• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.53-60
• /
• 2019

There are approximately 1.06 million vacant homes in Korea, accounting for 6% of all housing, and approximately 98 thousand vacant homes are in Gyeongsangnam-do, taking up 8.7% of the housing in the province. In particular, the number of abandoned house in Gyeongsangnam-do is rapidly increasing from 6.7% in 2010 to 8.7% in 2015. This study examined the current state of abandoned house in Gyeongsangnam-do according to the characteristics of cities and rural areas, causes for vacancies, and demand for use of such abandoned house. The study areas were selected based on case studies in Korea and overseas, and a survey was conducted among residents in the selected areas. The survey was on awareness of abandoned house in the neighborhood, causes for vacancies, awareness of owners, the influence of the abandoned house, plans to deal with abandoned house, and plans to utilize abandoned house. The results showed that most residents were aware of abandoned house, especially the ones in rural areas, who had detailed perceptions about abandoned house nearby such as when the homes became empty and whether there are owners of the homes. As for the influence of abandoned house on the surrounding environment, both rural areas and cities responded that abandoned house mostly spoil the beauty of the neighborhood, followed by psychological anxiety such as fear of crimes. Regarding plans to utilize abandoned house nearby, at least half of the residents wanted to use them as rental housing after repairing them. A survey on the actual condition must be conducted at the provincial level in order to establish an integrated system to manage abandoned house in Gyeongsangnam-do. Moreover, it is necessary to come up with application measures according to categories and standards to classify the state of abandoned house in order to use them as resources for community regeneration.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.188-201
• /
• 2009

Objectives: This study compared the welfare level and leisure activities of children and the youth in urban areas with rural areas, and examined factors affecting their life satisfaction. Methods: The fourth wave of the Youth Panel data collected by the Korea Youth Policy Institute has been utilized. A total of 3,145 sample was drawn, and the average age of the sample was about 17 years old (a sophomore in high-school). T-test and multiple regression has been employed. Results: In almost all welfare related variables including life satisfaction, leisure satisfaction, parent attachment, and relationship with teachers and peers, the rural children and youth showed lower scores than their urban counterparts. The only factor whose score was higher to the rural children and youth was community factor including community attachment and guidance. In terms of leisure (satisfaction) level which was the most influential factor of predicting the variance of life satisfaction, the rural children and youth revealed unfavorable condition, as their accessibility to the facilities was low and there were less facilities in rural areas in the first place. Conclusions: As a way to improve the welfare and cultural level of rural children and youth, this study proposed to make investment to the rural areas by providing them with welfare and leisure infra structure and various welfare and leisure programs. To improve the outdoor leisure activities of the urban children and youth, setting up a sisterhood between urban and rural schools has been suggested.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.174-182
• /
• 2004

The zinc intake and status of South Koreans from rural, urban and metropolitan areas were compared to evaluate the zinc nutritional status in different regional areas in South Korea. The dietary habits of 721 healthy adult subjects (271 from rural, 240 from urban, 210 from metropolitan city) with an age range 30 ∼ 64 (mean age 54$\pm$18) were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Mean daily Zn intake for rural, urban, and metropolitan areas was 6.5 mg, 7.3 mg, and 11.4 mg (p<0.05), respectively, which was 54%,61% and 95% of the Korean RDA for man (12 mg/d). Mean phytate: zinc molar ratios for rural, urban, and metropolitan city were 41, 34, and 30, respectively (p < 0.05), which were higher than the cutoff level of 20 for poor zinc status. The zinc intake and phytate: Zn molar ratio in the rural area were 0.5 and 1.3-fold compared to those of the metropolitan city, which can cause poor zinc nutriture in the rural area. Most of the zinc biomarkers were lower in the rural area than in the metropolitan city (p < 0.05) (mean rural and metropolitan values for plasma Zn: 80.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dL and 119.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dL, respectively; RBC Zn: 7.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dL and 8.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dL, respectively; plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity: 87 mU/mL and 100.4 mU/mL, respectively). It seems that a lower zinc intake in the rural area decreased zinc biomarker levels, such as plasma and RBC zinc, and plasma alkaline phosphatase activity, and caused the poor zinc nutritional status in this area. Most of the zinc biomarkers, such as RBC zinc and urinary and plasma zinc levels, in the subjects from the three localities, were within the normal range even when zinc intake of rural and urban subjects was low. The exception was plasma ALP activity in the rural area, which was lower than the reference level. Thus, marked zinc deficiency in these subjects were not observed, however, the potential for marginal zinc deficiency should be considered, especially for the rural area, because of the low zinc intake and the biomarker levels for marginal zinc deficiency.

