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Archaeoentomological investigations were conducted on soil contents from a grave belonging to the Joseon Dynasty as part of the Urban Environment Maintenance Project (UEMP) in Cheongjin 12-16 dong (districts), Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea, from December 01, 2008 to February 19, 2011. A total of 28 insect puparia with hard shells of the common green bottle fly Lucilia sericata were identified in the soil. Evidence suggested that the corpse was placed outside for some days instead of being buried immediately after death. This is the first report of fly puparia in soil samples from a tomb of the Joseon Dynasty during 16-17 AD in Korea. Our findings may help determine the timeframe of burial and offer archaeological insights into the funerary customs of the period.

Gastric endoscopic resection (ER) is widely performed in Korea. This study aimed to investigate the overall status of gastric ER in Korea. We enrolled ESD or EMR cases performed for gastric cancer and adenoma from 2012 to 2017 by searching the NHIS database. The annual trend of gastric ER and the clinical characteristics were investigated. Institutions were classified into very high-, high-, low-, and very low volume centers (VHVC, HVC, LVC, and VLVC) by the procedure numbers, and institutional types, regional distributions, and medical resources were investigated accordingly. There were 175,370 ER cases during the study period, with an increasing trend over time. The average annual ESD procedure numbers were 3.9, 54.5, 249.5, and 540.3 cases in 131 VLVCs, 119 LVCs, 24 HVCs, and 12 VHVCs, respectively. Among ESD-performing institutions, 44.8% were located in the Seoul Capital Area. The distribution of medical resources showed a positive correlation with the procedural volume. Similar tendencies were also demonstrated in EMR, with some differences in hospital types and regional distribution. Gastric ER and ESD are increasing in Korea. There was a significant variance in the number of ER procedures and the distribution of types, regions, and medical resources according to the procedural volume., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This study compared the relative risks of heat days on mortalities by vulnerable groups (elderly, single-person households, less-educated) in the past decade (1999-2008) and the recent decade (2009-2018) in four cities, Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, and Gwangju, in Korea. It has been known that the health impacts of heatwaves have gradually decreased over time due to socio-economic development, climate adaptation, and acclimatization. Contrary to general perception, we found that the recent relative risk of mortality caused by heat days has increased among vulnerable groups. It may associate with recent increasing trends of severe heat days due to climate change. The increasing relative risk was more significant in single-person households and less-educated groups than in the elderly. It implies that the impacts of climate change-induced severe heat days have been and will be concentrated on vulnerable groups. It suggests that social polarization and social isolation should be addressed to reduce heatwave impacts. Furthermore, this study shows the necessity of customized heatwave policies, which consider the characteristics of vulnerable groups., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

In the Republic of Korea, the Environmental Health Act was amended in January 2021, making it mandatory for each local government to establish a plan for environmental health. Accordingly, the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) must establish the Local Plan for Environmental Health (LPEH) to protect citizens' health from environmental hazards. The plan would support existing environmental health policies in Seoul to improve population health and achieve their goals. As a proof-of-concept to establish the LPEH, we developed a preliminary plan for environmental health in Seoul. We analyzed environmental health conditions of Seoul, identified driving conditions for execution of environmental health policies, set basic policy directions, and identified tasks needed to establish the preliminary plan. As a result, we established the vision and the goals of the preliminary plan. The vision is "a safe Seoul environment, healthy citizens". The strategies are "active monitoring of environmental health issues", "minimization of health damage and meticulous and systematic response", and "building a foundation for environmental health". To achieve the vision and the goals, we developed three strategies, eight tasks, and 25 sub-tasks. Under the preliminary plan we developed, we expect that SMG is able to protect citizens' health from threats of environmental hazards; improve environmental health conditions, especially in susceptible populations such as infants; and promote environmental justice.

Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) decide the location of firms in accordance with political, economic, technological, and social conditions. Despite the radically increasing volume of inward FDI in Korea, little attention has been paid to local outcomes of this activity. Thus, the purpose of this research is to analyse spatial, economic and demographic outcomes at both national and Seoul metropolitan levels. Where FDI is destined nationwide and metropolitan-wide; how does spatial distribution of inward FDI vary in different industries; and what spatial impacts can be seen in the city by the flows of FDI into Korea? To answer these research questions, this research uses data of Foreign Invested Enterprises (FIEs) collected by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy of Korea. This dataset includes the location of the firms, industry types, and initial year of foreign investment from the 1960s to the 2000s. Data analysis involves the use of spatial analysis, ArcGIS and regression models. Research findings suggest that FDI tended to highly concentrate in Seoul and its surrounding provinces (called the Capital Region). This spatial concentration was strengthened in the 2000s and was more evident in producer services while manufacturing FIEs dispersed to periphery of Seoul. At a metropolitan level, FIEs appeared in major business centres of Seoul. The accumulation of foreign capital in the urban core has brought local impacts involved with vitality of economic activities and demographic changes due to close connections between donor and host countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monitoring of total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentrations together with other trace gases and meteorological parameters was made at hourly intervals over 2-year period (1 January 2010 to 31 December 2011) at four urban monitoring sites: Guro-gu (G), Nowon-gu (N), Songpa-gu (S), and Yongsan-gu (Y) in Seoul, Korea. The mean concentrations of TGM at these sites were found to span the range of 3.28 (Y) to 3.47ngm−3 (N). Inspection of the seasonal patterns indicates that the maximum concentrations (ngm−3) occur at different times of year across the four sites: winter at N (3.67±1.77), fall at S (3.64±1.12), summer at G (3.61±1.51), and spring at Y (3.40±1.26). The long-term trend in Hg concentrations, when also considering data sets from previous studies, suggests modest reductions in concentrations at all four sites, from 2.89 to 4.49ngm−3 in 2004 and from 2.49 to 3.42ngm−3 in 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of the net and gross population densities on carbon footprint of residents on an intra-urban scale in Seoul, South Korea. Path analysis was conducted to verify the effects based on the results of individual surveys of 500 sample households. The results indicate that the net and gross population densities decreased the carbon footprint of the residents while they have opposite impacts on job opportunities. Net population density decreased housing energy use only in winter and housing energy use contributed to a larger carbon footprint for residents in winter than in summer. This study provides some evidences of the spatial structure–carbon footprint relationship. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study suggests a basis for the division of spatial housing submarkets in enhancing the understanding of housing markets. The theoretical background of the division is based upon the relationship between commuting patterns and the structure of house prices. An examination of the process of 'expansion-overlap-merging' between residential spheres, defined as a unit consisting of a centre of employment and the surrounding residential area, provides an overview of a probable form of merged residential spheres in large cities. In an empirical analysis of Seoul the spatial housing submarkets were identified on the basis of the hierarchies between the local authorities from commuting patterns. The relevance of the division was tested with three statistical procedures: hedonic price models, Chow tests, and weighted standard error tests. The statistical tests suggested that the housing market in Seoul can be divided into three distinct spatial submarkets, which supports the reasoning of the division method suggested in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CO concentrations and fluxes over an urban forest site (Namsan) and an urban residential region (Boramae) in Seoul, Korea, during the non-growing season (2-4 March 2011), the growing season (10-12 June 2011), and the late-growing season (22-24 September 2011) were analyzed. The CO concentrations of two sites showed nearly the same diurnal variation, with a maximum value occurring during the night and a minimum value occurring during daytime, as well as the same seasonal variation, with a maximum value during the non-growing season (early spring) and a minimum value during the growing season (summer). The CO flux over the urban forest did not show any typical diurnal variation during the non-growing season, but did show diurnal variation with a small positive value during the night and a large negative value during daytime in the growing and late-growing seasons due to photosynthesis in the urban forest. The CO flux over the urban residential region showed a positive daily mean value for all periods, with large values during the non-growing season and small values during the growing season, and it also showed diurnal