• Journal of Daesoon Thought and the Religions of East Asia
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.33-50
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• 2023

'Fasting of the Mind (心齋, ch. xīn zhāi)' is arguably the most important concept within the practical approach to the spiritual cultivation formulated by the Daoist philosopher, Zhuangzi (莊子). Most scholars have interpreted 'Fasting of the Mind' as an apophatic practice centered around the aim of the 'Dissolution of the Self (喪我, ch. sàng wŎ).' The Korean new religious movement, Daesoon Jinrihoe (大巡眞理會), can be shown to instead consistently utilize cataphatic descriptions of spiritual cultivation based on the 'quieting of the mind (安心, kr. anshim)' and 'quieting of the body (安身, kr. anshin)' with the highest attainable state referred to as the 'Perfected State of Unification with the Dao (道通眞境, kr. Dotong-jingyeong).' While the language used by Zhuangzi and Daesoon Jinrihoe appears quite different on a superficial level, a deeper examination shows that these rhetorical framings are likely negativistic and positivistic descriptions of the same, or at least reasonably similar, phenomena. Zhuangzi, who focused primarily on the body, mind, and internal energy, cautioned practitioners that 'mere listening stops with the ears (聽止於耳, ch. tīng zhǐ yú ěr)' and 'mere recognition stops with the mind (心止於符, ch. xīn zhǐ yú fú).' He therefore encouraged cultivators of the Dao to 'listen with the spirit (聽之以氣 ch. tīng zhī yǐ qì).' The main scripture of Daesoon Jinrihoe states that "The mind is a pivot, gate, and gateway for gods; They, who turn the pivot, open, and close the gate, and go back and forth through the gateway, can be either good or evil (心也者, 鬼神之樞機也, 門戶也,道路也)," and the Supreme God of the Ninth Heaven (九天上帝, kr. Gucheon Sangje) even promises to visit anyone who possesses a 'singularly-focused mind (一心, kr. il-shim).' In both these approaches, there is a sense of what must be kept out of the mind (e.g., external disturbances, strong emotions, malevolent entities) and what the mind should connect with to attain spiritual progress (e.g., spirit, singular focus, the Supreme God). The observations above serve as the main basis for a comparison between the apophatic descriptions of cultivation found in Zhuangzi and their cataphatic counterparts in Daesoon Thought. However, the culmination of this nuanced comparative exploration reveals that while the leanings of Zhuangzi and Daesoon Thought generally hold true, ultimately, both systems of cultivation transcend the categories of apophatic and cataphatic.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.191-205
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• 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially in the domain of text-generative services, has witnessed a significant surge, with forecasts indicating the AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS) market reaching a valuation of $55.0 Billion by 2028. This research set out to explore the quality dimensions characterizing synthetic text media software, with a focus on four key players in the industry: ChatGPT, Writesonic, Jasper, and Anyword. Drawing from a comprehensive dataset of over 4,000 reviews sourced from a software evaluation platform, the study employed the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling technique using the Gensim library. This process resulted the data into 11 distinct topics. Subsequent analysis involved comparing these topics against established AI service quality dimensions, specifically AICSQ and AISAQUAL. Notably, the reviews predominantly emphasized dimensions like availability and efficiency, while others, such as anthropomorphism, which have been underscored in prior literature, were absent. This observation is attributed to the inherent nature of the reviews of AI services examined, which lean more towards semantic understanding rather than direct user interaction. The study acknowledges inherent limitations, mainly potential biases stemming from the singular review source and the specific nature of the reviewer demographic. Possible future research includes gauging the real-world implications of these quality dimensions on user satisfaction and to discuss deeper into how individual dimensions might impact overall ratings.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.39-57
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• 2012

