KIHASA has published the KCI-listed Health and Social Welfare Review, Vol. 44, No. 3. This issue features 22 peer-reviewed articles and an editorial by Professor Kim Jinseok of Seoul Women's University."

EDITORIAL: Are We Ready to Make Death with Diginity Possible? - abridged

Death is an inevitable part of the life cycle for everyone. In many cases, it is appropriate to view death as a process for both the dying person and their loved ones. The number of deaths among people aged 80 and older increased from 60,000 in the early 2000s to over 200,000 in 2022, and the proportion of those aged 80 or older among all deaths rose to 53.8%. In 2022, the proportion of seniors aged 65 or older who were recognized as eligible for long-term care insurance also reached 10.2%. This indicates that death following a prolonged end-of-life process is becoming more common. In our rapidly aging society, this trend will only accelerate. Based on this awareness, the 9th Health and Social Welfare Review Colloquium in 2024 provided a platform for public discourse on "a dignified death." It posed the question, "Are we having a dignified death?" and three speakers, along with four panelists, attempted to answer it based on their research experiences and reflections.

This colloquium is significant in that it brought the discussion of the issue of death in Korean society into the public sphere. Not only policy experts, but also professionals from the medical and academic fields gathered to reflect and exchange ideas on the current status and future tasks of the social challenges of "dignified death." As this colloquium confirmed, the understanding of "dignified death" still leaves room for further reflection and development. This is true not only from institutional and policy perspectives, but also from an academic one.

Article I: "What is the Direction of the Social Security System for a Dignified Death?" Kim Jung-Hoe, National Health Insurance Service

With the increase in the elderly population and the rise of chronic diseases, the number of deaths among older adults has grown, leading to heightened interest in dignified death. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown measures, such as banning visitors in nursing facilities and hospitals, even for patients nearing death, raised awareness of the dying process and the quality of death. The terms “hospice,” “palliative care,” and “end-of-life care” are key concepts and systems related to dignified death. Although hospice and palliative care are distinct, these terms are often used interchangeably in the social security system. Recent years have seen a shift in terminology, gradually blurring the distinctions between hospice, palliative care, and end-of-life care. In South Korea, hospice care became covered by the national health insurance system in July 2015, and in 2017, the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment was implemented, which included the introduction of advance directives and the life-sustaining treatment decision system. However, terminal patients who do not use hospice services remain excluded from end-of-life care options. To ensure terminal patients a death with dignity, the healthcare environment must change to expand the range of and access to end-of-life care services. The introduction of the National Health Insurance and Long-Term Care Insurance for the elderly should help reduce the financial burden while also ensuring the quality of services. To die with dignity, individuals should be able to choose their place of care and death. To this end, it is essential to improve the hospice system and expand in-home and community support services under the National Health Insurance and Long-Term Care Insurance.

Article II: "Defamiliarizing Self-Determination on Death: Governance of Death and Concealed Desire," Choi Hyeji, Seoul Women's University

The purpose of this article is to raise the question of what the right to self-determination of death means as a civil right and to expand social discussions on this topic. First, it explores the paradoxical characteristics of death, such as its non-existence in the actual realm, the intersectionality of the subject of death and experience, death as a process, and the identity between death and life. It argues that the right to death, in which death is justified as an object of right, can be derived from these paradoxes. Focusing on the Life-Sustaining Medical Decision Act, which embodies dignified death as a citizen’s right, I address how the right to death and the right to self-determination are mobilized as governance strategies for power and capital in the transition from life politics to death politics. As a result, the essence of the right to self-determination over death may diminish as a civil right and be reduced to a mechanism of death governance, transferring absolute power to political, administrative, and life authorities. Finally, I emphasize that when human life is threatened, the right to self-determination regarding death risks becoming a dislocation of a life that has lost dignity. Thus, the right to self-determination concerning death should be understood only as a practice of dignified death, predicated on the premise of a dignified life.

