong Yeon;Kim, Yoon Ha;Han, Jung Yeol
    • Obstetrics & gynecology science
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    • v.61 no.6
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    • pp.649-654
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    • 2018
  • Objective Isotretinoin is a notorious teratogen otherwise used for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Some countries, including those in North America and the European Union, implemented the pregnancy prevention program (PPP); however, no PPP has yet been established in South Korea. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of pregnant women exposed to isotretinoin among the callers of the Korean Mother Safe Counseling Center. Methods This is a prospective cohort study. We evaluated the demographic characteristics, obstetric history, and isotretinoin exposure of pregnant women based on the mother safe registry from April 2010 to July 2016. Results Among 22,374 callers, 650 (2.9%) pregnant women were exposed to isotretinoin. The mean age was $29.0{\pm}4.4$ years in the isotretinoin-exposed group and $32.0{\pm}4.2$ years in the unexposed group (P<0.001). Moreover, the incidence of pregnancies within 30 days after isotretinoin discontinuation or during isotretinoin intake was 78.9% (513/650). The median duration of isotretinoin exposure was 18 (1-4,231) days. Furthermore, from 2011 to 2015, the incidence of isotretinoin exposure was $2.9{\pm}1.2$ pregnancies per 10,000 births in South Korea. Conclusion Approximately 80% of pregnant women are exposed to isotretinoin within the recommended 30 days of contraception or during pregnancy. Therefore, the PPP has to be established in South Korea.

A Study on the Decisive Factors Influencing the Career Preparation Activities of North Korean Adolescent Defector (탈북 청소년 진로준비행동에 영향을 미치는 결정요인에 관한 연구)

  • Cho, Hyun-Seob;Chae, Kyung-Hee
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.20 no.6
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    • pp.501-513
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    • 2019
  • In this study, which is based on the findings of the preceding studies, the researchers determined social support and Career Decision Self-efficacy as the key influencing variables for the successful Career Preparation Activities, to analyze the relationship between Career Preparation Activities and these variables, while identifying the mediating effect of Career Decision Self-efficacy in the relationship between social support and Career Preparation Activities. In addition, there is an objective to provide effective career counseling materials. For this study, a total of 174 North Korean adolescent defectors, who were in their middle and high schools, were interviewed and the resultant data were analyzed the data based on the questionnaire data of 204 copies from March 12 to 19, 2019. For the analysis of the data, SPSS and AMOS statistical suites were used to verify the hypothesis. The result of the analysis showed that, first, in the relationship between the social support, Career Decision Self-efficacy, and Career Preparation Activities of the North Korean adolescent defectors social support, Career Decision Self-efficacy, and Career Preparation Activities were all positively related. Especially, Career Decision Self-efficacy has been identified as the variable that is highly related to Career Preparation Activities. Second, rather than social support(${\beta}=.107$), Career Decision Self-efficacy(${\beta}=.388$) turned out to have more profound direct influence on Career Preparation Activities. Third, social support did not influence Career Preparation Activities directly(${\beta}=.107$, p>.05) but completely intermediated Career Decision Self-efficacy to influence Career Preparation Activities(Indirect effect=.307, p<.05, Z-value=2.924, p<.01). The findings of this study show that, in order to enhance the Career Preparation Activities of the North Korean adolescent defectors, it is necessary to examine how they perceive the emotional, informational, material, and evaluative supports from the surrounding environment are perceived and identify the abilities, values, and career desires of themselves through a behavioral planning that can establish a professional and value system in accordance with them.

A Comparison of the Upward-Downward Feedback of Personnel Rating at a University Hospital (일개 대학병원의 상향.하향 인사평가결과 비교분석)

  • Cho, Sung-Man;Seo, Young-Joon;Kang, Shin-Hee;Hwang, Seul-Ki;Kim, Jang-Mook
    • The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.117-128
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    • 2012
  • This study purports to investigate the difference between upward and downward feedback and to find out the strategy to enhance the validity and reliability of the multi-source feedback system. Data were collected from 88 middle-level managers working at divisions of nursing, administration, and clinical technology at a university hospital located in north-eastern part of South Korea. Data about multi-source feedback of the year 2008 and 2009 were obtained from the department of personnel management under the permission of hospital top management. The collected data were analyzed using t-test, and correlation analysis. The major findings of the study were as follows: First, the scores of downward feedback were always higher than those of the upward feedback. Second, the scores of downward feedback were always higher than those of the upward feedback in both nursing and administrative staff, while no significant difference was found in technological staff. Third, the upward and downward feedback scores were significantly different in terms of the evaluation factors. Fourth, there were significant correlations between total scores of downward and upward feedback, and evaluation factor scores. In conclusion, the composition and weight of measurement items of multi-source feedback needs to be designed differently in terms of each job characteristics.

