• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.202-212
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• 2021

Objectives: The reproductive health of female workers has been extensively investigated in South Korea and other countries worldwide. However, few studies have discussed the reproductive health of male workers. In this study, we reviewed the recent literature that reports on the effects of occupational exposure on the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. Methods: In May 2020 we used the PubMed search engine to search the literature over the last 10 years and chose case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies and reviews. We selected epidemiological studies that investigated the association between pre-pregnant occupational exposure and the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. We excluded case reports, non-epidemiological studies (animal experiments, cellular-level experiments, and similar articles), and studies that described postnatal occupational exposure. Results: We eventually selected 23 studies. The studies that included exclusively male workers reported that those employed in the agricultural sector or those exposed to pesticides showed lower blood levels of reproductive hormones and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers exposed to complex organic solvents and organic compounds showed a high risk of poor semen quality, increased time to pregnancy, decreased blood levels of reproductive hormones, and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers employed in occupations that involved significant social contact, or in the leather and livestock industries, and in occupations with high levels of exposure to lead and organic solvents showed a high risk of malignancies, including lympho-hematopoietic system cancer, neuroblastoma, and central nervous system tumors in their children. Studies that investigated both male and female workers reported that children of male smelters showed a high risk of premature birth, and children of male workers exposed to metals showed a high risk of hypospadias and cryptorchidism. Children of male welders and workers employed in the glass, ceramic, and tile industries showed a high risk of premature birth. Conclusion: The findings of this study will serve as basic data for further research on male workers' reproductive health and provide a scientific basis for the development of strategies to protect the reproductive health of males employed in high-risk occupations. Moreover, the results of this study may provide guidelines to improve the understanding of and knowledge on male workers' reproductive health.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.168-176
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was done to examine the effects of the SNS Gratitude Diary Program during the COVID-19 period on grateful disposition, job satisfaction and life satisfaction of medical institution workers. Methods: The study was a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. The participants were 58 medical institution workers of which 28 were assigned to the experimental group and 30 to the control group. Data were collected from June 3 to August 10, 2020 and analyzed using SPSS Win 18.0 version program. The intervention was conducted 5 times a week for 8 weeks. Results: There were significant differences in reported grateful disposition between the two groups. However, the issue of job satisfaction and life satisfaction were not significant. Conclusion: The SNS Gratitude Diary Program using SNS during the COVID-19 period can be utilized as an effective intervention for grateful disposition. It will be a good solution to lead successful psychological health management.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.158-175
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• 2022

This study discusses mass unemployment and job insecurity due to the 4th industrial revolution and technological progress. In particular, the construction automation service method can contribute to increasing work productivity, preventing on-site safety accidents, and enhancing the competitiveness of the construction industry according to rapid development and convergence between technologies. However, there is great concern that the position of workers will decrease and the income distribution will deteriorate. Therefore, this study is necessary to alleviate the anxiety of the labor market and to find a direction for the government and all walks of life to ponder. To carry out this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with two experts currently engaged in the construction field, and through analysis, we intend to derive meaning and identify current trends, identify necessary improvement measures and institutional areas and suggest research directions. As a result of the analysis, it is possible to suggest a response strategy in a total of three themes: purpose, implication, and strategy. Based on this, there are response strategies in four areas: (1) industrial site response, (2) worker response, (3) education, and (4) training response, and government and corporate response. Through this study, it is necessary to revitalize economic and sociological discussions in the future so that the improvement in productivity and efficiency of society as a whole due to technological innovation of construction automation services does not lead to social problems such as an increase in the unemployment rate and a decrease in jobs in the labor market.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.534-546
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• 2023

If the disc cutter is excessively worn or damaged, it becomes incapable of rotating and efficiently cutting rockmass. Therefore, it is important to appropriately manage the replacement cycle of the disc cutter based on its degree of wear. In general, the replacement cycle is determined based on the results of manual inspection. However, the manual measurements has issues related to worker safety and may lead to inaccurate measurement results. For these reasons, some foreign countries are developing the real-time measurement system of disc cutter wear by using different sensors. The ultrasonic sensors, eddy current sensors, magnetic sensors, and others are utilized for measuring the wear amount of disc cutters. In this study, the applicability of eddy current sensors for real-time measurement of wear amount in TBM disc cutters was evaluated. The distance measurement accuracy of the eddy current sensor was assessed through laboratory tests. In particular, the accuracy of eddy-current sensor was evaluated in various environmental conditions within the cutterhead chamber. In addition, the measurement accuracy of the eddy current sensor was validated using a 17-inch disc cutter.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2024

