• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제31권8호
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• pp.1338-1346
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• 1998

North Korea has been experiencing a serious food shortage. However, the extent and magnitude of malnutrition and health problems are virturally unknown because a nationwide food and nutritional survey has never been conducted. To get a better udnerstanding of the situation., an exhaustive literature search on the health and nutritiona conditions of North Koreans was performed. We also obtained anthropometric data on 274 North Korean Defectors who are recently resettlers in the South. Some(137) measurements were taken at the time of entry to the South, and the remaining data was from the health and nutrition mail survey conducted by us on North Korean refugeee re-settlers. Health and inutritional status of North Koreans was found to be less than desirable as shown in high infant mortality rates, high mortality and morbidity rates of malnutriton-related infectious deseases, and smaller body sizes. Striking differences were noted in all of the above health and nutrition indicators between north and South Koreans. Considering the fact that North and South Koreans are homogeneous in their genetic back-ground, ours study results clearly demonstrate that the health and nutrition of North Koreas has deteriorated with the dhronic food shortage, which might have sorsened with a recent food crissi. The smaller and thinner adult stature proevailing in North Korea could play a significant negative role in the country's economy, since lower lean body mass has been associated with reduced work productivity that could hinder economic growth and development.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.136-141
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• 2010

North Korean defectors who settle in South Korea have experienced severe food shortage and transition of food environment which could affect their health status. However, little is known about their anthropometric measurements and dietary intake after settlement in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to compare anthropometric measurements and dietary intake between North Korean young adults who defected to South Korea and those of South Koreans. We hypothesized that North Korean young adults' physiques and dietary intake would be poorer than that of South Koreans. We compared anthropometric measurements and dietary intake from 3-day food records in a cross-sectional study of 103 North Korean young adult defectors, aged 12 to 24 and 309 South Korean subjects. North Korean subjects were significantly shorter (4.9 to 10.8 cm) and lighter (6.0 to 12.5 kg) than the control group. Body mass index were significantly different between North and South Korean groups only in men. North Korean young adult defectors had lower mean daily intakes of energy and most nutrients and food groups compared to the control group, while North Korean subjects had higher nutrient density diet than that of South Koreans. The proportion of subjects who had dietary intakes of nutrients of less than the Estimated Average Requirement was higher in North Korean subjects than in controls except for in the cases of vitamin A and vitamin C. In conclusion, we recommend providing nutrition support programs for North Korean young adult defectors to secure adequate nutrient intake.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.396-405
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• 1997

We performed this study to understand the health status and food intake of North Koreans. Information was collected by individual closed in-depth interviews of 11 escapers from North Korea as well as books, newspapers and North Korean movies. Interviews were done from October, 1996 to May, 1997, covering their heights and weights, their appearance and disease, food system and intake of various main/side foods, concern about health and hygiene. North Korean's height and BMI were lower than those of South Koreans. Difference of BMIs between North and South Koreans was profound in middle aged women than in other age groups. Childrem showed many malnutrition appearances of moon face, large abdomem, arrow-like legs, flaky skin, decolored hair, etc.. Main foods in North Korea were rice-shaped corn, corn flour, wheat flour and wet noodle, and side foods were kimchi and/or soups and steamed soy paste. Food supply system there seemed not to work normally for many years, so foods, especially in cities, has been extremely short in government-operating shops, but some in private market. Many housewives were eager to make and sell simple snack food products, We noticed that North korea schools didn't check students' health even though their medical policy was based on preventive medicine. Their living environmental hygiene was shown to be oyt of control.

• Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.254-261
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• 2018

Background: The most beneficial dietary pattern in managing metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the elderly has not been ascertained. The aim of this study is to classify dietary patterns and to examine associations between dietary pattern, MetS and body composition in elderly Koreans. Methods: This study was conducted among Koreans 65 years or older using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2009. A total of 1,567 study subjects were included. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 20.0 and dietary patterns were classified by cluster analysis. Results: There were three dietary patterns derived by cluster analysis in this study. We observed that most South Korean elderly still maintain a traditional dietary pattern. Dietary patterns were classified as balanced (31%), imbalanced (40%), or very imbalanced (30%), with the majority of subjects having an unbalanced diet pattern in which their total energy and nutrient intake was insufficient compared with the Dietary Reference Intake for Koreans. Those in the very imbalanced group had a ratio of macronutrients (carbohydrates:fats:protein) of 81.15:7.18:11.50 and a 54% higher likelihood of having hypertriglyceridemia (P=0.025) compared with those in the balanced group. Conclusion: The current findings indicate that the diets of South Korean elderly are nutritionally imbalanced, including high carbohydrate consumption, which confers a high risk hypertriglyceridemia. These findings highlight the effect of nutritional imbalance in elderly with MetS.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.57-64
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• 2019