variation with two maxima at 0600-1000 LST and 1800-2400 LST, and two minima at 0300-0600 LST and 1100-1500 LST, and was strongly correlated with the use of liquefied natural gas for cooking and heating by surrounding houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Episodes of exceptionally high surface ozone (O3) levels were measured in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) from July 6 to July 8. During the episode period, the 1-h average O3 concentration exceeded the daily maximum of 80 ppb over three consecutive days. In order to understand the mechanisms behind the increased O3 concentrations on consecutive days, several numerical experiments were conducted using the atmospheric dynamic model WRF for assessing the atmospheric flow as well as CMAQ for the estimation of the amount of photochemical ozone. Gradually increasing ozone concentration during episode period in SMA depends not only on the variation of meteorological conditions and the emission rate of precursors but also on the accompanying precursors within the air mass recirculation that are emitted from the SMA and its surrounding areas. The impact from the recirculation of precursors responsible for the increased ozone concentration was clarified for numerical studies using the particle dispersion model FLEXPART. Results obtained from our experimental model also demonstrated that recirculated O3 precursors such as nitrogen oxide (NO x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) significantly influenced O3 levels. During the episode period, NO x and VOCs concentrations in the PBL increased by an average of 2.9% and 19.7%, respectively, through recirculation. The recirculated precursors also are involved in the activation of photochemical reactions responsible for the formation of O3, leading to an average increase in the local O3 production of 10.9 ppb. And overall effect due to recirculation is dependent on the actual path and direction of recirculation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Korean Journal of Parasitology is the property of Korean Society for Parasitology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Precipitation was sampled in Seoul over a one-year period from 2009 to 2010 to investigate the sources and fluxes of atmospheric dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The concentrations of DOC varied from 15 μM to 780 μM, with a volume-weighted average of 94 μM. On the basis of correlation analysis using the commonly acknowledged tracers, such as vanadium, the combustion of fossil-fuels was recognized to be the dominant source. With the aid of air mass backward trajectory analyses, we concluded that the primary fraction of DOC in our precipitation samples originated locally in Korea, albeit the frequent long-range transport from eastern and northeastern China might contribute substantially. In light of the relatively invariant organic carbon to sulfur mass ratios in precipitation over Seoul and other urban regions around the world, the global magnitude of wet depositional DOC originating from fossil-fuels was calculated to be 36 ± 10 Tg C yr−1. Our study further underscores the potentially significant environmental impacts that might be brought about by this anthropogenically derived component of organic carbon in the atmosphere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Preparations for the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and the Beijing Olympics in 2008 involved the large-scale demolition of dilapidated houses in the old towns of Seoul and Beijing and the forced relocation of their residents as the urban poor. Two activist video documentaries in South Korea and China, Kim Dong-won's Sanggye-dong Olympics (1988), Seoul, South Korea, Purn-yeongsang) and Ou Ning's Meishi Street (2006), Beijing, China, Alternative Archive), bear witness to those detrimental effects that the urban transformation linked to the two cities' hosting of the Olympics had on their communities. This article examines the ways in which the two film-makers used the capacities of video technology, such as spontaneity and portability, and the relative ease with which the amateur can access and handle it, to capture the truth of demolition and relocation in the observational, realist aesthetics, and to develop alternative modes of documentary subjectivity for representing the poor residents' embodied knowledge and emotion. The use of an amateurish female voice-over in Sanggye-dong Olympics, and the casting of a male resident as an amateur documentarian who operates a video camera in Meishi Street testify to the extent to which video technology enabled the film-makers to develop the 'participatory' and 'performative' modes of documentary in which the residents could be empowered to speak for themselves. It is through the modes of subjectivity, this article argues, that the two political documentaries succeed in bringing into the public consciousness the interests and issues of the social actors who are neglected by the host countries' official media and authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the investigation of Korean indigenous fungi from Seoul, three genera-Fuscoporia, Porostereum, and Trametopsis, and four species-Fuscoporia senex, Phlebia acerina, Porostereum spadiceum, and Trametopsis cervina were found. Their morphological characteristics were examined and their identification was confirmed by molecular analysis based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA region sequences. These