• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2013

Present study examines the gender disparity in terms of its beneficiaries or benefit amount of National Pension of South Korea from the perspective of gender sensitivity. National Pension system has been manipulated and developed in order to maximize its universality. However, substantial gender differences are still found in terms of beneficiary number and benefit amount in the program. Benefit condition and benefit structure are determined assuming that male is the primary breadwinner in household and the primary regular full time worker in labor market. Women are only counted as dependents or excluded as unstable workers. As a result, women are fully or partially excluded from the program as they are excluded in other public sector such as labor market. Women's work (such as caring and housekeeping) are not taken into account in National Pension program. Policy suggestions for the National Pension of South Korea are also provided as the last part of this paper.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.75-97
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• 2007

The purpose of this article is to explore French 'minima sociaux', focusing its scheme, benefit determination rule and its level appreciation. First, on the its structure domain, French 'minima sociaux' presents the plural system in which there is eight categorical benefits and one general benefit. Il is the representation of the intention to guarantee minimum income for the dead zone people out of the social insurance application and also a historical product in different period, by different logic of benefits implementation. Second, comparing nine benefits based on the benefit determination rule, level of benefits for the poor without work ability is higher than one for the poor with work ability. Il represents one polarized perception toward for the poor according to have or not its work ability. Third, comparing level of 'minima sociaux' with relative poverty line, the level of the most 'minima sociaux' is placed under the poverty line. Nevertheless, it must not forget that 'minima sociaux' plays its role as the fundamental alternative for poverty alleviation, but not the only alternative. Fourth and finally, comparing with minimum income guarantee(SMIC in french), level of RMI benefit is estimated merely on the 50% of SMIC. We can consider that it is the result of the interaction of the complex factors, as the limited role of the state toward the minimum income guarantee for the RMI beneficiary and the intervention the logic of status instead of the logic of need, etc..

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.368-379
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to establish a strategy to improve the poor working environment and working conditions among long-term healthcare workers in Korea. Methods: A total of 600 questionnaires with which long-term health care workers participated in the targeted base areas of each city and province nationwide were distributed directly and 525 responses were collected and 506 responses were analyzed. Surveys, on-site field visits, and in-depth interviews were also conducted to understand the working environment as well as conditions and establish a strategy for improving the working environment among long-term healthcare workers to understand the demands of working conditions and working conditions. Results: Korean long-term care workers firstly and mostly enumerated their risk factors for ill-health when lifting or moving elderly recipients directly by hand (69.9%), followed by increased physical workload with old beds, tools, and facilities (42.3%) in the workplaces, shortage of manpower (32%), and source of infection (30%). To improve the working environment as well as conditions, Korean long-term care workers considered improving low-wage structures, ergonomic improvements to solve excessive physical loads, and increasing various bonus payments as well as implementing the salary system, positive social awareness, and increasing resting time. Of 506 responses, 92.3% replied that the long-term care insurance system for the elderly should be developed to expand publicization at the national level. Conclusion: This study proposes to improve the low-wage structure of Korean long-term care workers, automation and improvement of facilities, equipment, and tools to eliminate excessive physical loads (beneficiary elderly lifting), and reduction of night labor.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.309-334
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• 2010

This study explores gender mechanism of welfare politics in Korea from the perspective of welfare status theory. In the simplistic analysis, it is found that there is no gender difference in welfare attitudes. In the more sophisticated analysis of welfare-status-beased SEM, however, it is found that Korean welfare politics is to be understood in terms of gender-related politics. Three major findings of this study are as follows. Firstly, Korean women possess less pro-welfare attitudes in terms of the status of welfare beneficiary. This is due to the visible gender segregation in the Korean labor market on the one hand and due to the centrality of social insurance programs in the structure of Korean public welfare system on the other hand. Secondly, Korean women have relatively higher level of pro-welfare attitude when it comes to the status of welfare service provider. Thirdly, Korean women tend to be more supportive to pro-welfare parties as they have less chance to be a higher taxpayer. Based on the above mentioned findings, this study concludes that it is possible to make Korean women be more pro-welfare if the Korean welfare state expands more social services that tend to meet urgent needs of women.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.25-39
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• 1985

This study was conducted to assess the morbidity and medical facilities utilization patterns of the residents in urban low income area. Study population included 2,002 family members of 468 households in the low income area (LA) of Nam-san 4 Dong, Jung Gu of Taegu city and 1,709 family members of 374 households in surrounding neighbourhood control area (CA). Well trained nursing school students interviewed mainly with housewives according to the pretested questionaire between July 1 and July 30, 1984. Age-sex distribution of the study population in LA was similar to that in CA. The average monthly income of a household in LA was 236,000 won and 356,000 won in CA. Educational level of the residents in LA was lower than that in CA; average years of school education of the 20 years old or above in LA was 6.9 years compared with 8.5 years in CA. The average family members per room in LA was 2.6 and 2.2 in CA, and proportion of Medicaid program beneficiary was 29.4% in LA and 1.9% in CA. Prevalence rate of illness during 15-day period was 131 per 1,000 population in LA and 71 in CA(p<0.01) and that of the chronic illness for 1 year was 134 per 1,000 population in LA and 89 in CA(p<0.01). The most common illness experienced during 15 days was respiratory disease(24.0% in LA ana 29.8% in CA) and followed by gastro-intestinal disorders(21.0% in LA, 20.6% in CA). Injury or poisoning was 10.3% in LA and 3.3% in CA. Castro-intestinal disorder was the most common chronic illness in both LA (22.7%) and CA (21.7%), and followed by musculoskeletal disease in LA and neuralgia in CA. Mean activity restricted days among the persons with illness during 15-day period was 4.0 days in LA and 2.2 days in CA. Among persons with illness during 15 days, 17.9% in LA and 11.6% in CA did not seek any medical treatment and the most frequently utilized medical facility was pharmacy in LA (35.5%) and local clinic or hospital OPD in CA (42.1%). Among persons with chronic illness, 15.2% in LA and 9.2% in CA did not seek for medical treatment, and residents in LA as well as residents in CA utilized local clinic or hospital OPD more frequently than pharmacy or drugstores, especially those who have medical insurance. The most common reason for not treating illness experienced during 15-day period and chronic illness was economical constraint in both LA and CA. The higher prevalence rate of illness during 15-day period and chronic illness in LA than that in CA seems to be highly correlated with their lower economic status and educational level and crowded living condition. The utilization pattern of medical facilities was associated with the medical security status. A program to improve the economic status and living condition should be integrated with the health program to promote the health of the population in low income area.