• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2001

This work was conducted to observe the housewives´ recognition about GMO products and their opinions about the development and production of GMO. Seventy eight percent of the subjects in this study were aware of GMO and GMO product which is best known to them was bean. Only 6.2% of the subjects considered GMO as safe and 42.1% did not know whether it is safe or not. Most of the subjects were unlikely to choose to purchase the GMO because of unproved safety, but many subjects were willing to purchase if the safety was informed with high reliability, even though 25.9% of the subjects were still negative. But when GMO product is offered with low price compared with ordinary products, only 24.6% were willing to purchase, showing that the safety was considered more important than the low price.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.338-344
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• 2009

This study analyzed consumers' willingness to pay for price increases to avoid the purchase of GM foods by the expansion of GMO labeling. The subjects were asked about their knowledge of GM, concerns of potential hazards, and sources of obtained GM information. The logit model was employed and marginal effects were calculated to interpret the results. The results showed that consumers who perceived the safety of GM technology were less likely to pay for price increases, while consumers who had concerns about GM foods were more likely to pay. In addition, the study demonstrated that consumers residing in urban areas and with low levels of education and income were also less likely to pay for price increases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1150-1156
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• 2004

The GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) labeling system on raw materials has been in Korea since March 2001, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)-derived foods since July 2001. Therefore, we designed a multiplex PCR method to ascertain the validity of the labeling system and to monitor the status of circulation for genetically modified maize (GM Maize). Five lines of GM Maize (GA21, TC1507, Mon810, NK603, and Bt176) were used, and specific primer pairs were designed to detect each line. Using this method, the different lines of GM Maize were monitored from raw products and processed foods in Korean market. Some of the maize processed foods and raw materials were shown to contain more than one foreign gene. This method was found to be effective for-detecting five different GM Maize in a single reaction.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.2 s.89
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• pp.126-131
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• 2006

The objective of this study was monitoring of genetically modified soybean by PCR and ELISA. We collected 60 soybean samples from the open markets located in Western Gyeongnam (Sacheon, Hamyang, Hadong, Sanchung, Uiryung, Geochang, and Hapcheon). A total of 60 soybeans was examined and 14 genetical modified soybean (GMS) were detected by PCR. The GMS rate of selling soybean in Uiryung, Hadong, Sacheon, and Hapcheon was 50.0%, 37.5%, 33.3% and 25%, respectively. The 7 of 14 GMSs were positive by ELISA and most of positive samples were below 3% GMS but 1 (Uiryung 1) of the positive samples was over the 3% which is maximum permit limit in Korea. These results mean that merchants of open market did not express for selling soybean mixed with GMS, so consumers did not recognize GMO. Therefore, we thought that education of GMO for merchant of open market need to recognize about GMO maximum permit limit.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.247-258
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• 2001

This study focused on the recognition and information need for GMO(Genetically Modified Organism). The data were collected from 350 adults living in Daegu and Busan by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Frequencies and chi-square tests were conducted by SPSS Windows. The results of the survey were as follows: (1) the concerns about GMO were high but recognition was low. (2) many respondents were worried about the safety of GMO. (3) many people desired the labelling of GMO, and (4) the need for information about GMO was high and most respondents wanted to be informed about safety of GMO. This study suggests that the consumer education about GMO should be conducted through mass media and consumer protection organizations.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.305-314
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• 2018

'New Breeding Techniques (NBTs)' have been one of hot issues, since their future will be affected profoundly by national as well as international regulatory landscapes. In this review, we compare characteristics of NBTs with conventional and genetic modification, and analyze genetically modified organism (GMO) regulatory systems in the context of possible regulation of NBTs. NBTs are very heterogeneous in terms of principles, methodologies, and final products. As Living Modified Organisms (LMO) is defined in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) as an organism containing novel combination of genetic materials obtained by the use of modern biotechnology, CPB as well as other national legislations locate itself somewhere in the middle between product-based and process-based regulations. It is also noted that jurisdictions with regulatory systems more oriented to product-based one tend to be more productive and decide or may decide to exempt site-directed nucleases-1 from GMO regulation. In this context, Korean legislations are reviewed to clarify the commons and differences in GMO definitions. Act on Transboundary Movement of LMO Act, Food Sanitation Act and Agricultural and Fishery Products Quality Control Act are three major acts to regulate GMOs. It is noted that there are differences in the definition of LMO or GM food/products especially between the LMO Act and the Food Sanitation Act. Such differences may cause conflicts between Acts when policy-decision regarding the regulation of NBTs is made. Therefore, it is necessary to reorganize legislations before policies regarding the regulation of any techniques from biotechnology are made.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1030-1035
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• 2003