fungi are new to Korea and registered here with descriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the environmental behavior of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban areas, their concentrations were measured at four urban monitoring sites (namely, N, S, E, and W) in Seoul, Korea (February to December 2009). A total of 27 compounds were quantified that consist of four chemical groups: aromatic (AR), halogenated aromatic, halogenated paraffin, and halogenated olefin. Results were evaluated by focusing on these four functional groups just mentioned and their summation term as total VOC (TVOC) along with several individual species (mainly AR species, that is, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene). The highest concentration of chemical groups was found from AR (71.1±42.1 ppbC), while that for individual species confirmed the dominance of toluene (7.48±3.88 ppb). The analysis of spatial distribution indicated that high TVOC levels were recorded at sites N and W, while it was not so significant such as S and E in terms of TVOC budget. Seasonal variation of these VOCs was characterized by the peak values in December to reflect the combined effects of pronounced source activities and meteorological conditions. Analysis of spatial variations in VOC levels between the four urban sites indicated that their distributions are tightly affected by local source processes in each area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We conducted a year-round survey of precipitation samples to investigate the sources of excess 210Po in the urban atmosphere of Seoul, Korea. The dominant fraction of 210Po in our samples, independent of the in-situ decay of tropospheric 210Pb, was linked with anthropogenic processes. Using vanadium and potassium as tracers, the excess 210Po was mainly attributed to combustion of coal, with minor contributions from biomass burning. The annual integrated amount of 210Po deposited over the Seoul area via precipitation was estimated to be 1.75 × 1010 Bq yr−1, which might represent a potential public health risk in the vicinity of major point sources, due to its highly adverse biological effects. Since the world coal consumption is growing, the magnitude of coal burning derived 210Po is expected to increase in the following decades, which should be carefully monitored. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The relationship between noise and air pollution was investigated in eight different districts across Seoul, Korea, between September and November 2010. The noise levels in each district were measured at both roadside and non-roadside locations. It was found that the maximum levels of noise were generally at frequencies of around 1000Hz. The equivalent noise levels (L eq), over all districts, averaged 61.4±7.36dB which is slightly lower than the noise guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 70dB for industrial, commercial, traffic, and outdoor areas. Comparison of L eq levels in each district consistently indicates that noise levels are higher at roadside sites than non-roadside sites. In addition the relative dominance of noise during daytime as compared to nighttime was also apparent. Moreover, the results of an analysis relating sound levels with air pollutant levels indicate strongly that the correlation between these two parameters is the strongest at roadside sites (relative to non-roadside sites) and during nighttime (relative to daytime). The results of our data analysis point to a positive, but complex, correlation between noise levels and air pollution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study investigates the redistributive effects of Seoul''s bus rapid transit (BRT) system on development patterns and property values using an urban simulation model. The Seoul Metropolitan Integrated Urban Model (SMIUM) combines the Seoul metropolitan input–output model with random utility-based location choice models and endogenous real estate markets. The major findings of this study can be highlighted as follows. First, Seoul''s BRT contributes to increased development density in urban centers, acting as a centripetal force to attract firms from the suburbs into urban cores and supporting arguments for Smart Growth proponents. Second, unlike its redistributive effects on nonresidential activities, the BRT has a limited effect on the redistribution of residential activities, implying that residential locations are less sensitive to accessibility improvements made by the BRT than are nonresidential locations. Third, reflecting the transferred space demands from the suburbs to the urban cores, the CBD reaps the highest property value gains, while all of the outer ring zones suffer from reduced property values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between social capital and health/well-being in Seoul, South Korea. The data was collected from June 2009 to September 2009. The full sample includes 811 respondents, from all 25 districts in Seoul. Social capital was measured by adopting a structural and cognitive dimension. Structural social capital was measured by network diver- sity, organization membership, political participation, and volunteer work; cognitive social capital was measured by trust. The results show that the cog- nitive dimension of social capital is positively associated with all three depen- dent variables. However, the results are varied in terms of the structural dimension of social capital. Specifically, organization membership