• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.761-770
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• 2021

A study was undertaken to identify variations in the level of awareness, the information collection status, the level of acceptance, and the characteristics of information collection as it pertains to agricultural biotechnology based on information collection in the field of agricultural biotechnology. When examining subjective awareness, objective awareness, and interest in agricultural biotechnology, the results showed that the levels of all three variables were higher in cases where information exploration of agricultural biotechnology had been experienced. Among the participants who have experience in voluntarily collecting information about agricultural biotechnology, helpful information at a rate of 51.6% and harmful information at a rate of 42.0% were acquired, values much higher than the 37% and 30% corresponding rates for participants who had no experience. However, it was also found that harmful information has a significantly greater impact on perceptions of the future. The characteristics of information collection for agricultural biotechnology indicated that those with experience in voluntary information collection particularly preferred the Internet, whereas those without any experience showed little difference with regard to television and/or the internet. According to a survey of participants' interest areas in agricultural biotechnology and their level of information acquisition, "Safety of human bodies" was rated the top interest area at 36.9%, which also had the highest level of information acquisition at 30.0%. In providing and sharing information in the future, this is a direct reference to the priorities and proportions of each field.

• 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 Science and Technology Studies
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• v.1 no.1 s.1
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• pp.71-103
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• 2001

Usually social control and acceptance of science and technology is thought to be a separate or even confronting thing. But this paper aims to go beyond this simple and dichotomous thinking. Rather, this paper argues that social control and acceptance of science and technology can be combined altogether organically. In other words, this paper argues that social control of a particular science and technology has functional effects to the acceptance of that science and technology. Social control of a particular science and technology is a signal that something is going wrong; it reallocates attention and enhances social awareness; it evaluates ongoing activity; and it alters this activity in various ways to secure a sustainable future. In order to prove this functional hypothesis, this paper tries a case study of biotechnology from a perspective of sociology of science and technology. Especially social controversies around genetically modified organisms(GMOs) and embryo cloning in Korea are analysed deeply. As a conclusion, this paper proposes some policy implications of this study.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2020

Over 500 genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been developed since 1996, of which nearly 44% have glufosinate herbicide-tolerant traits. Identification of specific markers that can be used to identify herbicide-tolerant traits is challenging as the DNA sequences of the gene(s) of a trait are highly variable depending on the origin of the gene(s), plant species, and developers. To develop specific PCR marker(s) for the detection of the glufosinate-tolerance trait, DNA sequences of several pat or bar genes were compared and a diverse combination of PCR primer sets were examined using certified reference materials or transgenic plants. Based on both the qualitative and quantitative PCR tests, a primer set specific for pat and non-specific for bar was developed. Additionally, a set of markers that can detect both pat and bar was developed, and the quantitative PCR data indicated that the primer pairs were sensitive enough to detect 0.1% of the mixed seed content rate.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.479-485
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• 2016

Living modified (LM) crops are imported each year to South Korea as food and feeds, LM canola being one of the imported crops. The cultivation of LM crops is not permitted in South Korea but the import of these crops is increasing. In this study, we surveyed the environmental risk of imported LM canola at 9 provinces, from March 2009 to June 2013. Monitoring of canola was conducted around feed factories, roadsides, harbors, farmhouses, and flower festival regions. From the total of 595 canola samples collected from 1850 monitoring sites, we identified 6 LM canola samples. The LM canola samples were subjected to protein and DNA based analysis. PCR analyses using approved 5 single event primers (T45, MS8, RT73, Rf3 and Topas 19-2) revealed that two crops were glyphosate-resistant LM canolas, and four were glufosinate-resistant LM canolas. This study suggested that environmental monitoring is a useful research tool to manage LM crops unintentionally introduced into the environment in South Korea. This result can be used as a basis for future post-management of canola crops.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2005

This survey was conducted to assess the consumer perceptions of food-related hazard in 500 housewives from all over Korea. The subjects were selected by stratified random sampling method. The survey was performed using structured questionnaire through telephone interview by skilled interviewers. The results showed that 34.6% of the respondents felt secure and were not concerned about food safety, and 65.4% were concerned about food safety. Logistic regression analysis showed that the increasing concern on food brands, food additives (such as food preservatives and artificial color), and imported foodstuffs indicated the current increasing concern on food safety. Other related factors indicating the increasing concern on food safety were education level and care for children's health. The respondents who cared about food safety expressed a high degree of concern on processed foodstuffs such as commercial boxed lunch (93.3%), imported foods (92.7%), fastfoods (89.9%), processed meat products (88.7%), dining out (85.6%), cannery and frozen foods (83.5%), and instant foods (82.0%). The lowest degree of concern was on rice. All the respondents perceived that residues of chemical substances such as pesticides and food additives, and endocrine disrupters were the most potential food risk factors, followed by food-borne pathogens, and GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). However, these results were not consistent with scientific judgment. Therefore, more education and information were needed for consumers' awareness of facts and myths about food safety. In addition, the results showed that consumers put lower trust in food products information such as food labels, cultivation methods (organic or not), quality labels, and the place of origin. Nevertheless, the respondents expressed their desire to overcome alienation, and recognized the importance of knowing of the origin or the producers of food. They identified that people who need to take extreme precautions on food contamination were the producers, government officials, food companies, consumers, the consumer's association, and marketers, arranged in the order of highest to lowest. They also believed that the production stage of agriculture was the most important step for improving the level of food safety Therefore, the results indicated that there is a need to introduce safety systems in the production of agricultural products, as follows: Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and Traceability System (75).

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.519-547
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• 2004

This paper analyze problems about scope of specific trade obligations(STOs), principle of dispute settlement procedure, and non-parties in context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety(POB), which based on sub-paragraph 31(i) of DDA WTO Ministrial Declaration. The implications based on result of this study are as follows. First, to accept the wider scope of STOs under POB in Korea, importing country, won't be harmful to LMOs and Bioindustry. Instead, it will ensure a high level of biosafety concerning the import of LMOs. Exporters can take different kinds of trade measures to countervail adverse effect on the export of LMOs in this case. Therefore importer will endure the aftereffect. However, if korea were in exporter's place, to accept the wider scope STOs under POB will not have a good influence on the export of LMOs. Korea, therefore, should devise scheme for responding to debate about the STOs in MEAs, which have to be based on cost-benefit analysis and scenarios taking into account of speed and level in biotechology progress, status and trend of LMOs R&D and production, and condition of other industries. Second, it is not easy to agree with applying to what's rule between the POB and WTO for settlement dispute. Because there is the incompatibility between the POB characterized according to social rationality and WTO's rules for safety and environmental protection characterized according to scientific rationality. This issue have to be discussed for long period due to gap like that. Accordingly Korea, one of major LMOs importing countries, should suggest continuously that the effort is needed to ensure an adequate level of protection in transboundary movements of LMOs and scientific, environmental and socio-economic study. Third, in case of dispute between party and non-party of the POB, the duties under the WTO of non-party of the POB(if WTO member country) is valid. The country, therefore, will try to settle dispute based on WTO's rules. However, international society have to ensure for sound and safe use of LMOs in the field of transboundary movements. Accordingly Korea should devise scheme for preventing the possibility of dispute between party and non-party of the POB(if WTO member country), which is supported by policy options under the POB.