Article III: "Longitudinal Intercausal Relationships among Self-Esteem, Acculturation Stress, and School Adjustment of Middle School Students from Multicultural Families: A Focus on Gender Multigroup Analysis," Kim Eun Hye, Yonsei University & Jung Sun Jae, Yonsei University

This study aims to explore the longitudinal interrelationships among self-esteem, acculturation stress, and school adjustment among middle school students from multicultural families by employing an autoregressive lagged model to enhance the well-being of multicultural children and adolescents. This study analyzed the Multicultural Adolescent Panel Data (MAPS 1) covering the 4th to the 6th academic years of 1,316 middle school students from multicultural families. The results revealed that, first, the self-lagged effects of self-esteem, school adjustment, and acculturation stress were stable over time. Specifically, self-esteem, school adjustment, and acculturative stress at earlier time points significantly influenced these factors at later time points for both boys and girls. Second, a gender comparison of the cross-lagged effects revealed distinct patterns. For boys, there were significant reciprocal relationships between self-esteem and school adjustment, as well as between self-esteem and acculturation stress. Moreover, school adjustment significantly affected acculturation stress. For girls, earlier self-esteem influenced later acculturation stress, while prior school adjustment affected subsequent self-esteem. These findings highlight the importance of addressing self-esteem, school adjustment, and acculturation stress in supporting the well-being of adolescents from multicultural families. The implications for social welfare practices are discussed based on these results.

Article IV: "Factors Associated with Human Papillomavirus Vaccination among Under/Graduate Students, Ohio in the US: Andersen's Health Service Utilization Model," Shon En-Jung, Duksung Women's University

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, affecting approximately 14 million people each year. Applying Andersen’s Health Service Utilization Model (HSU), the current study investigated the effects of predisposing, enabling, and need factors on HPV vaccination among undergraduate/graduate students in the US. Original data were collected from three universities in the Ohio area (N=485). The HSU framework was used to select measures for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Hierarchical Logistic Regression was performed. Predisposing factors (age [OR=0.83, 95% CI=0.76-0.90], female [OR=1.74, 95% CI=1.02-2.98], DCS Encouragement [OR=3.80, 95% CI=1.15-12.55]), enabling factors (having religious/faith community resources [OR=0.54, 95% CI=0.29-0.99], having family resources [OR=2.55, 95% CI=1.21-5.38]), and need factors (receiving other vaccines [MMR OR=4.12, 95% CI=2.19-7.75; Varicella OR=2.62, 95% CI=1.51-4.55; HepB OR=3.02, 95% CI=1.71-5.33]) were significantly associated with HPV vaccination among the target groups. Healthcare professionals could enhance vaccination behaviors among under/graduate students by providing accurate information not only to the target groups but also to their family members in communities (such as vaccination age, benefits of vaccination, and HPV risk factors). Implementing appropriate programs considering age, gender, decision-encouragement factor, environmental factors, and prior vaccination experiences could promote vaccination behaviors among the under/graduate students.

Article V: "Evaluating South Korea's Alcohol Policy by Using the WHO Composite Indicators Measuring Alcohol Policy Implementation," Kim Yongseok, Kim Eunseo, Ahn Joseph, Beak Jiyeon, Park Shinyoung, Ko Hyunbin, and Kim Dongjoo

This study is the first in Korea to quantitatively evaluate domestic alcohol policies using the 10 core indicators and 34 detailed indicators of the WHO composite index of alcohol policy. Previous studies have limitations in that they did not address alcohol policies exhaustively and relied on subjective evaluation methods. This study evaluated alcohol policies in Korea based on data from the National Law and Regulation Information Center and related official websites. Expert opinions were then sought and incorporated to improve the quality of the findings. This study categorized alcohol policies in Korea into three groups based on the scores obtained for each indicator. Specifically, the findings revealed that Korea has established a national alcohol policy and its action plans (Indicator 1) and has a well-equipped system for regularly monitoring and evaluating alcohol-related harms, adult drinking, and underage drinking (Indicator 10). However, despite these strengths, there are clear policy gaps in areas such as health services’ response (Indicator 2), community and workplace action (Indicator 3), the availability of alcohol (Indicator 5), and the marketing of alcoholic beverages (Indicator 6). The mean score across the 10 indicators was 65.12, indicating that the level of the implementation of alcohol policy in Korea is not yet satisfactory. Finally, it was suggested that based on the findings of this study, future research should focus on developing effective alcohol policies that are currently absent and further evaluating policies with low levels of implementation to reduce alcohol consumption and related harms.

