• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.111-117
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• 2011

This study attempts to facilitate climate change adaptation in conservation area by spatial planning of climate adaptation zone for endangered species. Spatial area is South Korea and select leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) as a target species of this study. In order to specify the climate adaptation zone, firstly, Maximum entropy method (Maxent) was used to identify suitable habitat, and then core habitat was selected for leopard cat. Secondly, land use resistance index was evaluated and least cost distance was analyzed for target species. In this step we choose dispersal capacity of leopard cat to reflect species ecological characteristic. Finally, climate adaptation zone is described and adaptation measures are suggested. The presented approach could be generalized for application into conservation planning and restoration process. Furthermore, spatial planning of climate adaptation zone could increase heterogeneity of habitat and improve adaptive capacity of species and habitat itself.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2019

This study applies the concept of climate change vulnerability assessment in order to suggest climate change adaptation effects in a quantitative manner, given that previous studies have hitherto rely on qualitative assessment, as climate change adaptive policies are currently being implemented by local governments of Korea. The vulnerability assessment tool used in this study is VESTAP ("Vulnerability assESsment Tool to build a climate change Adaptation Plan"), which was developed by the Korea Adaptation Center for Climate Change (KACCC), and applied to gauge the vulnerability of pine trees to diseases and pests within Chungcheongnam-do. The climate change adaptation project for vulnerability improvement was assessed only in terms of forest disaster prevention and change in regional climate change vulnerabilities within 16 regions of Chungcheongnam-do as the result of 2016 Climate Change Adaptation Project (Forest Disaster Prevention Project). As a result, it was observed that climate change adaptive capacity has improved according to change in the area of forestland with disaster prevention, and the vulnerability indicator decreased, confirming the impact of the climate change adaptation (forest disaster prevention) project. Also, analysis of regional climate change adaptation project scales and change in vulnerabilities allowed us to determine the regional propriety of climate change adaptation (forest disaster prevention) projects launched in 2016.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.185-205
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• 2010

Climate change vulnerability assessment based on local conditions is a prerequisite for establishment of climate change adaptation policies. While some studies have developed a methodology for vulnerability assessment at the national level using statistical data, few attempts, whether domestic or overseas, have been made to develop methods for local vulnerability assessments that are easily applicable to a single city. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to develop a conceptual framework for climate change vulnerability, and then develop a general methodology for assessment at the regional level applied to a single coastal city, Mokpo, in Jeolla province, Korea. We followed the conceptual framework of climate change vulnerability proposed by the IPCC (1996) which consists of "climate exposure," "systemic sensitivity," and "systemic adaptive capacity." "Climate exposure" was designated as sea level rises of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 meter(s), allowing for a simple scenario for sea level rises. Should more complex forecasts of sea level rises be required later, the methodology developed herein can be easily scaled and transferred to other projects. Mokpo was chosen as a seaside city on the southwest coast of Korea, where all cities have experienced rising sea levels. Mokpo has experienced the largest sea level increases of all, and is a region where abnormal high tide events have become a significant threat; especially subsequent to the construction of an estuary dam and breakwaters. Sensitivity to sea level rises was measured by the percentage of flooded area for each administrative region within Mokpo evaluated via simulations using GIS techniques. Population density, particularly that of senior citizens, was also factored in. Adaptive capacity was considered from both the "hardware" and "software" aspects. "Hardware" adaptive capacity was incorporated by considering the presence (or lack thereof) of breakwaters and seawalls, as well as their height. "Software" adaptive capacity was measured using a survey method. The survey questionnaire included economic status, awareness of climate change impact and adaptation, governance, and policy, and was distributed to 75 governmental officials working for Mokpo. Vulnerability to sea level rises was assessed by subtracting adaptive capacity from the sensitivity index. Application of the methodology to Mokpo indicated vulnerability was high for seven out of 20 administrative districts. The results of our methodology provides significant policy implications for the development of climate change adaptation policy as follows: 1) regions with high priority for climate change adaptation measures can be selected through a correlation diagram between vulnerabilities and records of previous flood damage, and 2) after review of existing short, mid, and long-term plans or projects in high priority areas, appropriate adaptation measures can be taken as per this study. Future studies should focus on expanding analysis of climate change exposure from sea level rises to other adverse climate related events, including heat waves, torrential rain, and drought etc.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.73-96
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• 2013