The unabated influx of micro businesses has turned the Korean retailing market to a rat race, which causes severe financial distress for micro business owners due to heavy competition. The woes of these micro business owner's are exacerbated by the presence of large scale distributors such as Super Supermarket(SSM) and large discount stores. In summary, the Korean retail market is overburdened an uneconomically viable. Retailing has low barriers to entry which attracts unskilled labor or those with little capital. These start-ups have low opportunity costs since they would make low wages elsewhere in the economy. Thus, these owners are content with relatively low returns on their investment. These 'subsistence ventures' are maintained for economical viability rather than economic growth. These 'subsistence ventures' intensifies competition among small-scale businesses. The presence of large retail corporations also aggravates the situation. The recent stagnation of the economy has worsened the retail market in Korea. The overwhelming competition solidifies the coarse structural system and the prolonged economic sluggishness has increased the risk of insolvency for micro business owners. As the economy continues to stagnate, the imminent risk in retailing market will rise up to surface threatening economic stability. More systematic inflows and outflows of retailers are required in order to redress this structural problem. It has been empirically shown that the self-employment rate is high in Korea compared to other OECD countries. To draw the comparison of self-employment rate by industry, Korea shows high rates among transportation, whole sale, retail, education, lodging, and restaurants. In the case of the transportation and education service sectors, this high rate can be explained by the idiosyncratic nature of Korean culture. In the transportation sector, political policies favor private cap service and private freight carriers. In the education service sector, Koreans put particular emphasis on education that leads to many private institutions that outnumber other OECD countries. For these singular reasons, Korea maintains high micro business, self-employed rates particularly in retailing. A comparable nation is Japan, with its similar social, economic, cultural environment among OECD countries. Unlike Korea, Japan has much lower rates of micro business which continues to decrease. Also Korean retailers are much more destitute than Japanese. The fundamental problem of Korean retailing is the involuntary exit of these 'subsistence ventures,' micro businesses with low margins, in which a small drop in demand can lead to financial difficulties for the owner. This problem will be exacerbated when Korean babyboomers retire and join the micro business ventures. The first priority in order to cope with the severity of oversupply in retailing is to provide better opportunities for the potential self-employers. There should be viable alternatives to subsistent ventures. Strengthening the retirement program, scrutiny of exit process, reconfiguration of policy funds are the recommendations.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2009

We investigated the degree of obesity, histological development stages of gonads and sexual maturation induction rates of comb pen shell, Atrina pectinata, per the type of micro-algae supplied. Terms of maturation by singular or mixed supply of microalgae, it was found that maturation of the female was the quickest at 60.0% by the Tetraselmis tetrathele (Tet). experiment group followed by 57.1% by the Chlorella ellipsoidea (Chl). experiment group and 16.7% by the Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Pha). experiment group. However, there were no significant differences between Tet. experiment group and Chl. experiment group. As for the male, maturation was the quickest at 60.0% by the Tet. experiment group followed by 16.7% by the Chl. experiment group and 14.3% by the Pha. experiment group. In light of these results, Tet. is concluded to be a very useful feed organism in breeding the mother comb pen shells. Upon completion of the experiment, the sexual maturation induction rate for the female was found to be the highest at 82.0% in the Tet. experiment group followed by 72.0% by the Chl. experiment group, 64.0% by the Pha. experiment group and 58.0% by the mixed micro-algae experiment group. During the period of experiment, the survival rate was the highest at 94.4% by the mixed micro-algae experiment group followed by 90.0% by the Pha. experiment group, 83.1% by the Tet. experiment group and 78.8% by the Chl. experiment group.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-25
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• 1992

Taxonomic study of the five species (Acanthogobius elongata, A. flavimanus, A. lactipes, A. luridus and Synechogobius) from Korea was carried out based on morphometric, cephalic sensory canal and ecological characters. Taxonomic revision and classificational keys are provided. Synechogobius hasta is easily distinguished from four species of the genus Acanthogobius in eleven characters, i. e., the number of dorsal and anal fin rays, the transverse scales, the vertebral numbers, the formula of interneural spine of the first dorsal fin, the number of interhemal spine anterior to the first hemal spine, the number of epipleural and pleurals, the ratio of caudal peduncle length, the ratio of caudal peduncle depth and the regular variations in the ratio of body parts with the body length. In the genus Acanthobobius, A. elongata is distinguished from other 3 congeneric species in the ratio of body parts and the oculoscapular sensory canal. Moreover, A. flavimanus differs from other 3 congeneric species in the lateral scales, the transverse scales, the number of predorsal scales, the vertebral number, the number of epipleural and pleurals. Sensory papillae rows of S. hasta is not similar that of the genus Acanthogobius in having a singular sensroy papillae rows. A. elongata has no oculoscapular sensory canal D and A. flavimanus has transverse sensory papillae in cheek, and these are one of the unique characters distinguished form other congeneric species. In the spawning period inferred from gonadosomatic index, A. elongata varied from late March to late June ; A. flavimanus, January to April ; A. lactipes, May to September ; A. luridus, early May to early July and S. hasta, early March to early May.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.209-221
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• 2010

