• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.99-128
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• 2008

Nearly all Koreans are insured through National Health Insurance(NHI). While NHI coverage is nearly universal, it is not complete. Coverage is largely limited to minimal level of hospital and physician expenses, and copayments are required in each case. As a result, Korea's public insurance system covers roughly 50% of overall individual health expenditures, and the remaining 50% consists of copayments for basic services, spending on services that are either not covered or poorly covered by the public system. In response to these gaps in the public system, 64% of the Korean population has supplemental private health insurance. Expansion of private health insurance raises negative externality issue. Like public financing schemes in other countries, the Korean system imposes cost-sharing on patients as a strategy for controlling utilization. Because most insurance policies reimburse patients for their out-of-pocket payments, supplemental insurance is likely to negate the impact of the policy, raising both total and public sector health spending. So far, most empirical analysis of supplemental health insurance to date has focused on the US Medigap programme. It is found that those with supplements apparently consume more health care. Two reasons for higher health care consumption by those with supplements suggest themselves. One is the moral hazard effect: by eliminating copayments and deductibles, supplements reduce the marginal price of care and induce additional consumption. The other explanation is that supplements are purchased by those who anticipate high health expenditures - adverse effect. The main issue addressed has been the separation of the moral hazard effect from the adverse selection one. The general conclusion is that the evidence on adverse selection based on observable variables is mixed. This article investigates the extent to which private supplementary insurance affect use of health care services by public health insurance enrollees, using Korean administrative data and private supplements related data collected through all relevant private insurance companies. I applied a multivariate two-part model to analyze the effects of various types of supplements on the likelihood and level of public health insurance spending and estimated marginal effects of supplements. Separate models were estimated for inpatients and outpatients in public insurance spending. The first part of the model estimated the likelihood of positive spending using probit regression, and the second part estimated the log of spending for those with positive spending. Use of a detailed information of individuals' public health insurance from administration data and of private insurance status from insurance companies made it possible to control for health status, the types of supplemental insurance owned by theses individuals, and other factors that explain spending variations across supplemental insurance categories in isolating the effects of supplemental insurance. Data from 2004 to 2006 were used, and this study found that private insurance increased the probability of a physician visit by less than 1 percent and a hospital admission by about 1 percent. However, supplemental insurance was not found to be associated with a bigger health care service utilization. Two-part models of health care utilization and expenditures showed that those without supplemental insurance had higher inpatient and outpatient expenditures than those with supplements, even after controlling for observable differences.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.35-73
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• 2010

This paper examines consumption dynamics in relation to asset prices in Korea. Empirical analysis based on the error correction model shows that personal consumption is affected by changes in asset prices but the consumption converges to the long-run level of consumption corresponding to the total income flow in two years. This adjustment in consumption implies that the consumption error, reflected in the error correction term, should have predictability for the future consumption growth during the adjustment period. It is found that the error correction term has a long-run predictability for consumption over up to about 3 years; thus, confirming the error correction model. It is also found that housing prices have larger effects on consumption compared with stock prices in Korea. In addition, the effects of income and asset prices on consumption show bigger effects during contractionary period than expansionary period in business cycles. This paper also analyzes effects of asset wealth that reflects changes in both price and quantity. It is found that asset wealth has a long-run effect on consumption in addition to total income as determinants of consumption. Since wealth effects usually indicate the long-run effect of changes in asset wealth on consumption that is not explained by labor income, which is the proxy for human source of wealth, it is estimated with labor income used as a control variable. According to the estimation, the marginal propencity to consume out of asset wealth is approximately 2%. It means that 1,000won increase in asset wealth may lead to 20 won increase in consumption.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2022

This paper investigates the distinct characteristics of freehold and leasehold households living in the seven largest cities and the other areas. We employ the two-stage logit regression analysis to identify the marginal effects of wealth and income after controlling for the other one. We document the following results. First, households with more net wealth are more likely to reside in their own houses, regardless of living areas. Second, the pure income effect after controlling for wealth and other variables lowers the tendency of freeholders to live in the seven largest cities while increasing the tendency to live in the other areas. Furthermore, the income effects reduce the tendency to live in the former regions. Our results suggest that the pure income effects enhance preferences for a better living environment (e.g., larger spaces, better school districts, etc.), whereas the wealth effect increases the likelihood of freeholds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.1029-1035
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• 2005

