• Health Policy and Management
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.58-73
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• 2010

Background : Cancer is a disease that not only places a significant burden on patients clinically but also requires significant expense for diagnosis and treatment. Although the cancer coverage of health insurance has recently been expended, the need for financial assistance among cancer patients and their families is still expected to be significant. In this study, cancer patients' need for financial assistance in Korea was examined and its influence factors were analyzed. Methods : Target study subjects were those who are over 18 years of age and were diagnosed with cancer more than four months prior at the National Cancer Center and 9 Regional Cancer Centers in Korea during the period from July to August of 2008. Quarter sampling was conducted according to the ratio of the type of each cancer. A face to face interview survey was conducted. A total of 2,661 cancer patients finished the survey. Medical charts were reviewed in order to obtain the cancer type and SEER stage of cancer patients. An ordered logistic regression model was used to examine the level of need for financial assistance according to the demographical, clinical, and socio-economic variables of cancer patients. Result : The percentage of cancer patients who needed financial assistance was 69.0%, and 36.9% needed significant financial assistance. The need for financial assistance was perceived to be greater in males, younger age group, low income group, low education group, medical aid recipients, those who were diagnosed recently, those with a low level of quality of life measured through EQ5D, and those with decreased income after cancer diagnosis. Conclusion : In spite of the current policy to increase health insurance coverage, the majority of cancer patients and their families in Korea still need financial assistance due to cancer. In particular, there were more vulnerable groups, such as the low income, or low education group. In the future, policies that focus on the disadvantaged, which strengthen social security, should be considered for achievement of a substantially better quality of life for cancer patients and their families.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2005

To relieve congestion in the current system of intercity transportation, the Korea decided in 1990 to construct a high-speed railroad between Seoul and Busan and it is now in operation. This new mode of transportation significantly cut travel time between major cities and a trip from Seoul to the southeastern port of Busan. Since the KTX opening, average daily passenger numbers on both the Gyeongbu and Honam lines have increased about 1.3 fold over 2003 levels. As of December 2004, the KTX trains are carrying about 81,000 people a day. On KTX routes, the daily number of airline passengers dropped. Express long-distance bus traffic also dropped by 20% to 30%, while that on short-distance routes (100km or less) increased by about 20%. These figures clearly indicate that the Korean transportation network is becoming railroad-centric. However, the number of KTX passengers is fewer than anticipated possibly due to the Korean economic downturn and the operation of the KTX will leave many existing Saemaul and Mugunghwa train sets idle, which will be put into operation for areas, not covered by the KTX. When all the existing major lines have been electrified, more high-speed rail services will be phased in using direct connections to maximize operational efficiency. And also, the dual management by KTX and conventional rail will be regarded as the promotion of the benefit of the public.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.293-321
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• 2012

This study aims to examine how institutions has been formed to deepen interdependence and to keep check in trade on the border regions of East Sea Rim between the macro structure and micro behaviors. The transitional nations such as China, Russia, and North Korea adjacent to the East Sea Rim exhibits unique characteristics in terms of transaction governance structure. While the regional economy in northeast China is still overwhelmed by the stated-owned enterprises(SOEs), it strongly encourages the private economic trade to form institutional economy through the border trade port and peddler trade market. Thus trade is shaped by the mixed governance. In far east Russia, whereas the SOEs are in charge of exporting oil, gas etc., private firms and small scale traders are importing household items, so that it can also be called as the mixed governance, while informal social networks simultaneously work. In North Korea, for the trade, since the firms are mainly required to have the permits from the different levels of government, it is regarded as the hierarchical governance. The institutional economics seems to well explain the changing agencies and their influence on the trade among the regions in the East Sea Rim.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.228-228
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• 2015

