• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to reveal the circumstances under which the cases of harm to health caused by humidifier disinfectant were neglected and show the points where the number of victims and the degree of damage could have been reduced. In addition, it attempts to describe how damage management proceeded immediately after the incident and actually exacerbated the damage. Finally, it explores the unfortunate aspects of the recent trial. By doing so, it attempts to take this as an opportunity to consider whether a tragic event such as the humidifier disinfectant incident could occur in the future. Methods: This study collected and analyzed data on chemical material characteristics related to humidifier disinfectants, data on health effect characteristics, data on related laws and regulations from the Ministry of Environment, data related to the damage investigation by the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute, and current contents. Results: The lack of related systems and laws is the area where the greatest responsibility for the cause of the humidifier disinfectant disaster falls, so it is difficult for the government to escape this responsibility. Establishing a dedicated department to identify the prevalence of certain diseases within the functions of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to monitor health can greatly contribute to the prevention and management of diseases through early detection and management of group outbreaks caused by harmful factors. Humidifier disinfectant damage relief should have been expanded earlier beyond HDLI (humidifier disinfectant lung injury) to include non-specific diseases such as asthma, pneumonia, and interstitial pneumonia. The scope of relief benefits should have also been expanded earlier to include the payment of disability benefits. Fortunately, with the 2020 revision of the Special Act, the conditions for estimating causal relations were eased and individual screening systems such as health impact assessment were reorganized along with the introduction of a rapid screening system. Conclusions: The management system for chemical substances in a country is clearly of paramount importance, and the ministry in charge must have a response system in case of damage to health effects. Administration that looks at the victims' situation from their point of view is needed, and technical countermeasures are required to quickly recognize the prevalence of certain diseases.

• Korean small business review
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.1-22
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• 2019

The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of the partner types (supplier, customer, competitor, research institution, more than one partner type) for SMEs on radical and incremental innovation. Another purpose was to examine how the relation varies according to the technological intensity of an industry to which the focal firm belongs. To test the hypotheses, we used the 'KIS(Korean Innovation Survey) 2014' data and the empirical analysis was done with the effective survey from 3,846 Korean SMEs. We employed STATA 14 for validity, confirmatory factor analysis, and binary logistic regression analysis. The results revealed that, when viewed the entire manufacturing SMEs, cooperation with suppliers, customers and research institutes has all been shown to have a positive effect on the radical and gradual innovations of SMEs. However, The relationship between partner type and radical innovation has been significantly different depending on the technical intensity of the industry. When cooperating with suppliers, the impact on radical innovation of SMEs was significant only in low-tech and medium-low tech industries. In contrast, when working with customers, the impact on the radical innovation of SMEs was significant only in the high-tech, medium-high tech, and medium-low tech industries, except for low tech industries. Meanwhile, although cooperation with competitors has a positive effect on radical innovation, this has been only significant in the medium-high tech industries.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.3D
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• pp.295-302
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• 2010

Since the late 1990s, the BOT mode in China has been extensively used in the water sector in order to attract private investment, improve technical and operational efficiency, and expand the coverage of water services. The BOT mode has been hailed as this provides a win-win structure between the government and private players through formalized procedures and an optimal risk allocation. However, recent market analyses show that some foreign investors are reluctant to participate in the market or even retreat due to uncertainties and risks in the market. This study aims to explore various risks in the Chinese water BOT market based on the thorough literature review, fieldwork, and the case studies on the two wholly foreign-owned BOT water projects: the Chengdu No. 6 and the Shanghai Dachang Water Supply BOT projects. The research results indicate that the Chinese BOT market embraces high risks in political, institutional and legal, and financial systems. The key to a successful takeoff of the BOT mode in the Chinese water market depends on the extent to which the government will be able to remove risky factors in political, institutional and legal, and financing systems. This research outcome will provide a useful reference to the Korean construction companies which consider expanding business to overseas water markets in the form of public private partnership.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.183-204
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• 2023

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, lots of occasions need to be held in online environment. This is the reason why "Metaverse" gets lots of attention in 2021. A number of companies made announcements on Metaverse, and this situation also boomed stock market. This paper investigates the relationship between Metaverse initiatives and business value of the firm (i.e., stock prices). We examine this relationship by using event study method with Lexis-Nexis News data from 2019 to 2021. The results indicate that Metaverse initiatives significantly impact positive influence on firm's value. In the technological perspective, technical factors affect more positive market returns, including Metaverse enablers (e.g., NFT, VR devices, digital twin) and common infrastructure (e.g., semiconductor, AI, cloud), and especially virtual environment was emphasized. Additionally, in the strategical perspective, radical innovation (e.g., pivoting, acquisition) impact more positive market return rather than incremental innovation (e.g., partnership, investment). Also, firms from non-service industries can achieve benefits from Metaverse initiatives rather than service industry in some degree.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.99-118
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• 2020

At present, our society is developing into the intelligent information society in the wave of the 4th industrial revolution, and this change will have the positive effect of innovating all industry fields. However, due to the duality of technology, there will be positive and negative effects. With intelligence, threats to cyber dysfunction such as hacking, terrorism, privacy infringement, and illegal content distribution will become more serious. Until now, the security system of the Internet has been a proactive security system, but in recent years, a proposal for a trust network, a preventive security system, has been introduced. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the possibility of resolving cyber dysfunction of intelligent information society about Bright Internet, one of trust network technologies. This study defines the cyber dysfunction of the intelligent information society and analyzes the perceptions of changes in the cyber dysfunction of the intelligent information society on the introduction of the five principles of the Bright Internet. The change of cyber dysfunction severity of the intelligent information society due to the introduction of the trust network is analyzed to reflect the technical and social demands. This work will guide the structure of the trust network and the direction of practical technological introduction and its influence.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.199-220
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• 2023