A 3${\times}$4 factorial field experiment with a complete randomised split-plot design with four replicates was conducted from June 2002 to March 2003 at the experimental farm of the Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to determine effects of different harvesting heights (10, 30 and 50 cm above the ground) and cutting intervals (45, 60, 90 and 285 days) on yield of foliage and tubers, and chemical composition of the foliage. Cassava of the variety KM 94 grown in plots of 5 m${\times}$10 m at a planting distance of 30 cm${\times}$50 cm was hand-harvested according to respective treatments, starting 105 days after planting. Foliage from the control treatment (285 days) and all tubers were only harvested at the final harvest 285 days after planting. Dry matter and crude protein foliage yields increased in all treatments compared to the control. Mean foliage dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) yields were 4.57, 3.53, 2.49, and 0.64 tonnes DM $ha^{-1}$ and 939, 684, 495 and 123 kg CP $ha^{-1}$ with 45, 60, 90 and 285 day cutting intervals, respectively. At harvesting heights of 10, 30 and 50 cm the DM yields were 4.27, 3.67 and 2.65 tonnes $ha^{-1}$ and the CP yields were 810, 745 and 564 kg $ha^{-1}$, respectively. The leaf DM proportion was high, ranging from 47 to 65%. The proportion of leaf and petiole increased and the stem decreased with increasing harvesting heights and decreasing cutting intervals. Crude protein content in cassava foliage ranged from 17.7 to 22.6% and was affected by harvesting height and cutting interval. The ADF and NDF contents of foliage varied between 22.6 and 30.2%, and 34.2 and 41.2% of DM, respectively. The fresh tuber yield in the control treatment was 34.5 tonnes $ha^{-1}$. Cutting interval and harvesting height had significant negative effects on tuber yield. The most extreme effect was for the frequent foliage harvesting at 10 cm harvesting height, which reduced the tuber yield by 72%, while the 90 day cutting intervals and 50 cm harvesting height only reduced the yield by 7%. The mean fresh tuber yield decreased by 56, 45 and 27% in total when the foliage was harvested at 45, 60 and 90 day cutting intervals, respectively. It is concluded that the clear effects on quantity and quality of foliage and the effect on tuber yield allow alternative foliage harvesting principles depending on the need of fodder for animals, value of tubers and harvesting cost. An initial foliage harvest 105 days after planting and later harvests with 90 days intervals at 50 cm harvesting height increased the foliage DM and CP yield threefold, but showed only marginal negative effect on tuber yield.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.83-111
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• 2002

This study examines the structure of intergenerational relationship and its effects on old-age security of the Korean society. Of interest is the effects of the middle aged's attitudes on old parents'security on their intergenerational exchange relationship and on their own old-age security as well. This study also attempts to test the applicability of the social exchange perspective to the study of intergenerational support relationship in Korea The social exchange perspective considers intergenerational relationship as an exchange of aids and rewards between generations. However due to strong norm of filial duty and inadequate welfare system, supporting old parents is regarded as younger generation's duty in Korea This study utilizes a survey data conducted by Kim et al.(2000). Major findings can be summarized as follows. First, the middle aged who gives one-sided supports to their parents tends to have the traditional attitude on old parents' security. It implies that intergenerational support relationship in Korea is not consistent with the explanations from the social exchange perspective. This study suggests a 'chained reward system'as an altermative explaining the intergenerational relationship. Second, an absolute majority of the middle aged tend to think that they are responsible for their own old-age security regardless of the pattern of intergenerational support relationship and attitudes on old parents' security. It implies that the middle aged in Korea holds the status of 'marginal men' who supports their parents but can't take the similar supports from their children.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2011

Codonopsis lanceolata L. (Campanulaceae) has long been used in traditional Korean medicine to treat bronchitis, cough, and inflammatory diseases, however, the efficacy of anti-tumor activities remains to be defined. In this study the effects of Codonopsis lanceolata (C. lanceolata) on proliferation, migration and adhesion in lung (A549, H1299) and ovarian cancer (SKOV-3) cells were investigated. To assess and compare the pharmacological effects and production places of C. lanceolata, the ethanolic extracts of C. lanceolata from different places in Korea (Hongseong, Yecheon, Yeongwol, Yanggu, Gangjin, and Hoengseong) were prepared. The extract from Hoengseong county did have only marginal anti-proliferative activity in all the cell lines tested, however, other extracts had little or no effect on cell proliferation. The extracts from Hongseong, Gangjin or Hoengseong county had partial anti-migratory activity in lung cancer cells, but not in ovarian cancer cells. In addition, the extract from Hoengseong county had partial anti-adhesive activity in ovarian cancer cells, however, other extracts did not affect cell adhesion in both lung and ovarian cancer cells. Taken together, these findings provide the first description of anti-tumor efficacy of C. lanceolata from different production places in Korea, and suggest that C. lanceolata from Hoengseong county may have therapeutic potential in lung and ovarian cancers.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.232-242
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• 2008