Water reuse plays significant role in water saving and water environmental protection, and it helps alleviate the shortage of water resources. China's water reuse was put into practice since 1980s by means of pilot and promotion in National Fifth-year Plan and other strategies. The effects of water reuse is beneficial in both economic, social and environmental aspects. But some shortcomings still undermine future development of water reuse in China. To overcome and boost water reuse, Ministry of Water Resources conducted a successive survey across China. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the current condition of water reuse in China in construction, funds, legislation, planning, policy aspects, to summarize problems and its reasons underneath, to make suggestions for further development. Basically, in 2010, China's water reuse is 2.83 billion cubic meters and the utilization rate is 10.35%. Water reuse in China has four major characteristics: the first one is water reuse differences in amount occur national-widely and North of China has the main percentage as 47.3%; the second one is water reuse is mainly in environment maintenance (42.1%) and industry cooling (29.8%); the third one is funds for water reuse station and pipe construction is main in non-fiscal budget which take percentage as 56.8%; the fourth one is progresses of administrative system, political system, price management, standard system and technologies go rapidly recently. The problems of water reuse such as lack in water reuse station, delay in pipe constriction and limits on water reuse amount still exist due to some reasons. As a think tank of Ministry of Water Resources, we give some suggestions: firstly, water reuse needs to be integrated with traditional water resources allocation; secondly, public budgets need to be strengthened and income mechanism should also be constructed; thirdly, water resources integrated administrative of city and county should be boosted and roles as water reuse need to be clear and precise; fourthly, national, provincial and regional water reuse planning should be made in time; fifthly, regulations on water reuse should be programmed as soon as possible.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.486-495
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• 2021

Background: Particulate matter (PM) is one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. Previous studies in South Korea have applied a relative risk calculated from Western populations when estimating the disease burden attributable to PM. However, the relative risk of PM on health outcomes may not be the same across different countries or regions. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the premature deaths and socioeconomic costs attributable to long-term exposure to PM in South Korea. We considered not only the difference in PM concentration between regions, but also the difference in relative risk. Methods: National monitoring data of PM concentrations was obtained, and missing values were imputed using the AERMOD model and linear regression model. As a surrogate for relative risk, hazard ratios (HRs) of PM for cardiovascular and respiratory mortality were estimated using the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort. The nation was divided into five areas (metropolitan, central, southern, south-eastern, and Gangwon-do Province regions). The number of PM attributable deaths in 2018 was calculated at the district level. The socioeconomic cost was derived by multiplying the number of deaths and the statistical value of life. Results: The average PM₁₀ concentration for 2014~2018 was 45.2 ㎍/m³. The association between long-term exposure to PM₁₀ and mortality was heterogeneous between areas. When applying area-specific HRs, 23,811 premature deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory disease in 2018 were attributable to PM₁₀ (reference level 20 ㎍/m³). The corresponding socioeconomic cost was about 31 trillion won. These estimated values were higher than that when applying nationwide HRs. Conclusions: This study is the first research to estimate the premature mortality caused by long-term exposure to PM using relative risks derived from the national population. This study will help precisely identify the national and regional health burden attributed to PM and establish the priorities of air quality policy.

• The Journal of Bigdata
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.91-113
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• 2021

Despite the influence of real estate in the Korean asset market, it is not easy to predict market trends, and among them, apartments are not easy to predict because they are both residential spaces and contain investment properties. Factors affecting apartment prices vary and regional characteristics should also be considered. This study was conducted to compare the factors and characteristics that affect apartment prices in Seoul as a whole, 3 Gangnam districts, Nowon, Dobong, Gangbuk, Geumcheon, Gwanak and Guro districts and to understand the possibility of price prediction based on this. The analysis used machine learning algorithms such as neural networks, CHAID, linear regression, and random forests. The most important factor affecting the average selling price of all apartments in Seoul was the government's policy element, and easing policies such as easing transaction regulations and easing financial regulations were highly influential. In the case of the three Gangnam districts, the policy influence was low, and in the case of Gangnam-gu District, housing supply was the most important factor. On the other hand, 6 mid-lower-level districts saw government policies act as important variables and were commonly influenced by financial regulatory policies.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.13-32
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• 2021