Article VI: "The Impacts of Climate Change on the Daily Lives of Individuals with Disabilities: A Scoping Review," Lee Sungkyu, Seoul National University

Climate change affects every aspect of our lives, and people with disabilities are especially vulnerable. Despite people with disabilities being more directly and indirectly exposed to and affected by the impact of climate change than the rest, research on their unique challenges remains lacking. To date, most research has focused on the occurrence of emergencies such as natural disasters, and there is little research on the effects of climate change on daily life. This study addresses this gap by conducting a scoping review of research on how climate change affects the daily lives of people with disabilities. Relevant studies were identified from Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, with a final selection of 17 articles for review. The results of the scoping review showed that climate change affects the physical and mental health of people with disabilities and also affects their mobility in daily life. In addition, climate change is expected to increase the frequency of migrations. Consequently, people with disabilities, many of whom are already socially marginalized, are likely to be disproportionately affected and face further disadvantages as climate change progresses.

Article VII: "Classification of Lonely Lives in Old Age and Exploration of Factors Leading to Lonely Lives," Her Wonbin & Oh Young Sam, Pukyong National University

The purpose of this study is to categorize the lonely lives of the elderly using social networks and to analyze the factors influencing lonely living. The analysis was conducted using the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans, with a sample of 9,664 participants. In this study, social networks were divided into functional and structural social networks. The ‘functional social network’ consisted of the sum of emotional support, instrumental support, and physical support, while the ‘structural social network’ was composed of the frequency of interactions within the network and the frequency of social participation. The classification of lonely lives using structural and functional social networks showed that the functional network, based on whether the elderly lived alone or not, had strong discriminant validity, whereas the structural social network showed poor discriminant validity, and was not suitable for analysis. Therefore, the analysis based on functional social networks revealed that elderly individuals living alone or without a spouse are more likely to live lonely lives compared to those living with others or with a spouse. Elderly individuals with disabilities were more likely to live lonely lives compared to those without disabilities. Conversely, elderly individuals with a larger household size and those currently driving were less likely to live lonely lives. This study presents strategies for early identification of high-risk groups for lonely deaths by utilizing social networks. Based on these findings, the study provides practical and policy implications for early detection and intervention strategies for preventing lonely deaths.

Article VIII: "Analysis and Implications of Finland's Wellbeing Services County in Elderly Home Care: Focusing on the Home Care System of Siun Sote," Lee Youn Ho, Incheon National University; Kim Su Hyun, Kyungpook National University; and Chon Yongho, Incheon National University

The elderly in Korea face difficulties in accessing quality home care services due to fragmented service delivery systems and segmented healthcare delivery systems, among other factors. Therefore, understanding the elderly home care system of Finland's Siun sote, which has extensive experience in operating within a local government framework and integrating medical and care services, is important. This study analyzed the operation and current status of elderly home care in Siun sote, Finland, focusing on beneficiaries, services, delivery systems, and funding. Several findings emerged. First, Siun sote aimed to provide universal welfare service coverage by allowing anyone over the age of 65 to apply for services. The system offered both home care services and supportive care services tailored to users’ needs, aiming to enhance accessibility and effectiveness through home care technology. From the perspective of service delivery, local government service provision personnel and services were structurally integrated, enabling users to receive continuous and comprehensive medical and social care. Financially, the system primarily operates on local income taxes, supplemented by central government subsidies for any deficiencies. To ensure financial stability and prevent moral hazard, a self-payment fee for home services was set, with a limit not to exceed a certain amount. I suggested that this analysis of the local government home care system designed in Finland can serve as foundational data for local government care reforms that are being attempted, providing valuable insights for improvement.