• Korea journal of population studies
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.5-40
• /
• 2001

We have approached this study on the basis of population and family changes. We have selected two suburban and two general rural areas for this research. The suburban rural areas are located next to Chungju City, which is the biggest city in Chungbuk Province, and the residents are able to commute to Chungju. The general rural areas are located in Boeun Gun, which is a typical agricultural county in Chungbuk Province. We have conducted two round surveys at the research areas: 1995-1996 for the first round and 1999-2000 for the second round surveys. Since the surveys were completed ones interviewed by enumerators, we have used the survey data directly for the analysis by year and region. The population structure by age and sex in general rural areas is shaped as a reverse triangle, which is becoming more serious because of the continuing emigration of young generation. Most of the young generation moves to the urban areas and their old parents only are left in their hometown, rural areas. When the parents become old and die, the number of households in the areas decreases rapidly. If there are no more new family formations, therefore, the rural society itself would cease to exist in near future. However, the situation of suburban rural areas was a different case. Although the rural young generation has moved to urban areas, other young age groups have moved into the areas with their small enterprises and for the low living costs. The original residents become older and the young age groups are replaced with the new immigrants continuously. Therefore, the traditional agricultural society will be replaced with a non-agricultural society, which will have more characteristics of urban areas.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.163-178
• /
• 2023

Individuals have been under more stress since the COVID-19 pandemic began than they were before the pandemic. While social support is a known stress buffer among the general population, its impact on stress among vulnerable populations, such as immigrants and those living in rural areas, has received little attention in the context of South Korea. Accordingly, we examined the relationship between different types of social support and COVID-19 stress among young adult immigrants based on where they live (rural vs. urban). We conducted a survey of 300 young adult immigrants aged 25-34 years and analyzed the results. The dependent variable was COVID-19 stress, and the independent variables were four types of social support: emotional, appraisal, instrumental, and informational. We discovered that young adult immigrants in rural areas perceived higher-level social supportin all aspects compared with those in urban areas. Furthermore, social support was not related to COVID-19 stress in urban areas, while appraisal support was positively and informational support was negatively related to COVID-19 stress in rural areas. Our findings suggest that a contextualized understanding of social support is critical to understanding COVID-related stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.501-510
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare urban-rural differences on influencing factors of health related quality of life(HRQoL) of the elderly in senior center. Methods: The subjects were 902 older adults (571 from urban areas, 331 from rural areas). Data were collected using a questionnaire from 20 July to 31 August, 2011. The SPSS/WIN program was used for data analysis. Results: For older adults of urban areas, the influencing factors of HRQoL were depression, age, subjective health, drinking, number of chronic disease, and smoking. On the other hand, the influencing factors of HRQoL of older adults of rural areas were depression, subjective health, number of chronic disease, and educational level. The significant factors of HRQoL were depression, subjective, and number of chronic disease in both urban and rural areas. Conclusion: Public health nurses should consider urban-rural differences when designing HRQoL enhancing program for the elderly in senior center.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.281-293
• /
• 1997