- Abstract - Objectives: We examined the effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) case management program developed by National Health Insurance Corporation in Korea. Methods: One trained nurse performed the case management for 30 DM patients recruited through the reimbursement information of National Health Insurance in a rural community. The case manager had four home visits and two telephone calls for 12 weeks. We evaluated the effectiveness of the program in terms of self-efficacy, self-care behaviors and glyco-metabolic control. Results: The self-efficacy score was significantly increased from 70.0 of pre-intervention to 80.5 of post-intervention (p<0.001). The self-care score was also significantly increased from 2.86 to 3.60 (p<0.001). The scores of its components such as nutritional care, self-test of sugar level, foot care, oral care, and aerobic exercise were significantly improved (p<0.001). However, the improvement of score in medication management was statistically marginal (p=0.071). The fasting blood sugar level and HbA1c level was significantly decreased from 128.6 mg/dl to 114.5 mg/dl (p<0.001) and from 6.78 % to 6.54 % (p<0.001) respectively. Conclusions: The case management program was effective to improve the self-efficacy and self-care behaviors, and to control blood sugar level in DM patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.57-71
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to know the immunity reponse of Esubwhaltong-tang(hereafter referred to ESWTT) to rheumatoid arthrits in CIA(collagen induced arthritis) mice. Methods : For this purpose, ESWTT was orally administerd to mice with arthritis induced by collagen II and then value of immunocyte in paw joint, cytokine(IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$), rheumatoid factor(IgG and IgM) and collagen II specific antibody in the serum were measured. Results : 1. The cytotoxicity was not shown on hFLSs and liver. 2. Marginal erosion, necrotic chodrocytes, cartilage and bone degradation were improved in histological section of paw joints from CIA mice(ESWTT extract administration group). 3. Total cell number of paw joint in CIA mice(ESWTT extract administration group) was decreased significantly. 4. The absolute number of CD3+, CD3+/CD69+, CD4+, CD4+/CD25+, CD49b+, CD3+/CD49b+ cells in CIA mice(ESWTT extract administration group) were decreased significantly. 5. The levels of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in the serum of CIA mice(ESWTT extract administration group) were decreased significantly. 6. The levels of total IgG and IgM in the serum of CIA mice(ESWTT extract administration group) were decreased significantly. 7. The level of collagen II specific antibody in the serum of CIA mice(ESWTT extract administration group) was decreased significantly. Conclusions : Comparison of the results for this study showed that ESWTT had immunomodulatory effects of suppressing. So we expect that ESWTT could be used as an effective drugs for not only rheumatoid arthritis but also auto-immune disease.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.93-104
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• 2011

In this paper, a numerical procedure of probabilistic steady seepage analysis that considers the spatial variability of soil permeability is presented. The procedure extends the deterministic analysis based on the finite element method to a probabilistic approach that accounts for the uncertainties and spatial variation of the soil permeability. Two-dimensional random fields are generated based on a Karhunen-Lo$\grave{e}$ve expansion in a fashion consistent with a specified marginal distribution function and an autocorrelation function. A Monte Carlo simulation is then used to determine the statistical response based on the random fields. A series of analyses were performed to verify the application potential of the proposed method and to study the effects of uncertainty due to the spatial heterogeneity on the seepage behavior of soil foundation beneath water retaining structure with a single sheet pile wall. The results showed that the probabilistic framework can be used to efficiently consider the various flow patterns caused by the spatial variability of the soil permeability in seepage assessment for a soil foundation beneath water retaining structures.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.530-536
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• 2014

In a $2{\times}2$ factorial experiment the hypotheses tested were that the metabolic acid load caused by benzoic acid (BA) added to the feed affects bone mineralization of weanling pigs, and that a wide dietary calcium (Ca) to phosphorus (P) ratio in phytase-supplemented feeds with a marginal P concentration has a positive effect on bone mineralization. The four experimental diets, which contained 0.4% P and were supplemented with 1,000 FTU phytase/kg, contained either 5 g BA/kg or no BA and either 0.77% Ca or 0.57% Ca. The 68 four-week-old Large White pigs were fed the experimental diets ad libitum for six weeks and were then slaughtered. Benzoic acid increased feed intake (p = 0.009) and growth rate (p = 0.051), but did not influence the feed conversion ratio (p>0.10). Benzoic acid decreased the pH of the urine (p = 0.031), but did not affect breaking strength and mineralization of the tibia (p>0.10). The wide Ca:P ratio decreased feed intake (p = 0.034) and growth rate (p = 0.007) and impaired feed the conversion ratio (p = 0.027), but increased the mineral concentration in the fat-free DM of the tibia (p = 0.013) without influencing its breaking strength (p>0.10). The observed positive effect of the wide Ca:P ratio on bone mineralization may be attributed, at least in part, to the impaired feed conversion ratio, i.e. to the higher feed intake and consequently to the higher mineral intake per kg BW gain. The negative impact on animal performance of the wide dietary Ca:P ratio outweighs its potentially positive effect on bone mineralization, precluding its implementation under practical feeding conditions.