and politi- cal participation did not affect any dependent variables. The study has provid- ed evidence for the relationship between social capital and health/well-being, and is therefore expected to provide recommendations for future work that should be considered in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revija za Sociologiju is the property of Revija za Sociologiju and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Concentrations of total gaseous mercury (TGM) were measured continuously at four urban residential locations (G (Guro-gu); N (Nowon-gu); S (Songpa-gu); and Y (Yongsan-gu)) in Seoul, Korea from 2004 to 2009. The mean concentrations of Hg at these sites were found on the order of N (3.98±1.68ngm−3), S (3.87±1.56ngm−3), G (3.80±1.60ngm−3), and Y (3.36±1.55ngm−3). Evidence indicates that the spatial distribution of Hg should be affected by the combined effects of both local anthropogenic (incineration facilities and thermal power plants) and natural (soil) emission sources in association with the meteorological parameters. Inspection of the Hg temporal patterns indicates the co-existence of contrasting seasonal patterns between the central site Y (winter dominance) and all other outbound sites near city borders (summer dominance). The long-term trend of Hg, if examined by combining our previous studies and the present one, shows that Hg levels in this urban area declined gradually across decadal periods despite slight variabilities in spatial scale: (1) above 10ngm−3 in the late 1980s, (2) ~5ngm−3 in the late 1990s, and (3) ~3ngm−3 toward the late 2000s. The results of the principal component analysis along with observed differences in seasonal patterns (between study sites) suggest that Hg distributions between different urban sites are greatly distinguishable with strong source signatures at each individual site. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper discusses the strategy of cultural district development in Seoul, where a developmentalist tradition is still strong. Two specific cases of Insadong and Daehagno are taken to examine several issues concerning inherent conflicts between culture and commerce, the way culture and tradition is perceived and interpreted by different groups, and the focus of cultural strategy. The viability of cultural districts is discussed in terms of governance, policy goals and measures, and programming needs. In particular, the paper argues that, although a collaborative form of governance is desired in general, its sustainability is questionable unless there exists critical discourses reformulating the meaning of culture and tradition and searching the best means to balance between culture and commerce. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Long-term trend in emission ratio of NO2 to NO x was analyzed in relation to traffic activities using ambient monitoring data (such as NO, NO2, NO x , and O3) collected from 7 urban roadside (U-RS) and 7 urban background (U-BG) locations in Seoul, Korea over a 14-year period (1996–2009). In general, the temporal trend of NO2 concentrations is less distinctive than that of NO x , whether being downward or upward. However, if their differences are checked statistically, only a few cases were significant. The mean emission ratio of NO2 to NO x values varied slightly across the 7 U-RS sites during the study period, ranging from 0.11 to 0.19. In general, there was no significant annual trend in the relative fraction of NO2 in NO x emission (f(NO2)) at U-RS, with an exceptional downward trend at one site (slope of −0.008y−1). On the other hand, diurnal variations of f(NO2) were likely affected by driving conditions and fuel type of vehicles. The overall results of this study suggest that NO x emission control strategies such as diesel particulate filter (DPF) or diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) should have direct influences on f(NO2) values at U-RS sites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequencies of and barriers to leisure time physical activity (LTPA) of people with epilepsy (PWE), and influencing factors, particularly those related to mood. Data were obtained from 178 PWE who visited the Seoul National University Hospital outpatient clinic in January and February 2007. Most PWE reported not being involved in LTPA as much as they wished. PWE reported hiking (n =32, 18%) and walking (n =25, 14%) as the most common LTPA. Many PWE identified epilepsy-specific barriers such as “the fear of experiencing seizures during activity” and “discouragement from activity by family and/or friends.” In multiple logistic regression analysis, PWE who were on antiepileptic drug polytherapy (OR=2.49, 95% CI=1.22–5.08, P =0.01), had anxiety (OR=3.25, 95% CI=1.22–8.60, P =0.02), and had had previous seizure experiences during activities (OR=2.84, 95% CI=1.30–6.20, P =0.01) were significantly more likely to be inactive. Educational programs for reducing anxiety and misunderstanding about activity of PWE and guidelines for promoting LTPA among PWE are needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The analysis of tourism behaviour as an outcome of individual decision making has recently been an emerging focus in tourism research. The conventional approach to the analysis of tourism behaviour typically associates a particular choice behaviour with some travel motivations or a priori selected socio-demographic characteristics. The results do not account for the underlying mechanism of the tourist's complex