Objectives: Interventions promoting physical exercise and healthy habits in workplaces have been shown to be effective in reducing risk factors for metabolic syndrome. This study was conducted to examine the effects of an individualized conditioning exercise program of IT company office workers with or at higher risk of metabolic syndrome. Methods: A total of 444 IT company office workers with or at higher risk of metabolic syndrome participated in a 3-month conditioning exercise program. Body composition data using bioelectrical impedance analysis and cardiopulmonary data using cardiopulmonary exercise testing from 53 individuals (mean age: 34.8 ± 7.1 years, sex : 21% female, height : 170.4 ± 6.8 cm, weight : 75.2±12.2 kg, body mass index : 25.8±3.3 kg/m²) who have successfully completed pre-test, intervention, and post-test were analyzed. The 12 weeks intervention encompassed: (1) health counseling (2) supervised exercise(endurance-based, aerobic exercise, or circuit training once a week for 50 minutes at heart rate reserve(HRR) of 77-95%) (3) self-directed exercise and biweekly health screening checks. Results: The results indicated a significant decrease in body weight, body fat mass and body mass index, respectively. Moreover, VO₂peak, AT VO₂ and AT Time significantly improved, respectively. Resting blood pressure(SBP/DBP) showed positive changes but were not statistically significant. We observed the correlation between characteristics of participants and rate of changes in cardiopulmonary outcomes of participants, there are no significant correlation. These results indicate positive changes in body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness parameters following individualized conditioning exercise program. Conclusions: Individualized workplace exercise program for preventing metabolic syndrome can lead to improvements in body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.279-287
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• 2020

Recently, interest in radiation protection is increasing because of the occurrence of accidents related to exposure dose. So, the nuclear safety act provides to install the shields to avoid exceeding the dose limit. In particular, when the worker conducts the non-destructive testing (NDT) without the fixed shielding structure, we should monitor the access to the workplace based on a constant dose rate. However, when we apply for permits for NDT work in these work environments, the consideration factors to the estimation of the distance and exposure dose are not legally specified. Therefore, we developed the excel model that automatically calculates the distance, exposure dose, and cost if we input the factors. We applied the assumption data to this model. As a result of the application, the distance change rate was low when the thickness of the lead blanket and collimator is above 25 mm, 21.5 mm, respectively. However, we didn't consider the scattering and build-up factor. And, we assumed the shape of the lead blanket and collimator. Therefore, if we make up for these limitations and use the actual data, we expect that we can build a database on the distance and exposure dose.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.127-153
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• 2009

There is a growing concern about potential harmful effect of second-hand or environmental tobacco smoking. As a result, smoking bans in workplace become more prevalent worldwide. In Korea, workplace smoking ban policy become more restrictive in 2003 when National health enhancing law was amended. The new law requires all office buildings larger than 3,000 square meters (multi-purpose buildings larger than 2,000 square meters) should be smoke free. Therefore, a lot of indoor office became non smoking area. Previous studies in other counties often found contradicting answers for the effects of workplace smoking ban on smoking behavior. In addition, there was no study in Korea yet that examines the causal impacts of smoking ban on smoking behavior. The situation in Korea might be different from other countries. Using 2001 and 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition surveys which are representative for population in Korea we try to examine the impacts of law change on current smoker and cigarettes smoked per day. The amended law impacted the whole country at the same time and there was a declining trend in smoking rate even before the legislation update. So, the challenge here is to tease out the true impact only. We compare indoor working occupations which are constrained by the law change with outdoor working occupations which are less impacted. Since the data has been collected before (2001) and after (2005) the law change for treated (indoor working occupations) and control (outdoor working occupations) groups we will use difference in difference method. We restrict our sample to working age (between 20 and 65) since these are the relevant population by the workplace smoking ban policy. We also restrict the sample to indoor occupations (executive or administrative and administrative support) and outdoor occupations (sales and low skilled worker) after dropping unemployed and someone working for military since it is not clear whether these occupations are treated group or control group. This classification was supported when we examined the answers for workplace smoking ban policy existing only in 2005 survey. Sixty eight percent of indoor occupations reported having an office smoking ban policy compared to forty percent of outdoor occupation answering workplace smoking ban policy. The estimated impacts on current smoker are 4.1 percentage point decline and cigarettes per day show statistically significant decline of 2.5 cigarettes per day. Taking into account consumption of average sixteen cigarettes per day among smokers it is sixteen percent decline in smoking rate which is substantial. We tested robustness using the same sample across two surveys and also using tobit model. Our results are robust against both concerns. It is possible that our measure of treated and control group have measurement error which will lead to attenuation bias. However, we are finding statistically significant impacts which might be a lower bound of the true estimates. The magnitude of our finding is not much different from previous finding of significant impacts. For cigarettes per day previous estimates varied from 1.37 to 3.9 and for current smoker it showed between 1%p and 7.8%p.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.895-908
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• 2018