Rapid urbanization has resulted in the unprecedented growth of population in Metro Manila, the Philippines and has led to a 'dual' housing crisis - vacant/unoccupied socialized housing and a chronic housing shortage or delayed housing supply. By developing two GIS-based statistical models, this study is to examine socialized housing in comparison with private housing with respect to location patterns, integration, accessibility, social and economic aspects, and vulnerability to environmental hazards. Multiple regression analysis was integrated with the GIS to identify significant variables that influence the spatial distribution of socialized housing. The comparison between the two regression models has shown that socialized housing is located in areas with inappropriate land use and poor accessibility to transportation facilities and built urban resources. Moreover, both regression models have proven the statistical significance of the vulnerability of socialized housing to environmental hazards. The finding explains how the current housing policies do not address the country's housing crisis, especially for the marginalized and low-income households. Thus, the findings provide implications for urban planners and local decision-makers in reforming the current policy interventions.

• Korea Real Estate Review
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.63-73
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to identify the key factors affecting official land values and the appropriateness of the assessed land price, to find out what determines the real estate price and to assess the appropriateness of the valuation. This study explored whether actual transaction prices of forest land located in six Gu districts in southern and northern parts of Han river are appropriate using independent sample t-analysis and logistic regression analysis. Results showed that regional differences and shape were adequate for development restriction areas, whether biotope was designated, whether or not to be preserved, differences in pitch, and differences in use, and differences in bearing and approach. Thorough analysis of unique factors that determine forest land prices must be carried out in advance and the findings should be applied to the examination and assessment of official land values. The forest land appraisal system is closely related to the public's economic activity, thus it is necessary to apply forest land value determinants considered to be significant by market participants to the forestland appraisal system. I look forward to seeing variables related to the appropriateness of forest land transactions drawn from this study being used as indices for settlement of forest land transaction orders and market stabilization.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.28-49
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• 2019

This paper explores the characteristics of innovation activities in high growth firms that contribute to national and regional economic growth and job creation. The analysis is based on the 2016 KIS data to analyze the difference in innovation activities between high growth firms and general firms. The main results are as follows: First, high growth firms have a higher proportion of R&D personnel than general firms. Second, high growth firms are actively introducing product innovation, process innovation, and organizational innovation as compared to general firms. In the innovation activities related to product innovation and process innovation, there is no statistically significant difference between high growth companies and general companies except for external R&D. Third, High growth firms are more likely to cooperate with other technology partners than general firms. But, there is no statistically significant difference between high growth firms and general firms in the external knowledge search and the diversity of cooperating partners. Fourth, in terms of protecting innovation, high growth firms are more likely to use all kinds of innovation protection method, such as 'utilizing intellectual property rights', 'maintaining confidentiality', 'adopting complex design methods', 'market preemption ahead of competitors', and the most important means is the intellectual property rights. Fifth, government innovation policies that high growth firms chose as important are 'innovation subsidies and loans', 'acquirement, utilization and protection of intellectual property rights' and 'human resource support'.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.443-469
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• 2018

In the sixty year since the first launch of Sputnik 1, it has become impossible to consider economic, political, or scientific human life in the communication field without reference to outer space. But, there is a growing groundswell of public opinion aimed at preventing arms race in space. Therefore it is necessary to establish some institution or mechanism such a code of conduct, international law. But every nation has a different posture on the grounds of national interest, or different levels of space development, the conditions required for the successful negotiation of a comprehensive treaty are not yet ripe. It is hoped that by beginning with soft measures (TCBM, Code of Conduct) for which it is easier to secure voluntary participation it may be possible to build up to a comprehensive treaty. The participation of the Space powers (US, Russia, China) in a dialogue of mutual exchange and shared information would contribute to international peace and give a long term benefit to humankind. It is also necessary to promote partnership through regional and bilateral cooperation. We should guide and shape opinion so that more nations ratify and sign existing international legal covenants in order to contribute to the efficency of Space law. International law needs to enforce PAROS and Space Security.