sequential decision making. This study aims to capture not only cross-sectional but also sequential and interdependent characteristics of tourism behaviour using a multidimensional sequence alignment method, which is applied to Japanese and English-speaking travellers' activity data collected in Seoul, Korea. The suggested method shows great potential for improved explanation of tourist behaviour at the individual level by revealing the sequential relationships between tourism activities and the interdependency between simultaneous decisions on activity type, location and transport mode. The implications for tourism market segmentation are shown to be paramount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how the vision of a world city influences local cultural politics, by looking at an attempt to construct a cultural quarter in Seoul, South Korea. The Hong-dae area of Seoul has a reputation as a vibrant place of urban amenities, emerging cultural forms, and neighbourhoods of cultural workers and artists. In 2003, the city government announced a policy to create a Cultural District in the area. Subsequently, local conflict over defining Hong-dae culture emerged, and the plan was later postponed. This study elucidates how the proposed policy, framed by a vision of Seoul as a world city, led local actors to territorialise, fossilise, ethnicise and capitalise Hong-dae culture. It argues that competition for world city status may politicise and territorialise urban cultural scenes, rather than enhancing the urban amenities of diversity, openness and tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rise of ubiquitous computing in recent years, concepts of spatiality have become a significant topic of discussion in design and development of multimedia systems. This article investigates spatial practices at the intersection of youth, technology, and urban space in Seoul, and examines what the author calls ‘transyouth’: in the South Korean context, these people are between the ages of 18 and 24, situated on the delicate border between digital natives and immigrants in Prensky’s [] terms. In the first section, the article sets out the technosocial environment of contemporary Seoul. This is followed by a discussion of social networking processes derived from semi-structured interviews conducted in 2007–2008 with Seoul transyouth about their ‘lived experiences of the city.’ Interviewees reported how they interact to play, work, and live with and within the city’s unique environment. The article develops a theme of how technosocial convergence (re)creates urban environments and argues for a need to consider such user-driven spatial recreation in designing cities as (ubiquitous) urban networks in recognition of its changing technosocial contours of connections. This is explored in three spaces of different scales: Cyworld as an online social networking space; cocoon housing—a form of individual residential space which is growing rapidly in many Korean cities—as a private living space; and ubiquitous City as the future macro-space of Seoul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne pollutants in subway facilities can be harmful to passengers. This study was done to examine whether the suspended particulates have clastogenic effects on the biological systems. Total suspended particulates were collected from subway stations in Seoul. Aqueous extracts from the particulates were tested with the Tradescantia micronucleus assay. All the plant cuttings exposed to the extracts resulted in a significantly increased micronucleus frequency. As the biological assay resulted in a positive response to the extracts, the air particulates from the subway facilities contains genotoxic materials, and thus can be harmful to the workers and passengers of the subway facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal variations of aerosol optical properties in Seoul (polluted urban site) and Gosan (coastal background site), Korea, with an emphasis on the relative humidity were investigated using ground-based aerosol measurements and optical model calculations. The mass fraction of elemental carbon was 9–20%, but the optical contribution of these particles to light extinction was higher, up to 33–55% in Seoul. In Gosan, the contribution of non-sea-salt water-soluble aerosols on extinction was 81–93% due to the high mass fraction of these particles. Based on daily MODIS datasets, our analysis showed that the aerosol optical depths at Seoul and Gosan were highest in spring due to the influence of dust particles. The aerosol water content at Gosan, calculated using a thermodynamic equilibrium model, was higher than that at Seoul; this was attributed to the high relative humidity and high fraction of water-soluble aerosols at Gosan. At Seoul, despite abundant water vapors in summer, the possibility of hygroscopic growth of water-soluble aerosols was not more significant than that at Gosan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mineral magnetic properties of roadside dusts in Seoul, Korea, were measured and compared with the results of geochemical analyses in order to investigate the spatio-temporal patterns of urban pollution. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses were carried out to verify the magnetic materials and their potential sources. A total of 1956 dust samples were collected monthly at eight sites, from June 1998 to June 2000. Thermomagnetic data and SEM observations for magnetic extracts indicated that the major magnetic phase was magnetite-like material. In particular, the highest and the lowest magnetic concentrations were observed in industrial areas and a park area, respectively, whereas, heavy traffic areas showed low to intermediate concentration. A linear correlation between enrichment indexes of magnetic susceptibility and heavy metals suggests that magnetic susceptibility can be used as a proxy for heavy metal pollution. The magnetic concentrations and magnetic particle sizes showed systematic seasonal fluctuations (high and large in winter versus low and small in summer) due to the seasonal influx variations of anthropogenic magnetic materials. On the basis of the morphology and elemental composition, the magnetic materials were grouped into three types: magnetic spherules possibly emitted from factories and domestic heating systems, aggregates derived from vehicle emission or motor vehicle brake system, and angular magnetic particles of natural origin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objective of this paper is to introduce the innovative transport policies of Seoul that have recently been planned and implemented. In this paper, the various transport policies of Seoul are classified and explained according to two important paradoxes that are highlighted by Downs and Thomson, and Edgeworth. These paradoxes describe how to break the vicious circle of car and public transport use by restraining car use and encouraging the use of public transport, and thus indicate how traffic congestion problems might be solved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the urban groundwater contamination by eight trace metals and 69 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in relation to land use in Seoul, a total of 57 groundwater samples collected from wells were examined using a non-parametric statistical analysis. Land use was classified into five categories: less-developed, residential, agricultural, traffic, and industrial. A comparison of analyzed data with US EPA and Korean standards for drinking water showed that some metals and VOCs exceeded the standards in a few localities, such as Fe ( N=5), Mn ( N=6), Cu ( N=1), TCE ( N=6), PCE ( N=8), 1,2-DCA ( N=1), and 1,2-dichloropropane ( N=1). Among the 69 investigated VOCs, 19 compounds such as some gasoline-related compounds (e.g., toluene) and chlorinated compounds (e.g., chloroform, PCE, TCE) were detected in groundwater. Non-parametric statistical analysis showed that the concentrations of most trace metals (Fe, Mn, As, Cr, Pb, Cd) and some VOCs (especially, TCE, PCE, chloroform; toluene, carbon tetrachloride, bromodichloromethane, CFC113) are significantly higher in the industrial, residential, and traffic areas ( P<0.05), indicating that anthropogenic contamination of urban groundwater by those chemicals is growing. Those chemicals can be used as effective indicators of anthropogenic contamination of groundwater in urban areas and therefore a special attention is warranted for a safe water supply in those areas. The results of this study suggest that urban groundwater quality in urban areas is closely related with land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elemental dry deposition fluxes were measured using dry deposition plates from March to June 1998 in Seoul, Korea. During this spring sampling period several yellow-sand events characterized by long-range transport from China and Mongolia impacted the area. Understanding the impact of yellow-sand events on atmospheric dry deposition is critical to managing the heavy metal levels in the environment in Korea. In this study, the measured flux of a primarily crustal metal, Al and an anthropogenic metal, Pb was used with two hybrid receptor models, potential source contribution function (PSCF) and residence time weighted concentration (RTWC) for locating sources of heavy metals associated with atmospheric dry deposition fluxes during the yellow-sand events in Seoul, Korea.The PSCF using a criterion value of the 75th percentile of the measured dry deposition fluxes and RTWC results using the measured elemental dry deposition fluxes agreed well and consistently showed that there were large potential source areas in the Gobi Desert in China and Mongolia and industrial areas near Tianjin, Tangshan, and Shenyang in China. Major industrial areas of Shenyang, Fushun, and Anshan, the Central China loess plateau, the Gobi Desert, and the Alashan semi-desert in China were identified to be major source areas for the measured Pb flux in Seoul, Korea. For Al, the main industrial areas of Tangshan, Tianjin and Beijing, the Gobi Desert, the Alashan semi-desert, and the Central China loess plateau were found to be the major source areas. These results indicate that both anthropogenic sources such as industrial areas and natural sources such as deserts contribute to the high dry deposition fluxes of both Pb and Al in Seoul, Korea during yellow-sand events.RTWC resolved several high potential source areas. Modeling results indicated that the long-range transport of Al and Pb from China during yellow-sand events as well as non-yellow-sand spring daytimes increased atmospheric dry deposition of heavy metals in Korea. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Explains the naturalization of the landscapes of Gwanghwamun and Cheonggyecheon and the politics of hybridity in Korea. Deconstruction of the ideological naturalization of the dominant landscapes; Historical formations of the landscapes' hybridization; Culturalization of nature.