A Research on Confucian Christianity in the An-Dong region (1) - An Approach to Confucianism and Christianity via 'Intercultural Philosophy' - (안동지역의 선비-기독교인 연구(1) - 유교와 기독교의 상호문화철학적 접근 -)

  • Gwon, Sang-woo
    • Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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    • v.145
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    • pp.119-141
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    • 2018
  • This paper is to address the consonance between Confucianism and Christianity, focusing on the first-generation clergy in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Korea. Andong has turned out many Confucian scholars since Yi Hwang, and thus founded the school of Togye (Yi Hwang's nom de plume). Meanwhile, some of Confucians in Andong converted to Christianity after reading the Bible. Thus, their religious activities and their interpretation of the Bible Confucian factors smacked of Confucianism, which suggests a need to reestablish the relationship between Confucianism and Christianity. This study produced the following results: First, the converts did not aspire to Christianity itself but to saving their country. The first-generation clergy in Andong wanted to sublimate their patriotic and Confucian spirits into Christianity, which is backed up by the independence movement planned jointly by Confucians and Christians in Andong. As for Confucians in Andong, their devotion to their country was a cause of the conversion to Christianity. Second, it was small wonder that Christianity was harmonious with Confucianism at least for early Christianity in Andong. In those days, Confucians in Andong had to achieve their realistic goals and thus did not need to deny Christianity. To relieve the national suffering, they had more need of Christian religiosity than Confucian morality. Likewise, missionaries wanted to propagate Christianity, and therefore did not deny the worldliness of Confucianism. On this wise, the two kept their identities and at the same time could compensate for their shortcomings from each other. This study names such Korean Christianity a 'humanistic religion.'

A Study on the Visions of Zechariah in the Old Testament from a Perspective of Analytical Psychology (구약성서 '스가랴'서의 환상에 대한 분석심리학적 연구)

  • Sang Ick Han
    • Sim-seong Yeon-gu
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.1-45
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    • 2014
  • Mystic experience such as seeing an vision could be explained as experiencing elusive and mysterious unique existence in religious way. In depth psychology, which is based on unconsciousness like analytical psychology, this could be explained as a something that gives a meaning of life and purpose through discovering health and healing. The importance of primodial experience in depth psychology is that it can possibly discover the base of present acts. In Christian theology, symbolic mystery and truth of religious experience that appear in Christian tradition have interest on human situation. These two fields' approach methods are different, but both show common interest on unique experience which can be said properly as raw experience. Various visions appear in many parts of the Bible. Among many visions, the book of Zechariah, one of the 12 Prophets, describes rich and diverse 8 visions through chapter 1 to chapter 8. However, due to the Genre of revelation, it lacks historicity, and because of vagueness and symbolic meanings, its visions are hard to understand and interpret. Theologically, visions of Zechariah show communality of Israelites by reconstructing kingdom of Judah and church in a way of historical circumstances. Though, these visions could deliver the meaning of an ethnical aspect as reporting continuous conversation between the God and humans. Furthermore, it could mean a personal aspect of the Prophet Zechariah as reaching for a opportunity of new change. Moreover, those who read these visions could try to interpret the meanings of various images which represent meeting mysterious existences. Therefore, the Author would concentrate on the fact that 8 visions in the book of Zechariah, which has not been received much attention to neither Christians nor non-believers, develop in chiastic structure (stylistic contrast), so that tries to interpret the first, second, seventh, and the eighth visions in analytic psychology way. In visions of Zechariah, excepting the 4th vision which probably was inserted later, rest of 7 visions each shows the stage of the hours of darkness. 1st to 3rd visions represent evening, 5th vision represents deep in the night, and 6th to 8th visions represent dawn to morning. Moreover, since structure of visions arranged in chiastic way, horse appears in 1st and 8th vision, measuring rope and measure tools are used as main motif in 2nd and 7th vision. However, same motifs could have different symbolic meanings and roles as visions are formed in different situations and conditions. In the first vision, angels who ride horses look around the world and report it is calm and peaceful. Concerning the political situation back in the day, the world being calm and peaceful in the beginning of evening means that it is not ready to change to a whole new world. Psychologically, if there is no readiness to adopt new world, it means being hopeless. It is sending you a message to get out of those kinds of situation. Moreover, appearance of four angels who rode red, brown, and white horses to a myrtus tree in the valley means that it is time for individuation and it is right and good timing for changing. In second vision, you will be able to see that Israelites had long years being caught in the shadows by foreign country, and long years succumbed by the strength of four horns, which shows the progress of renewing strength and being oneness with oneself from overwhelmed situation by paternity. In seventh vision, meaning of two women bringing the godness of the sky, who were locked up in a rice basket, back to the temple in Babylon is going towards in a level of Self-actualization by separating one's ego captured excessively by matherhood and putting back to a place where it was before. In eighth vision, chariots pulled by horses are scattered far and wide, and horses which went to north had rest in the land of North. After horses and chariots are seen between two mountains of bronze with the image of Self and anima/animus. These images can be explained as the changing progress are almost completed and the God and human, in other words Self and ego are being united and is now time for rest. All of 8 visions contains the conversation between angel and Zechariah who willing to know the meaning of visions. Zechariah asks the angel actively about the meaning of visions because of his wish for Israelites to return home and rebuild church. Conversation among the God, Zechariah, who asks questions until he knows everything, an Angel, who gives answer to given questions, is conversation between ego and anima/animus. Eventually, it is a conversation between Self and ego.