Article IX: "The Impact of Competition on the Price of Non-Covered Services in Long-Term Care Insurance: Evidence from Meal Ingredient Prices," Song Yunah, Korea Insurance Research Institute

Recently, some local governments in Korea have introduced a quota system that limits the number of long-term care facilities, citing the detrimental effects of oversupply. This study analyzes the impact of competition among long-term care providers on the price of non-covered meal ingredients at the facility level. The market was delineated at the county level, with the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), the number of care facilities, and provider density defined as indicators of competition. Data on non-covered meal ingredient prices from 5,154 care facilities were utilized for the analysis. The results indicate that as competition among care facilities intensifies, the price of non-covered meal ingredients tends to decrease. Motivated by profit expansion, the growing demand for high-quality care services, and the activation of private long-term care insurance, the use of non-covered services is expected to increase, along with a rising demand for the expansion of non-covered service offerings. Considering these market conditions, the finding that competition among providers significantly impacts the price of non-covered meal ingredients suggests that a more cautious approach is necessary when implementing policies aimed at promoting competition or regulating supply.

Article X: The Impact of Disability Onset Timing on Financial Retirement Preparedness of Older Adults with Disabilities: A Moderating Effect of Assets," Lim Jeong-Min, Sungkyunkwan University; Yang Eun-Jeong, Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education & Training

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of disability onset timing on financial retirement preparedness, with a specific focus on the potential moderating role of assets. Leveraging data from the 4th wave of Disability and Life Dynamics Panel (2021), hierarchical logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results indicated a prevalent inadequacy in financial retirement preparedness among older adults with disabilities. Furthermore, disparities in retirement preparedness levels were observed across different disability onset timings, suggesting a potential correlation with post-onset adjustment challenges and supplementary disability-related financial burdens that may impede retirement planning. Notably, it was found that older adults with disabilities possessing greater asset portfolios exhibited heightened prospects of retirement preparedness, thus highlighting the buffering effect of asset accumulation against the adverse consequences of disability onset on retirement readiness. This underscores the pivotal significance of financial resources in formulating effective retirement strategies. Consequently, urgent attention is warranted towards the development of comprehensive, targeted policies aimed at bolstering economic retirement preparedness support mechanisms tailored to the needs of older adults with disabilities. Moreover, there is a compelling imperative to expand initiatives aimed at facilitating asset accumulation to effectively mitigate the challenges posed by disability onset in retirement planning endeavors.

Article XI: "The Meaning of Health for People with Severe Disabilities and Their Health Care Experiences: Under the Enactment of the 'Right to Health and Access to Medical Services for Persons with Disabilities Act' of 2017," Kim Hye-Jin, The University of Sydney; Jang Soongnang, Chung-Ang University; Lim Jae-Young, Seoul National University; Kim So Young, Chungbuk National University; Yeob Kyoung Eun, Institute of Health & Science Convergence, Chungbuk National University; and Park Jong Hyock, Chungbuk National University

This study aimed to explore the meaning of health from the perspectives of individuals with severe disabilities and their experiences with healthcare services since the enactment of the “Act on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” Focus group interviews were conducted with people with physical disabilities, brain lesions, hearing loss, and visual impairments. The data were analyzed using the qualitative thematic analysis method suggested by Broun and Clarke. Four themes and eleven sub-themes were identified. The person-centered meaning of health encompassed “a life of proactive management involving the physical, the mental, activities, and social participation” and “the dynamism existing in continuous interaction with society.” Despite the quantitative expansion of disability health policies, individuals with severe disabilities still face difficulties in healthcare due to insufficient and fragmented services. In conclusion, it is crucial that health policymakers adhere to the motto of the disability rights movement, "Nothing about us without us," by ensuring the participation of persons with disabilities in the development of initiatives. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of person-centered care in disability health policies, which prioritize life activities and social participation over merely focusing on physical functional recovery.

Article XII: "The Effect of Supporting Single Parents' Housing, Life, and Child Care Policies for Unmarried Adolescents: Effects on Self-Assessment of Parenting," Lee Yoon-Jung, Hoseo University