Dietary fiber(DF) intake of teenagers was estimated and the major food sources of fiber were analyzed using three-day food records and data from 365 middle school students in urban, rural and fishing areas. Mean dwily DF intake of males was 9.2$\pm$3.9g in urban, 10.4$\pm$5.4g in rural, and 7.9$\pm$4.0g in fishing areas and the intake of female was 10.6$\pm$5.1g in urban, 10.6$\pm$5.2g in rural, and 7.7$\pm$3.3g in fishing areas. When related to energy intake, female consumed more DF(5.7$\pm$2.5g/1000㎉, 7.0$\pm$3.5g/1000㎉, 4.6$\pm$2.2g/1000㎉, in urban, and rural, fishing areas respectively) than males(4.2$\pm$1.3g/1000㎉, 4.6$\pm$1.5g/1000㎉, 4.4$\pm$2.0g/1000㎉ in urban, rural, fishing respectively). Mean crude fiber(CF) intake of males was 4.1$\pm$1.7g, 4.5$\pm$2.4g, 3.7$\pm$2.4g, and female's intake was 4.7$\pm$1.9g, 4.8$\pm$2.2g, 3.7$\pm$1.9g in urban, rural, and fishing areas respectively. The mean DF : CF ratio for the subjects was 2.2-2.6, indicating that the DF intake is 2-3 times that of CF intakes. The intakes of the two measures of fiber were highly correlated(r=0.7781) . The major food sources for DF were cereals, vegetables and fruits and the percentage contributions of the food groups to the DF intake were 27-37$\%$, 22-30$\%$, and 11.5-19.7$\%$ respectively. The present study indicates that the DF intake of teenagers is considerably lower than the recommended level and they need to consume more DF than that indicated by the present levels. The importance of nutrition education on health and dietary pattern should also be emphasized among teenagers.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
• /
• v.38 no.10 s.159
• /
• pp.885-894
• /
• 2005

Since the 1970s, rapid Industrialization has brought urbanization nationwide. In this paper, thirty one years data(1973-2003) ate used to evaluate variability of major cities. Before assessing the context between urbanization and variability of rainfall, the rural areas are selected to compare with urban ones. Thus, average, trends, variations, and nonparametric frequency analysis methods were employed for evaluating variation of annual precipitation, seasonal precipitation, 1 hour annual maximum design rainfall and 24 hour annual maximum design rainfall for both urban and rural areas. The result have shown that summer precipitation relatively increased In urban areas compared to that in rural areas.

• The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2014

Under the influence of birth control and rapid urbanization, China's rural school-age population is on a year-by-year decrease, which has led approximately 300 thousand middle and primary schools to idleness ever since 2000. A majority of these idle schools are located in rural areas, almost one half remaining idle due to vagueness in property right. The disposed schools are less efficient for not being combined with the real situation of rural areas. Based on the opportunity of coordinative development of urban-rural areas, this paper analyzes the situationsin terms of the development of public service facilities and the gap between rural and urban areas over the recent years. Then the effective and sustainable reuse scheme to dispose of the idle schools and reshape them into the facilities for the elders, cultural facilities and medical facilities is proposed from the perspectives of perfecting rural public service facilities and guaranteeing citizens' equal share of public service, which both maintains the public nature of the idle schools, reconciles the fuzzy property right, and boosts efficiency of reuse, saves resources, and reduces investment for perfecting rural public facilities.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.329-334
• /
• 2002

In order to compare the lead and cadmium levels, studies of heavy metal accumulation of feral pigeons from rural (Deokjeok island), central urban (Seoul city), and industrial complexes (Ansan, Busan, Ulsan, and Yochon) were conducted. The outstanding result of this study is that feral pigeons in urban and industrial complex areas contain high Pb and Cd concentrations in kidney, bone, liver, and lung tissues compared to those of rural areas. Such a trend was prominent in the target organs, bone and kidney, about 10 times greater than in rural areas. On the other hand, the lead levels of the Yochon Industrial Complex were noticeably lower than those of other industrial complex areas. Not only feral pigeons habit of street and ground feeding, but also atmospheric metal concentration offers an explanation for the heavy metal concentration differences in the study areas.