This study was carried out to apply basic data of the native trees for planting in the salinity area by the vegetation ecological selection. Which focused on native woody species to the tolerances of saline soil and salt spray drift on the coastal forests in the West-Sea, Korea. The soil salinity($EC_{1:5}$) was 0.11dS$m^{-1}$, ranging of 0.00dS$m^{-1}$~0.68dS$m^{-1}$. The soil salinity was gradually decreasing from Belt I to Belt Ⅳ except the Belt I in some coastal windbreaks. The order of decreasing soil salinity was Belt I>Belt II>Belt III>Belt Ⅳ and the soil salinity was $EC_{1:5}$ 0.14dS$m^{-1}$, 0.11dS$m^{-1}$, 0.10dS$m^{-1}$, and 0.08dS$m^{-1}$, respectively. The total 181 taxa consisted of 52 families, 104 genus, 157 species, and 24 varieties were recorded as the trees tolerating to both soil salinity and salt spray drift. The trees emerged in the highest degree of salinity($EC_{1:5}$ 0.51dS$m^{-1}$) was nothing but appearanced Pinus thunbergii Parl., Smilax china L., Quercus dentata Thunb. ex Murray, Quercus serrata Thunb. ex Murray and so on at the level of singular and ideal value. The emerged trees in the high salinity of $EC_{1:5}$0.41dS$m^{-1}$~0.50dS$m^{-1}$ were Albizia kalkora Prain, Melia azedarach L., Paederia scandens (Lour.) Merr. var. scandens These species were trees of tolerance to saline soil. The emerged woody species in all belts were Pinus rigida Mill., Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc., Pinus thunbergii Parl., Juniperus rigida Siebold & Zucc. and so on. The woody species with high important value(I.V.) were Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc., Pinus thunbergii Parl., Pseudosasa japonica (Siebold & Zucc. ex Steud.) Makino, Smilax china L., Platycarya strobilacea Siebold & Zucc. var. strobilacea for. strobilacea and so on, which can be classified as highly tolerant native trees to salt spray drift.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.28
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• pp.27-53
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• 2012

American superhero comics are being produced in numerous different forms for multiple, and cross-platform media. In cinema, films based on superhero comics top the list of all time box office records. The same phenomenon of the 'Invasion of Superhero' is duplicated in Korean box office 2012, however, the korean fans are not familiar with the superheroes from the publication which provides the original source of characters and stories for other superhero related media products. Based on observing the multiple and vastness of world building characteristics of superhero comic, this paper attempts to associate the continuous creative nature and the infinite repetition of superheroes and comic texts with the identity of superhero on ontological level. First, chapter 2 examines how one superhero exists in multiple and different worlds individually by utilizing the concept of 'multi-universe' or 'multiverse' in comic texts. Initially, duplicating a superhero on multiple settings and series destroyed continuity and allowed contradiction and paradox confused narrative as a whole, but it also gave chances for comics to be more vibrant and experimental with their stories and characters. Chapter 3 analyzes the superhero comic texts in the light of repetition, concept developed by french philosopher Gilles Deleuze, and make the argument that the superheroes and texts are not repeated to generate surplus of source for economic utilitarian purposes, but it is, first and foremost, a repetition of creativeness and capability. Many concepts introduced by Deleuze in his early masterpiece, $\acute{e}$rence et R$\acute{e}$p$\acute{e}$tition> are taken to support this argument. Mainly, his critical views on generality of the identity and his effort to replace the Plato's system of representation with vibrant creative, and renewal energy of r$\acute{e}$p$\acute{e}$tition. According to Deleuze, repetition is similar concept, if not identical, to what Nietzsche called the 'eternal return' which allows the return of the Overhuman or the Superhuman, and he extends his idea that the returning Overhuman is the singular simulacre which opposes the generalization of identity, in the likes of Plato's Idea. Thus, the superhero's identity is ever changing, ever returning, and ever renewing Overhuman. The superhero must be repeated to fully actualize his/her existence. Also, based on Deleuze's reading of Bergson's texts on the Virtual, the superhero, for example Superman, is actualization of his/her multiplisit$\acute{e}$, the internally multiple, and differentiated variations from itself. These every Supermans' multiplisit$\acute{e}$ shares common memory, past, and duration, thus the Virtual of Superman. Superman becomes himself only by actualizing the movement and differentiation from these multiplisit$\acute{e}$ in his virtual on the surface of reality. On chapter 4, a popular Korean comic book character Oh, Hae-Sung's r$\acute{e}$p$\acute{e}$tition and multiplist$\acute{e}$ are analyzed, and makes comparison to that of Superman to distinguish the repetition from r$\acute{e}$p$\acute{e}$tition, and multiplicit$\acute{e}$ from diversity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1371-1377
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• 2006