The spatial variations in the chemistry of first- and second-order stream waters (N=65) were investigated in the easterly bound of Seoul in order to assess the effects of urban air pollution on surface water chemistry. The sulfate (SO42−) was high (range 3.9–17.8 mg l−1, mean 11.8 mg l−1) within 30 km away from the center of Seoul, compared to the levels (range 1.1–7.7 mg l−1, mean 4.3 mg l−1) observed in remote areas (30–70 km away). Both graphical examination and statistical evaluation (variogram) of sulfate concentration data consistently showed the decrease of sulfate concentration with increasing distance. The results of mass balance modeling also indicate that the concentrations of SO42−, Cl− and Na+ may be affected mainly by dry/wet deposition. However, the spatial variations of major cations such as Ca2+ and Na+ are well explained by the reaction of rainwater with diverse rocks in the watercourse. The water type was found to change from Ca(–Na)–SO4 type to Ca(–Na)–HCO3 type with the increasing distance. It is thus inferred that the pollutants like SO2 emitted from strong man-made source areas of Seoul are transported to the considerable distance (at least 30 km away) by westerlies and that such mechanism may lead to the changes of the anion composition in surface water. In the remote area (>30 km away from Seoul), the stream water chemistry appears to be influenced more effectively by the weathering of rock-forming minerals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The loss of economic and social vitality in traditional city centers is a serious problem for many municipalities and planners. To solve this problem, many “redevelopment” policies have been established and carried out, but often these have not been effective. One case of commercial area redevelopment that is worthy of careful examination is Dongdaemun, a 100-year-old market place in Korea that has been revitalized by supporting and conserving merchant organizations instead of total redevelopment and transformation for other uses. This case demonstrates the importance of the social fabric in revitalization, and shows that total redevelopment for new uses is not necessarily the best method. Redevelopment of city centers usually concentrates too much on spatial transformation and neglects the importance of the existing social fabric; these traditional social fabrics have a latent energy that has accumulated over time. This paper attempts to show that this latent energy can be conserved and enhanced to revitalize old commercial areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Precipitation samples were collected using wet-only samplers on a daily basis at Chunchon (rural area) and Seoul (urban area) from January to December in 1998. The pH, electrical conductivity, and the concentrations of major ions were analyzed. The volume-weighted annual average values of pH for both sites were identical. However, for volume weighted average pH of precipitations below 20 mm in Chunchon was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that in Seoul. The value of [NO3-]/[nss-SO42-], calculated from average composition of rainfalls below 20mm, were 0.42 and 0.61 in Seoul and Chunchon, respectively. This supports that acidification of precipitation by nitrogen oxides, a part of which might be transported from the Seoul metropolitan area, caused the difference in pH between Chunchon and Seoul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The nature of Korea’s tenure system and its future development has become an increasingly important aspect of housing policy and community development. A major question being posed is what are the implications of housing tenure differences in social capital for housing (estate) development? Are there differences in levels of social capital between ‘homeowners and tenants’ as well as ‘public rental tenants and private rental tenants’? The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast elements of social capital across different housing tenures in the Seoul Metropolitan Region. Using the results of 260 questionnaires and we assess three commonly recognized elements of social capital: social trust, norms and networks. Respondents from across different tenure types reported differences in feelings of acceptance in the neighborhood, and involvement in formal and informal networks. This study found that some of the elements of social capital differed significantly between housing tenures and that housing tenure was also relevant to negative perceptions of socio-economic diversity in the area. This article concludes housing tenure is relevant to the development of neighborhood-based social capital and that this needs to be considered by those involved in implementing housing (estate) development and sustainable communities in Seoul. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A healthy 30-yr-old woman carrying an insect that had been caught in her living room visited the International Clinic at Severance Hospital, Seoul, in December 2007. The insect she brought was identified to be a nymph of a bedbug, Cimex lectularius, and her skin rashes looked typical bedbug's bites. Her apartment was investigated, and a dead body of a bedbug, cast skins, and hatched eggs were found in her rooms and neighbors' rooms in the same building. She was living in that apartment in Seoul for 9 months since she had moved from New Jersey, USA. We assume that the bedbugs were introduced from abroad, since there had been no report on bedbugs in Seoul for more than 2 decades at least. This is a report of a reemergence of the common bedbug, C. lectularius in Seoul, Korea.