As modern science is developed and advanced, examination and number of times using radiation are increasing daily. General diagnostic X-ray generator is installed on stationary form, But X-ray generator was developed because patient who is in the intensive care unit, operation room, emergency room can not move to general x-ray room. What we examine patient by x-ray generator is certainly necessary, So patient exposure is inevitable. but reducing radiation exposure is highly important matter about radiation technology, guardian, patient in the same hospital room, nurse etc. For this reason, rule regarding safety control of diagnostic x-ray generator revised for radiation worker, patient and protector proclaim that mobile diagnostic x-ray shield must placed in case of examine different location excluding operation room, emergency room, intensive care unit. But, radiogical technologist is having a lot of difficulties to examine with mobile x-ray generator, diagnostic x-ray shield partition, image plate and lead apron. So, when we use x-ray generator, we manufacture shield tools can be attached to the mobile x-ray generator On behalf of x-ray shield partition and conduct analysis and in comparison to part of body and distribution of dose rate and find way to reduce radiation exposure through distribution of dose rate of patient within the radiogical technologist, medical team. Mobile x-ray generator aimed at SHIMADZU inc. R-20, We manufactured equipment for shielding x-ray scattered x-ray by installing shielding wall from side to side based on support beam on the mobile x-ray generator. Shielding wall when moving can be folded and designed to expand when examine. Experiment measured five times in each by an angle for dose rate of eyes, thyroid, breast, abdomen and gonad on exposure condition of upper and lower extremity, chest, abdomen which is examined many times by mobile x-ray generator. We used dosimeter RSM-100 made by IJRAD and measured a horizontal dose rate by body part. The result of an experiment, shielding decreasing rate of the front and the rear showed 77 ~ 98.7%. Therefore using self-production shielding wall reduce scattered x-ray occurrence rate and confirm can decrease exposure dose consequently. Therefore, through this study, reduction result which is used shielding wall of self-production will be a role of shielding optimization and it could be answer about reduction of medical exposure recommended by ICRP 103.

• Journal of Popular Narrative
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.221-254
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• 2020

This paper finds a solution in the social context which cannot be explained thoroughly by well-timed release date, revival of comedy films, and the attraction of Lee Byeong-heon's comedy etc. while it throws question of how the film, Extreme Job captivated 16 million audience. The incredible hits of Extreme Job cannot be explained by analyzing the text alone. After this essay investigates a function and a role of comedy as a public sphere, it examines people's desires and wishes in the comedy and other genres since 2008 when the conservative government has seized power. Since 2008 a series of dark tone's action thriller, social problem film, and disaster film have emerged, these genres showed absence of public security, crisis of democracy and criticism against rulling class. On the other hand, hit comedy films have showed escapism such as weepie, nostalgia, and fantasy at the same time, generally. Although Veteran (2015) is not full-blown comedy, after this film's big success, "comic mode" has gradually revived. A light tone's films which are truer to genre rules has started representing the wishes of people toward social reforms and changes. Meanwhile, "Candlelight Protest" served as a momentum to recover the democracy which has been in crisis, but it could not lead changes in economic and daily lives. Exreme Job can be read as a question how we will survive since "Candlight Protest." The lives of detectives as self-employed workers who has taken over a fried chicken restaurant for going undercover are appearances of ordinary persons who must survive in the edless conpetition. Furthermore, this film shows a dream of a "great success myth" which becomes well-known as a famous restaurant and a self-management such as brand-naming and an exapansion of franchise business. We can read ganster's chicken franchises as a huge distribution industry which disturbs market system by delivering drugs secretly. While applauses that we give to the police having identities of self-employed workers which sweeps the ganster are giving support to oridinary neighborhood like us, they are also wishes of people who long for the restoration of publicness of police in the market which is becoming increasingly privatized today. A significance of this essay is to examine Extreme Job in terms of the geography of film genres and the revival of comic mode sicne 2008 at the macro level, and is to read the film in the perspective of the problems of economic and daily lives which has been still unsolved since "Candlelight Protest" at the micro level.