This aim is to explore the change of lifestyle caused by climate change and develop available adaptation policies against climate threats in Central Asia with the perspective of nomadism, which depends entirely on natural ecosystem. This article also attempts to pinpoint the dynamics between nomadic lifestyle and adaptation options for the resilience of nomadic community against climatic change threats. The adaptation options and opportunities as well as the impacts of land use change and nomadic pastoralists' lifestyle caused by climate change cannot be overemphasized. We suggest that nomadic lifestyle may aggravate the degree of vulnerability to climate change threats, whereas the capacity of nomad to successfully adapting to new environment in developing countries can be superior to that of settler lifestyle in one place in developed countries.

• Journal of Smart Tourism
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.5-15
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• 2022

As the utilization of technology in the tourism field becomes familiar, it greatly impacts people's tourism activities. These changes could also affect the behavior of tourists during the pandemic. To investigate consumers' adaptation to the self-service technology (SST) environment during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we adopted a model of absorptive capacity as the main framework for empirical research. To track the social effects of COVID-19, consumers' behavioral intentions for four different points in time are collected. The analysis was conducted using latent growth and structural equation modeling. We set the organizational and environmental characteristics as the first step of the model, with assimilation and trust as a middle step. Intention to use a kiosk is placed at the final step as an exploit. Findings indicate that organizational characteristics and environmental characteristics positively influenced assimilation and trust, except for environmental characteristics. Consumers' assimilation in SST encourages immediate intention to use a kiosk. Consumers' trust in kiosks positively impacts both immediate and continuance intention to use a kiosk during COVID-19.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.355-366
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• 2014

Objectives: This study seeks to evaluate the vulnerability assessment of the human health sector for $PM_{10}$, which is reflected in the regional characteristics and related disease mortality rates for $PM_{10}$ in Busan over the period of 2006-2010. Methods: According to the vulnerability concept suggested by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), vulnerability to $PM_{10}$ is comprised of the categories of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The indexes of the exposure and sensitivity categories indicate positive effects, while the adaptive capacity index indicates a negative effect on vulnerability to $PM_{10}$. Variables of each category were standardized by the rescaling method, and each regional relative vulnerability was computed through the vulnerability index calculation formula. Results: The regions with a high exposure index are Jung-Gu (transportation region) and Saha-Gu (industrial region). Major factors determining the exposure index are the $PM_{10}$ concentration, days of $PM_{10}{\geq}50$, ${\mu}g/m^3$, and $PM_{10}$ emissions. The regions that show a high sensitivity index are urban and rural regions; these commonly have a high mortality rate for related disease and vulnerable populations. The regions that have a high adaptive capacity index are Jung-Gu, Gangseo-Gu, and Busanjin-Gu, all of which have a high level of economic/welfare/health care factors. The high-vulnerability synthesis of the exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity indexes show that Dong-Gu and Seo-Gu have a risk for $PM_{10}$ potential effects and a low adaptive capacity. Conclusions: This study presents the vulnerability index to $PM_{10}$ through a relative comparison using quantitative evaluation to draw regional priorities. Therefore, it provides basic data to reflect environmental health influences in favor of an adaptive policy limiting damage to human health caused by vulnerability to $PM_{10}$.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.492-504
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• 2013