Projects to deploy and diffuse smart factories in South Korea are aimed at enhancing national manufacturing competitiveness. However, a significant portion of deployed companies remain at the basic stage and struggle to utilize smart factories regularly. Existing studies have primarily focused on the technical aspects of smart factories, using data analytics and case studies, leading to a gap in empirical research on continuous use and upgrade intentions. This study identifies key factors influencing smart factory usage and user satisfaction, drawing on the Information Systems Success Model (ISSM) and previous research. It empirically examines the impact of these factors on continuous use intention, management performance, and advancement acceptance intention through smart factory usage and user satisfaction. A structural equation model is employed to validate the research hypotheses, using survey data from 287 small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) that have adopted smart factories. Results demonstrate that system quality, information quality, service quality, and government support significantly affect smart factory usage, while service quality and government support influence user satisfaction. Furthermore, smart factory usage and user satisfaction have positive effects on management performance, continuous use intention, and subsequently advancement acceptance intention. This study provides novel insights by demonstrating the specific impact mechanisms of smart factory user satisfaction on the business and the intentions of manufacturing SMEs regarding continuous use and advancement acceptance, leveraging the ISSM.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.193-214
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• 2024

This study aimed to propose a method for collecting and applying media platform based materials at the National Library of Korea. Firstly, we analyzed the current status and limitations of data collection based on domestic media platforms, including the National Library of Korea. Secondly, a literature review method was used to investigate the current status and types of digital content based on media platforms. Thirdly, we identified the types of materials based on media platforms that are not currently included in the National Central Library's online material collection guidelines through the examination of cases from major overseas libraries. Fourthly, after reviewing technical and legal elements such as the definition of collection targets and scope for each new media, and collection methods, we established collection criteria. Fifthly, based on the research results, the policies proposed in this study are as follows: 1) there is a need to establish a clear legal basis for the collection of media platform based materials; 2) the development and presentation of collection guidelines for media platform based materials is necessary; 3) the development of collection tools and infrastructure for media platform based materials is required; 4) for the collection of media platform based materials, it is necessary to obtain permission for collection from targeted social media organizations, and to cooperate in linkage with organizations that produce and service extended reality content; 5) for the service activation of media platform based materials, it is necessary to improve accessibility for the usage activation of these materials, to enhance the content extensibility and ease of use of the e-deposit system including extended reality content, and to advance and construct spaces for reproducing extended reality content.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.223-242
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• 2024

Single-shell tunnels, introduced to South Korea in the early 2000s, have not been adopted for the main tunnels of roads or railways over the past two decades despite several attempts starting with the Gwangju City Bypass. This reluctance likely arises from concerns about the long-term performance of supporting materials and the absence of relevant criteria and specifications. However, recent progress, including the incorporation of high-strength shotcrete standards and corrosion-resistant rock bolt specifications, alongside equipment and technique enhancements, necessitates a reassessment of single-shell tunnels. While the single-shell tunnel method offers advantages in environmental impact, construction cost and period compared to the conventional NATM, it is crucial to address the challenges, such as limited design and construction experience, incomplete detailed standards, and insufficient construction specifications, through further research and pilot projects. This paper reviewed the basic principles of single-shell tunnel, current application and research status, technical development trends, criteria and specifications, and remaining challenges. It aims to reignite discussions on the feasibility of applying single-shell tunnels in South Korea.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.113-133
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• 2019

Gentrification, caused by residents who are being forced out due to the rise of rent with vitalization by an excessive increase of city tourists and Touristification, meaning of phenomenon of residents' migration caused by residential area turning into tourist attraction have recently pointed out as a global problem. In Korea, the phenomenon such as environmental pollution, the rise of land value and rent, and the weakening of community culture in Jeju island and Bukchon Hanok Village has appeared as well. This phenomenon has become a serious problem by hindering resident's quality of life. In this circumstance, Smart tourism city has been regarded as a solution of these problems. Hence, this study chose Busan city, which has been designated as a smart city since 2015, and examined the complex impacts of the economic benefits, social costs, environmental substantiality, cultural benefits, and technical effects derived from tourism development on the residents' deteriorated quality of life based on Fuzzy-set Qualitative Analysis (fsQCA). As a result, three patterns of the hindrance to residents' quality of life were derived. If social costs of tourism development are perceived to be large, the residents perceive deteriorated quality of life, even if they recognize essential benefits (technological and economic benefits) (Pattern #1) or secondary benefits (environmental and cultural benefits) (Pattern #2) of tourism development. In addition, some residents were found not to recognize any benefits of tourism development (Pattern #3).

• Information Systems Review
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.63-86
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• 2019

As the use of ICT became a part of daily social life, online community has emerged as a new type of social organization. Online community is a virtual space which enables many people to participate and contribute together to collective knowledge. Anonymity in online communities can encourage active social participation by people with various social constraints, however, anonymity can also lead to serious social pathology. As a result, it is necessary to study on what is fundamentally influencing human behavior and how people's behavior is controlled in anonymous online community. This study focuses on human identity and investigate the factors affecting human behavior control in anonymous online environment by examining various aspects of identity in online discussion community. This study empirically verifies the causal relationship between factors, including social & technical anonymities, various identity dimensions, intrinsic motivation to participate in the community, group norm conformity, and quality of discussion. It also analyzes the difference between groups by the level of anonymity, gender, age, community usage period, and discussion topic. Based on the findings, this research provides theoretical and practical implications for online community management strategies and a better culture on Internet discussion.