This study reviewed variables influencing self-evaluation of parenting among adolescent single parents, focusing on their economic situation, child care situation, and policy support benefit status. The analysis used data from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs' 'Survey on the Birth and Parenting of Unmarried Mothers', examining 252 'unmarried adolescent single parents' under the age of 24, with statistically verified data. Several findings emerged. First, most single adolescent parents were relying on government subsidies, with many not receiving child support from the fathers of their children. These young single parents typically lived with one preschool child and expressed high demands for support in areas such as childcare and education expenses, counseling and education for both children and mothers, flexible working hours for counseling and leave for childcare and work compatibility, and support for care facilities and services. Second, in terms of policy support, the benefit rate of the National Basic Livelihood Security System and childcare fees was high, and satisfaction was also high. The child care service had a low benefit rate compared to the recognition rate but high satisfaction. Third, the level of self-evaluation of parenting was higher among those who were physically healthier and who received more policy support benefits. However, high levels of life stress weakened the positive effect of policy support on the self-evaluation of parenting. The research suggests that policy support for adolescent single parents should include structured, step-by-step interventions along with counseling for psycho-emotional stability and stress management to enhance self-identify and parental efficacy.

Article XIII: "A Scoping Review of the Impact of Negative Employment Change on Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Choi Jaeyun, Seoul National University; Shin Jeonghoon, Seoul National University Institute of Health & Environment; You Myoungsoon, Seoul National University

The COVID-19 pandemic has induced unprecedented shifts in employment dynamics, yet a comprehensive review of its impact on health remains scarce. This study aims to delineate the landscape of research regarding the repercussions of negative employment changes on health during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a roadmap for future research endeavors. Following the methodology outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), domestic and international literature up to February 29, 2024, was analyzed. Forty-seven pertinent documents were selected and categorized by country, data collection timing, research methodology, and variables employed. This review revealed the multifaceted nature of negative employment changes and health outcomes, spanning economic deprivation, social support, and stress theories to elucidate the health consequences of unemployment. However, quantitative studies on long-term impacts and physical health effects were found to be lacking, alongside gaps in research on employment and health disparities among marginalized groups. Moving forward, there is a pressing need to undertake robust investigations into the employment and health outcomes of public health crises, guiding evidence-based policy responses.

Article XIV: "A Longitudinal Study on Factors Influencing Hazardous Drinking among Young and Middle-Aged Female Employees: Focusing on Gender Norms and Work Environment Factors," Park Kayoung,  Kim, Taeyoung, and Yu Sujeong, Yonsei University 

This study aims to examine how gender norms and work environment factors influence hazardous drinking among women, based on Social-Constructivist theory, and to verify whether there are differences in the factors influencing hazardous drinking between the young and middle-aged generations. For this purpose, we selected 12,840 female employees aged 19 to 64 from the 7th to 9th waves of the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families and conducted a panel logistic regression analysis. The results showed that gender-equal perceptions of gender roles influenced hazardous drinking among the young generation. In contrast, gender roles and traditional family values influenced hazardous drinking among the middle-aged generation, indicating generational differences. Regarding work environment factors, hazardous drinking increased for the young generation when working hours were shorter and monthly wages were higher, whereas for the middle-aged generation, hazardous drinking increased with higher educational attainment and longer working hours, again revealing generational differences. Based on these findings, we discussed policy and practical implications for preventing hazardous drinking among women, tailored to each generation.

Article XV: "Effect of News Stories on the Public's Attitude toward People with Mental Illness," Seo Mi-kyung, Gyeongsang National University, and Lee Min-hwa, Mokpo National University

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the public’s attitudes regarding news stories: recovery news (experimental group 1) and information news (experimental group 2), compared to general health news (control group). A total of 144 college students were separated into three groups. Participants were first exposed to news stories concerning crimes perpetrated by persons with mental illness, after which they were randomly assigned one of the three news stories. ANCOVA and paired t-tests were conducted to compare pre- and post-test scores on attitudes and understandings of mental health (such as stigma, causes, and treatment). There was no statistically significant difference among groups in any of the CAMI sub-factors, therapeutic stigma, or causes. However, within the experimental groups, authoritarianism and attributing social causes to mental illness decreased significantly in the recovery news group. On the other hand, benevolence and awareness of professional treatment increased significantly in the information news group. This study highlights the importance of positive news, such as stories of individuals recovering from mental illnesses.