Purpose : This study was implemented to identify the risk conditions influencing suicidal ideation in a nationally representative sample of elderly South Koreans. Methods : Data from 1,152 men and 1,581 women aged 65 years or older were gathered from the 2013 and 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI. All analyses were performed using SPSS. To determine significant correlations between risk condition and suicidal ideation, a t-test was used. Results : There were differences in suicidal ideation according to the following individual factors: age, educational background, marital status, economic activity, recognition of stress, experience of depression, and economic status. There were differences in suicidal ideation according to the following health-related factors: subjective health status, EQ-5D (EuroQoL-5 Dimensions), hours of sleep, and BMI. There were also differences in suicidal ideation according to the following disease-related factors: HTN, COPD, asthma, stroke, depression and osteoarthritis. Conclusion : The findings indicate that broad intervention programs should be distributed to prevent suicidal ideation. It is also recommended that programs be developed in a way that can help manage the variables identified in this study. Furthermore, follow-up studies should be conducted to verify the program.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.1851-1856
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• 2012

Immigration to a nation with a stronger anti-smoking environment has been hypothesized to make smoking less common. However, little is known about how environments influence risk of smoking across the lifecourse. Research suggested a linear decline in smoking over the lifecourse but these associations, in fact, might not be linear. This study assessed the possible nonlinear associations between age and smoking and examined how these associations differed by environment through comparing Koreans in Seoul, South Korea and Korean Americans in California, United States. Data were drawn from population based telephone surveys of Korean adults in Seoul (N=500) and California (N=2,830) from 2001-2002. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (lowess) was used to approximate the association between age and smoking with multivariable spline logistic regressions, including adjustment for confounds used to draw population inferences. Smoking differed across the lifecourse between Korean and Korean American men. The association between age and smoking peaked around 35 years among Korean and Korean American men. From 18 to 35 the probability of smoking was 57% higher (95%CI, 40 to 71) among Korean men versus 8% (95%CI, 3 to 19) higher among Korean American men. A similar difference in age after 35, from 40 to 57 years of age, was associated with a 2% (95%CI, 0 to 10) and 20% (95%CI, 16 to 25) lower probability of smoking among Korean and Korean American men. A nonlinear pattern was also observed among Korean American women. Social role transitions provide plausible explanations for the decline in smoking after 35. Investigators should be mindful of nonlinearities in age when attempting to understand tobacco use.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.135-148
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In times of disaster, simplified and minimized nutritional standards are necessary for a quick response to provide nutritious relief food. This study aimed to develop nutrient-based nutritional standards for foodservice at shelters during disasters in the Republic of Korea (South Korea). SUBJECTS/METHODS: The standards were developed in 2 phases. First, nutrients to be included in the standards were selected. Initial candidates were selected considering 3 aspects: preceding standards, insufficient intake during disasters, and inadequate intake among South Koreans. Final selection was made by excluding nutrients for 3 reasons: nutrients for which there is no deficiency concern in South Korea, nutrients whose intake data were not available, or nutrients whose values presented by Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans are difficult to achieve based on the current diet among South Koreans. Second, the reference values of energy and the selected nutrients were calculated. The reference values for the entire population who were 1-year-old and over were calculated by multiplying the estimated energy requirements or the recommended nutrient intake and the proportion of each age and sex group. Respective reference values were also calculated for 4 different age groups (1-5, 6-11, 12-64, and ≥ 65-year-old). RESULTS: The standards for the entire population were 2,000 kcal for energy, 55 g for protein, 650 ㎍ retinol activity equivalents for vitamin A, 95 mg for vitamin C, 1.1 mg for thiamin, 1.3 mg for riboflavin, 14 mg niacin equivalents for niacin, 350 ㎍ dietary folate equivalents for folic acid, 750 mg for calcium, and 11 mg for iron. Four additional standards corresponding to each age group were developed. CONCLUSIONS: The nutritional standards during disasters were developed for South Korea, including energy and 9 nutrients with reference values for the entire population and 4 different age groups. The standards will contribute to maintaining the health of disaster evacuees in South Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.109-115
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• 2019