Gene polymorphisms that are associated with sodium homeostasis in the body, such as $\alpha-adducin$ (ADDI, Gly460Trp), angiotensinogen (AGT, Met235Thr), and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, Ins/Del) may increase the risk for the development of hypertension. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between the singular and combined effects of ADD1, AGT, ACE genotypes, and blood pressure in elderly population. Moreover, we examined the interaction of sodium intake and polymorphisms of aforementioned genes and their effects on blood pressure. Among one hundred and nine female subjects, aged 60 and over (mean 75.9 yr), the major alleles for ADD1, AGT, and ACE polymorphisms in the studied population were Gly (66.1%), Thr (64.2%), Ins (83.5%), respectively. Analysis on the combined effects of genetic variation showed that subjects who were both ADD1 Trp/Trp and ACE Del/Del homozygotes had significantly higher systolic blood pressure (p=0.01). Similarly, ACE Del/Del homozygotes who had AGT Met allele had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure (p<0.001). However, in single-gene analyses, no association was found between any specific genotype and blood pressure. In subjects with low sodium intake, ADD1 Trp/Trp homozygotes had significantly higher systolic blood pressure than subjects who had ADD1 Gly allele (138 mmHg vs. 127 mmHg, p=0.03). There was no difference in blood pressure between ADD1 Trp/Trp and ADD1 Gly/Gly or Gly/Trp, in subjects with high sodium intake. In summary, this study shows that interactions between the ADD1, AGT and ACE genes influence systolic and diastolic blood pressure in elderly subjects, and dietary sodium intake can modulate the effects of ADD1 Gly460Trp polymorphisms on systolic blood pres sure.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.613-632
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• 2016

The recent diagnosis of the Anthropocene challenges public understanding of nature as a pure and singular entity removed from society, as the diagnosis confirms the earth-changing force of humans. In geography, the nature-society divide has been critically interrogated long before the diagnosis of the Anthropocene, developing several ways of theorizing nature-society relations. This paper introduces a new frontier for such theoretical endeavors: more-than-human geography. Inspired by the material and performative turn in geography and the social sciences around the 2000s, more-than-human geographers have sought to re-engage with the livingness of the world in the study of nature-society relations. Drawing on actor-network theory, non-representational theory (NRT) and vitalism, they have developed innovative ways of thinking about and relating to nature through the key concepts of 'nonhuman agency' and 'affect'. While more-than-human geography has been extensively debated and developed in recent Euro-American scholarship on cultural and economic geography, it has so far received limited attention in Korean geographical studies on nature. This paper aims to address this gap by discussing the key concepts and seminal work of more-than-human geography. I first outline four theoretical strands through which nature-society relations are perceived in geography. I then offer an overview of more-than-human geography, discussing its theoretical foundations and considering ontologies, epistemologies, politics and ethics associated with nature-society relations. Then, I compare more-than-human geography with political ecology, which is the mainstream critical approach in contemporary environmental social sciences. I would argue that more-than-human geography further challenges and develops political ecology through its heightened attention to the affective capacity of nonhumans and the methodological ethos of doing a careful political ecology. I conclude by reflecting on the implications of more-than-human geography for Korean studies on nature-society relations.

• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.116
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• pp.411-435
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• 2010

Ken Wilber(1949~) tries to approach integration of philosophy, emphasising the advent of the perennial philosophy in the exchange of scholarships at the present day. He suggests All Quadrant(四象限) for the first step to reach his integrated approach. In addition, his approach concretizes for AQAL(All Quadrant, All Level). His AQAL approach which can be divide into inside/outside, singular/plural, or interobjectivity/intersubjectivity is applied to a lot of fileds such as ecology, management, criminology, medical treatment and its boundary is getting bigger. The merits of Quadrant is that it can solve the problem of the plain(平原), which resolves the strength of subjective interior(cultural contexts) into the external existence(social system). From view of Dongmu Lee Je-ma(1837~1900), a former philosopher, Sa-Sang theory['Affairs-Mind-body-Objects(事心身物)', 'Heaven-Human-nature-Order(天人性命)] is in accord with Wilber in content. In Dongmu's writing, Quadrant(Affairs-Mind-body-Objects') called Sa-Sang theory(四象學) or Sasang Constitional Medicine(四象醫學) is basic component in order to explain the structure of all nature. 'Heaven-Human-nature-Order'; That is, 'Affairs-Mind-body-Objects' results in 'Heaven-Human-nature-Order' focused on human being(human body) in the universe. In other words, Sa-Sang theory is the same as the Wilver's inclusive perspectives from the universe and human being. Dongmu's Sa-Sang theory is compared with C. G. Jung(1875~1961)'s psychology and it helps both fields confirm the foundation and extend the province of application. Comparision of Dongmu's Quadrant with Wilber's is not just analogical reasoning. In comparison, Dongmu's Sa-Sang theory is more delicated and crystallized than Wilber's in medical prospective. Dongmu regards Quadrant not as diseases, but as origin of Physiology and Pathology. And he explains all of their courses as Quadrant.