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of herbicide-resistant rice, a genetically modified organism (GMO) developed by the Rural Development Administration, in Sprague-Dawley rats. The nutrient content of herbicide-resistant polished and brown cooked rice was compared with that of conventional Ilpum polished and brown cooked rice to assess composition equivalence. Compositional analysis was performed to measure proximates, fiber, and minerals before animal feeding. Growing male rats were fed one of the following four diets for six weeks: Ilpum polished cooked rice (IP) and Ilpum brown cooked rice (IB) as a non-GMO and herbicide-resistant polished cooked rice (GP) and brown cooked rice (GB) as a GMO. We checked clinical symptoms (anorexia, salivation, diarrhea, polyuria, anuria, fecal change) every day, food intake, change of body weight twice a week, and serum biochemistry and organ weights after 6 weeks of experimental feeding among the four groups. Nutrient content of the herbicide-resistant rice was similar to that of the non-transgenic control and was within the published range observed for non-transgenic rice. We could not find any significant difference in the above-mentioned items as the index to be checked in the animals fed the GMO. These results suggest that the nutrient content of genetically modified herbicide-resistant rice is compositionally equivalent to that of conventional Ilpum rice and that growing male rats fed herbicide-resistant rice are no different from those fed Ilpum rice, non-GMO for 6 weeks.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1390-1394
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• 2008

Previously, we found that the transgenic rice plants over-expressing the Arabidopsis $H^+/Ca^{2+}$ antiporter CAX 1 (accession no. U57411) gene accumulated 2.7 to 7.5-fold more calcium in the T3 rice grains as compared to those of control. To examine physiological safety of the $T_3$ rice grains, the effect of the $T_3$ brown rice on change in levels of body weight and white blood cells was compared with that of the control Ilpum brown rice by feeding trial in mice. During the feeding trial for one month, there was no significant difference between two mice groups, which were fed by the $T_3$ brown rice or Ilpum brown rice. There were no detectable differences in their effects on immune functions including plaque-forming unit, peritoneal macrophage number, and NK-cell activity. In addition, biochemical analysis of the blood failed to exhibit any difference between two mice groups. Together, these results suggested that the $T_3$ brown rice, which was produced from a genetically modified organism (GMO), might be safe and possess a potential to be applicable as calcium-fortified feed or food. Long-term safety of the $T_3$ brown rice, however, remains to be elucidated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.810-814
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• 2004

This research was conducted to evaluate the safety of the herbicide-resistant rice, a genetically modified organism (GMO) developed by the Rural Development Administration by exposing it to 12 months old Sprague-Dawley rats for 8 weeks. The composition of herbicide-resistant brown rice with/without heating treatment was compared with those of conventional Ilpum brown rice with/without heating treatment to assess composition equivalence. Compositional analysis was performed to measure proximates, fiber, and minerals. The nutritional components of herbicide-resistant rice were similar to those of the nontransgenic control or were within the normal range of nontransgenic rice. Four groups of experimental male rats were fed one of the following diets for eight weeks: Ilpum brown rice (I) and its heated rice (IH) as non-GMO, and herbicide-resistant brown rice (G) and its heated rice (GH) as GMO- We checked clinical symptoms (anorexia, salivation, diarrhea, polyuria, anuria, fecal change), food intake, and water consumption every day, change of body weight once a week, and serum biochemistry and organ weights after 8 weeks of experimental feeding We did not find any significant differences in the above-mentioned items. These results suggested that genetically modified herbicide-resistant rice was compositionally equivalent to conventional Ilpum rice, and nutritional characteristics and safety of herbicide-resistant rice in old male rats treated for 8 weeks were not different from those of Ilpum rice, non-GMO.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.17-34
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• 2000

This paper is aim to report the core aspects of Codex guideline for organically grown food which is finalized by FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission on May 2000 in 28th session of the Codex committee on food labelling. The chapter of animal production had discussed for a long time before it was finalized in Ottawa/canada as well as use of GMO(Genetically modified organism), manure from factory farming, animal welfare, and fodder inputs consisting of at least 85% for ruminants and 80% for non-ruminants. As the guideline for Codex set out the several things which is very difficult for Asian country, Organic farmer in Korea should pay an attention to maintain/increase the fertility and biological activity by cultivation of legumes, green manures or deep-rooting plants in an appropriate multi-annual rotation programme, and incorporation in the soil of organic material from holding producing in accordance with the guidelines. Pest, diseases and weeds should be controlled by choice of appropriate varieties, appropriate rotation, mechanical cultivation, diversified ecosystems, flame weeding, animal weeding and steam sterilization. The use of plant growth hormone, GMO and manure from industrial management system are not allowed, and closed recycling system, rotation, resistant seeds again pest and disease should be practiced in organic farming. But these are not unfortunately practiced in the country. In the conclusion it was strongly suggested to enact the Basic Standard for Korean organic agriculture which contains the core principles of Codex guidelines, and to try the importation of the most advanced theory, skills and technology from leading country in organic farming.