Objectives: This study investigates lay beliefs about the etiology and treatments of tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome, as well as identifying sociodemographic and personality variables affecting these beliefs among South Koreans. Methods: In total, 673 participants (mean age $41.77{\pm}12.03$ years) completed an online survey regarding their beliefs about tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome. The factors related to their lay beliefs about the disorders were analyzed, and the correlates were investigated. Results: Results indicated that lay people in South Korea held strong beliefs that the causes of tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome lie within the parenting/psychological and neurological/biological categories, compared to the dietary/environmental one. Among the sociodemographic variables, sex, age, and levels of subjective mental health knowledge were primarily associated with the aforementioned beliefs. Familiarity with tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome was also associated with these beliefs. Among the personality traits investigated, extraversion and conscientiousness had significant influences on the beliefs people had about tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome. Conclusion: The results suggest that both policy makers and mental health service providers should adopt a strategic approach for developing and implementing health education interventions about tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome because individual sociodemographic variables, familiarity with the disorders, and personality traits are all associated with the beliefs about these disorders.

• 한국노년학
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.635-652
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• 2019

본 연구의 목적은 미주 한인노인(older Korean immigrants in the United States )과 한국에 거주하는 노인(older Koreans in South Korea)을 대상으로 동거형태(living arrangements)와 심리적 고통(psychological distress)과의 관계를 비교하기 위함이다. 이 두 나라의 노인 인구 설문조사는 60세에서 79세 사이에 해당하는 참여자(480명)로 구성되어 있으며, 인구사회학적 특성 및 동거형태와 심리적 고통과의 관계를 알아보기 위하여 위계적 다중회귀분석이 이루어졌다. 연구결과는 미주에 거주하는 '독거(living alone)' 노인의 26.4%와 '배우자와 살고 있는 노인(living with a spouse)'의 7.3%가 '심한' 심리적 고통을 겪고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이에 반해, 한국에 거주하는 '독거'노인의 20.0%와 '배우자와 살고 있는' 노인의 20.6%가 '심한' 심리적 고통을 겪고 있음으로 나타났다. 계층적 다변량 분석은 미주 한인 독거노인과 한국거주 독거노인 모두 심리적 고통에 통계적으로 유의미한 변수가 아닌 것으로 나타났다. 흥미롭게도 배우자와 살고 있는 노인과 다른 사람(living with others)과 살고 있는 미주 한인노인의 심리적 고통에 유의미한 변수로 나타났으나 한국에 거주하는 노인은 유의미한 변수가 아니었다. 이 연구는 또한 미주 한인 독거노인과 사회적 지지에 대한 상호작용은 통계적으로 유의한 변수로 나타났다. 한국거주의 '부부와 살고 있는 노인'과 사회적지지(social support)와 네트워크(social networks)에 대한 상호작용은 통계적으로 유의미한 변수로 나타났다. 따라서 이 연구는 미국과 한국에 거주하는 노인들의 정신건강에 영향을 미치는 다양한 상황들을 탐색함으로써 기존의 문헌에 기여한다. 이러한 분석결과를 토대로 미주 한인노인과 한국 노인의 심리적 고통을 줄이기 위한 정책적 시사점을 제시하였다.

• 대순사상논총
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• 제19권
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• pp.125-143
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• 2005

This study offers an analysis of how Protestant Christianity in South Korea incorporated many beliefs and practices of Korean traditional religions in order to make the new faith more appealing to the masses. The paper also examines the way in which specific Protestant doctrines and practices were modified or accentuated to suit the disposition of the Korean people. In agreement with Confucianism, for example, Protestant churches in general emphasized the values of diligence, self-cultivation, righteous living, and, most importantly, filial piety. By overtly and subtly permitting ancestral rites to be conducted by Christians, moreover, Protestant Christianity evaded successfully the potential alienation of the tradition-bound Koreans. From Buddhism, Protestant Christianity syncretized such elements as the daily dawn prayer and all-night prayer as well as the practices of baekilgido ("a hundred-day prayer") and chunilgido ("a thousand-day prayer"). Hundreds of prayer centers that exist deep in the mountains also manifest a Buddhist influence. Shamanistic influences are also evident in Korean Protestantism, replete with the latter's emphasis on this-worldly success (health, prosperity, long life, etc.), faith healing, and conceptualization of God as being merciful and generous. What all of this reveals is that Christian conversion in South Korea did not involve an exclusivistic change of religious affiliation, meaning that it did not require the repudiation of traditionally held beliefs. Instead, millions of South Koreans eagerly embraced Protestant Christianity precisely because the new faith was advanced as an extension or continuation of traditional religious practices.