Objectives: This analysis seeks to evaluate the impact of environmental health factors (EHF; e.g. hospital beds per capita, employees of medical institutions) on extreme-heat vulnerability assessment in Busan Metropolitan City during 2006-2010. Methods: According to the vulnerability concept suggested by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), extreme-heat vulnerability is comprised of the categories of Exposure, Sensitivity, and Adaptive Capacity (including EHF). The indexes of the Exposure and Sensitivity categories indicate positive effects, while the Adaptive capacity index indicates a negative effect on extreme-heat vulnerability. Variables of each category were standardized by the re-scaling method, and then each regional relative vulnerability was computed with the vulnerability index calculation formula. Results: The extreme-heat vulnerability index (EVI) excepting EHF was much higher in urban areas than in suburban areas within the metropolitan area. When EHF was considered, the difference in the EVI between the two areas was reduced due to the increase of the Adaptive capacity index in urban areas. The low EVI in suburban areas was induced by a dominant effect of natural environmental factors (e.g. green area) within the Adaptive capacity category. Conclusions: To reduce the vulnerability to extreme heat in urban areas, which were more frequently exposed to extreme heat than others areas, public health and natural environments need to be improved in sensitive areas.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-83
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• 2015

Recently, climate change risk assessment has been discussed as a medium process for making climate change adaptation policies in the research field of climate change adaptation. Climate change risk assessment has been understood to have an intermediary role among impact assessment, vulnerable assessment and policy, and is used in the process of devising adaptation policies in the United Kingdom (UK). This paper quantitatively assessed the risks of climate change in Korea, applied the methods used in the UK, underwent the classification process and suggested implications of Korean adaptation policies. A survey of experts, based on Delphi's method and the classification criterion developed by Klinke and Renn(2002), was also carried out. A list of climate risks was created from the climate change impact and vulnerability assessment report of Korea, first national adaptation policy of Korea, and general climate risks of the UK. From the results, 42 risks out of total 125 risks were selected based on their importance. The assessed risks with factors, such as high impact and urgency, are related to repeated and large scale damage from storms and floods caused by abnormal or extreme weather events. Ecological changes and social infrastructure risks were engaged as required as a policy response for medium to longer term. As for making the classification, types of climate risks were suggested to manage the basic capacity in relation to social trust, triggering mechanism and responsibility. Following suggestions are put forward as the base of autonomous adaptation: increasing the capacity of civil society, mutual trust and civil participation in adaptation policy process.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.259-269
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• 2011

The meaning of fengshui was another cultural ecological environment in the pre-modern in Korea. Village residents made interrelations with village natural environment by the medium of the geomantic landscape. The functions of cultural ecology through the village fengshui are as follows: the spatial location, the population inflow, the regulation of the community's production or construction or land-use, the adjustment of the environmental carrying capacity, the environmental management, the forming of the collective environmental perception and attitude. Village fengshui is a cultural adaptation strategy to the local environment for the village residents. Fengshui can be evaluated as a traditional cultural ecological way and knowledge system for keeping sustainable village environment in East Asia.

• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1169-1180
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• 2018

Cave shrimps from the genera Typhlatya, Stygiocaris and Typhlopatsa (TST complex) comprises twenty cave-adapted taxa, which mainly occur in the anchialine environment. Anchialine habitats may undergo drastic environmental fluctuations, including spatial and temporal changes in salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen content. Previous studies of crustaceans from anchialine caves suggest that they have possessed morphological, behavioral, and physiological adaptations to cope with the extreme conditions, similar to other cave-dwelling crustaceans. However, the genetic basis has not been thoroughly explored in crustaceans from anchialine habitats, which can experience hypoxic regimes. To test whether the TST shrimp-complex hypoxia adaptations matched adaptive evolution of mitochondrial OXPHOS genes. The 13 OXPHOS genes from mitochondrial genomes of 98 shrimps and 1 outgroup were examined. For each of these genes was investigated and compared to orthologous sequences using both gene (i.e. branch-site and Datamonkey) and protein (i.e. TreeSAAP) level approaches. Positive selection was detected in 11 of the 13 candidate genes, and the radical amino acid changes sites scattered throughout the entire TST complex phylogeny. Additionally, a series of parallel/convergent amino acid substitutions were identified in mitochondrial OXPHOS genes of TST complex shrimps, which reflect functional convergence or similar genetic mechanisms of cave adaptation. The extensive occurrence of positive selection is suggestive of their essential role in adaptation to hypoxic anchialine environment, and further implying that TST complex shrimps might have acquired a finely capacity for energy metabolism. These results provided some new insights into the genetic basis of anchialine hypoxia adaptation.