Article XVI: "Caregivers' Experiences in the Early Stages of Transitioning from a Large Residential Childcare Facilities to Small-Scale Home-Style Childcare," Kim Jin Sook, Hanyang Cyber University; Jung Sun Wook, Duksung Women's University; Chung Ick-Joong, Ewah Womans University; Kang Hee Ju, Ewha Womans University; Kang Hee Ju, Ewha Womans University; Yun Eun Young, Ewha Womans University; and Joo Hwijin, Ewha Womans University

This study aims to understand the necessary preparations for adapting to changes in residential childcare facilities, exploring the experiences of caregivers participating in the “Small-Scale Home-Style Childcare Pilot Project” in Seoul. Individual interviews were conducted with four participants with experience in a residential child facility and small-scale family-style child care settings. Data were analyzed through comprehensive thematic analysis, revealing 30 subcategories and 8 major themes: 'Expectations of environmental changes', ‘Adaptation needed by all’, ‘Positive changes in children brought about by the space’, ‘Better than a facility, but not like a home’, ‘Increased workload’, ‘Balancing roles as caregivers’, ‘The pitfalls of a career in a facility’, and ‘Caring differently from facility methods’. Based on these experiences, the study points out that the time and relationship between caregivers and children needs to be reviewed both quantitatively and qualitatively, and that administrative support, education, and institutional cultures need to be improved.

Article XVII: "How Does Instability in Social Insurance Contributions Affect Young People's Views of Social Mobility Within and Across Generations?" Han Gyeo Re, KIHASA

This study examines how instability in social insurance contributions among young people aged 19 to 34 affects their views about social mobility, both within their generation and across generations, using the raw data from the 2023 Social Integration Survey. Our ordered-logit regression analysis found that social insurance instability did not have a statistically significant effect on the prospects for social mobility within the young people's generation. However, it did have a significant effect on the outlook for social mobility between generations. Specifically, compared to young people participating in all four social insurance schemes, those participating in none were about 78% more likely to be pessimistic about upward socioeconomic mobility in their children's generation. Based on the results, the study highlights the need for institutional improvements to address gaps in social insurance coverage for young people, such as expanding childbirth and military service credits, and for developing measures to alleviate the economic burden of social insurance premiums. This study is of theoretical significance in that it focuses on instability in social insurance contribution as an indicator of the vulnerability of young people's lives in the context of low growth and employment shocks, and that it expands on and demonstrates the effect of social insurance as both a social safety net and a psychological safety net.

Article XVIII: "Identification and Prediction of the Latent Class of Employment Preparation among College-Graduated Unemployed Youth: Focusing on Differences by Residential Area," Lee Seung Jin, Ewha Womans University; Park Ji Hye, University of Illinois at Chicago; Kim So Hyun, Korea University Anam Hospital; and Chung Ick-Joong, Ewha Womans University

This study aims to identify latent class types of job preparation among college-graduate unemployed youth and examine factors influencing each type. Data from the 14th year of the Youth Panel Survey, conducted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Employment Information Service, were used. A total of 592 college-graduate unemployed youth aged 19 to 34, excluding current students, were selected as participants. Latent class analysis (LCA) and multinomial logistic regression were conducted to analyze the data. The analysis revealed three types in metropolitan areas: 'Skill Preparation Type (5.1%),' 'Exam Preparation Type (19.9%),' and 'Stagnation Type (75.0%)'. In metropolitan areas, the types identified were 'Employment-Exam Mixed Type (3.7%)' and 'Stagnation Type (96.3%)'. Factors predicting each type included age, household income, self-esteem, and self-efficacy in metropolitan areas, while age and self-efficacy were factors in non-metropolitan areas. Notably, individuals in non-metropolitan areas, and older youth in particular, were more likely to belong to the 'Stagnation Type'. Based on these findings, this study discusses implications and customized support measures for job preparation types according to residential areas.

Article XIX: "A Critical Review of the Benefit Assessment in Public Hospital Preliminary Feasibility Analysis: Focusing on the Case of Ulsan Medical Center's Emergency Mortality Reduction Benefit Estimation," Kim Jin-Hwan, Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University and Jeong Baekgeun, Gyeongsang National University

Despite long-standing discussions on strengthening public healthcare by building new public hospitals, progress in expanding these facilities remains slow. The preliminary feasibility studies, often cited as a primary cause of this situation, have sparked arguments that such assessments should be exempted when establishing public hospitals. The previous administration attempted to strengthen public healthcare by implementing these exemptions. However, a change in government led to some hospital projects being reassessed, effectively halting them. This suggests that the strategy of expanding public healthcare through exemptions from preliminary feasibility studies has implicit limitations. This paper focuses on the economic evaluation of preliminary feasibility studies, particularly the issue of emergency medical service benefit assessment, analyzing the case of Ulsan Medical Center. Our recalculation of the benefits and critical review of the preliminary feasibility studies for public hospitals revealed that the recalculated benefit-cost ratio is higher than initially estimated. This result indicates that the conclusions of the reassessment need to be reviewed. The paper aims to ensure that preliminary feasibility studies provide meaningful insights for public decision-making that aligns with people's needs, garner broader consensus, and contribute to building a healthcare system that transcends the logic of economic efficiency and rationality.

Article XX: "Childhood Trauma Experience and Adult Depression: The Moderating Effect of Resilience," Choi Jihee & Chae Sumi, KIHASA

This study conducted multiple logistic regression analysis on 2,000 adults who participated in the "Life Events and Trauma Experience Survey" of Chae et al. (2021) to understand the effect of trauma experiences on depression in adulthood and to verify the moderating effect of resilience in the relationship between trauma experiences and depression. Trauma in childhood, an independent variable, was measured from two aspects: whether they experienced it and the extent to which they experienced it (unexperienced group, 1 to 3 experiences group, 4 or more experiences group). In addition to trauma and resilience, socioeconomic characteristics and health status, which can affect depression, were controlled for in the analysis. The findings revealed that the group who experienced trauma in childhood had a higher risk of depression in adulthood compared to the group who did not experience trauma. It was also found that the accumulation of trauma experiences increased the risk of depression. In addition, resilience was found to have a moderating effect on the impact of past trauma experiences on depression in adulthood. However, when trauma experience exceeded a certain level, the moderating effect of resilience became insignificant. Therefore, while efforts to increase resilience are important for managing depression in adulthood, priority should be given to approaches that prevent and protect children from exposure to trauma experiences.

Article XXI: "The Effect of Parental Joblessness on Children's Subjective Academic Achievement," Kim Bongkyun, Kangwon National University

This article examines the effect of parental joblessness on children’s subjective academic achievement using the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey 2018 (KCYPS 2018). Given the different roles of fathers and mothers in the household, the impact of fathers’ and mothers’ joblessness was investigated separately. I also examined whether this impact differed depending on the children’s gender, age, and residential area. Fixed-effects results show that paternal joblessness has a negative effect on children’s subjective academic achievement. This impact is particularly evident among female children, younger children, and children living in non-metropolitan areas. Analyzing the mechanism behind these results, I found that the negative effects of fathers’ joblessness are due to increased stress in children rather than reduced investment in children’s education. These results suggest the need for more comprehensive support programs for people who lose their jobs.

Article XXII: "Patient Preferences for the Primary Care Chronic Disease Management Program: A Discrete Choice Experiment," Koo Bon Mi, Seoul National University Institute of Health Policy and Management and Do Young Kyung, Seoul National University

The growing social cost burden of chronic diseases in South Korea has led to the implementation of various chronic disease management programs. However, patient preferences for these programs have remained largely unexplored. We conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to systematically evaluate patient preferences for the Primary Care Chronic Disease Management Program. Through literature review and patient interviews, we identified 5 attributes and 14 levels to develop a DCE questionnaire consisting of 17 choice sets. Our study population comprised patients with hypertension or diabetes in their 40s and 50s. A conditional logit model was used to calculate the relative importance of attributes and willingness to pay for each attribute. The results revealed that personalized in-person consultation, personalized remote consultation, monetary incentives, and out-of-pocket costs significantly influence patient preferences, while the length of consultation time does not. Patients with both hypertension and diabetes placed higher values on personalized in-person and remote services compared to the two groups with hypertension only or diabetes only. The willingness to pay for the monetary incentive was substantial, even greater than that for in-person and remote services. These results can be used to inform policies aimed at better designing the primary care chronic disease management program.