A Study on the Cross-Cultural Adaptation of International Chinese Teachers at Confucius Institutes in South Korea

International Chinese teachers are one of the determinants of the quality development of Confucius Institutes,and their cross-cultural sociocultural adaption,psychological adaption,and job adaption are in need of in-depth investigation and research.Based on previous research,this paper analyzed the cross-cultural adaptation of international Chinese teachers at Confucius Institutes in South Korea during 2022-2023 through surveys and personal interviews.The study found that the teachers’adaptation was best in terms of work,followed by sociocultural adaptation,and weakest in terms of psychological adaptation.In terms of work adaptation,attention should be focused on adapting to teaching language and teaching methods.In terms of sociocultural adaptation,the focus should be on adapting to personal communication.In terms of psychological adaptation,attention should be paid to feelings of loneliness and anxiety.The study also focused on the internal and external factors influencing their cross-cultural adaptation,as well as the true inner feelings of international Chinese teachers.The study found that factors such as English proficiency,gender,education,professional background,and overseas experience had little impact on teachers’cross-cultural adaptation,while factors such as Korean proficiency,participation in cross-cultural training before going to South Korea,understanding of Korean culture before going to South Korea,and length of time spent in working in South Korea had a greater impact on the cross-cultural adaptation of the research subjects.This study provides reliable reference materials for international Chinese teachers going to South Korea to improve their cross-cultural adaptation abilities and promote the reform and innovation of international Chinese education.

A Systematic Study on the Genus Aphytis Howard (Hymenoptera:Aphelinidae) from South Korea

The present paper deals with the systematic study on the genus Aphytis Howard from South Korea. Five species of Aphytis are recognized, including one new species (Aphytis albus sp. nov.) and four new records (A. diaspidis, A. japonicus, A. proclia and A. vandenboschi). A key to the female species of Aphytis from South Korea is provided. The type specimens are respectively deposited in Korea National Arboretum and the Insect Collection of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China.

Surface and Upper-Level Features Associated with Wintertime Cold Surge Outbreaks in South Korea

The surface and upper-level features associated with a sharp drop ofwintertime daily temperature over South Korea is investigated in this study. This sharp drop indaily temperature is called a cold surge and is one of the most hazardous weather phenomena in EastAsian winters. An upper-level baroclinic wave of 60° wavelength propagating eastward at a phasespeed of 12° longitude per day across the continent of northern China from the west of Lake Baikaltoward the eastern coast of China causes the outbreak of cold air over South Korea. The coolingassociated with the upper-level baroclinic jvave is found at all altitudes under the geopotentialheight-fall center near the tropopause. The development in the ridge seems to derive the earlyevolution of the eastward-propagating sinusoidal wave, whereas the trough is connected directly withthe tropospheric temperature-drop. An enhancement of the wintertime East Asian jet stream after theoutbreak of a cold surge is a response to the steep temperature gradient associated with thedeveloping baroclinic wave.

Insect community structures along elevation gradients on Mt.Seongak-san, South Korea

Insect communities along three elevation gra- dients on Mt. Seongak-san, South Korea, were investigated from May to September 2013 using traps in order to collect basic data for distributional monitoring of species in a forest ecosystem. A total of 2698 individuals of 309 moth species of 18 families were collected in bucket-light traps, along with 196 individuals of 26 ground-beetle species and 11,276 individuals of 14 ant species in pit-fall traps. The insect community at each site was analyzed using analysisof variance and non-metric multidimensional scaling （NMS）. The ground-beetle and ant abundances varied with elevation. The NMS showed distinct clusters of moths between the ground-beetle and ant distributions with ele- vation and month. The community-level responses of these insect groups to those gradients were analyzed.

Current guidelines for Helicobacter pylori treatment in East Asia 2022:Differences among China,Japan,and South Korea

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is highly prevalent in East Asia. The overallseroprevalence rate of H. pylori infection is 44.2% in China, 37.6%-43.2% in Japan,and 51.0% in South Korea. H. pylori can cause peptic ulcer disease and gastriccancer. East Asian countries have high rates of gastric cancer (age-standardizedincidence rate: 20-30 per 100000). The Kyoto global consensus report emphasizedthat H. pylori gastritis should be considered the main cause for the development ofgastric cancer. H. pylori treatment guidelines in China, Japan, and South Koreahave recently been revised according to data from each of those countries.However, emerging antibiotic resistance is an important barrier to H. pylorieradication. The recommended H. pylori treatment regimens differ among thosethree East Asian countries. In this review, recent guidelines and up-to-dateresearch on H. pylori treatment regimens from China, Japan, and South Korea arediscussed.

Influence of roads on small rodents population in fragmented forest areas, South Korea

The road effect on small rodent population is investigated at 8 fragmented forest areas in the Baekdudaegan mountain range, South Korea in September 2001. We especially focused on the distribution and body condition of small rodents near the roads. Korean field mouse (Apodemus peninsulae) seems to be more sensitive to the existence of a road than striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius). Korean field mouse prefers interior forest area to around road. Striped field mouse is a habitat generalist and has wide distributional range around road, but Korean field mouse is forest-inhabiting species and their distribution is limited in forest area. These results suggest the effect of road is different on each small rodent species and their habitat preferences.

Perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid(PFOS) concentrations in the South Korean agricultural environment: A national survey

Research on the occurrence of perfluorochemicals （PFCs） such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid （PFOS） and perfluorooctanoic acid （PFOA） in the agricultural environment is lacking, in spite of their potential risk via food chain transfer from aquatic and soil-plant systems to animals and/or humans. In the present study, for the first time, soil and water samples collected from 243 different agricultural sites adjacent to waste water treatment plants （WWTPs） belonging to 81 cities and 5 provinces with different levels of industrialization in South Korea were monitored for concentrations of PFOS and PFOA by use of solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy （LC-MS/MS）. Significant mean concentrations of PFOA （0.001-0.007 tJg L-1 water and 〈0.05-1.573 tJg kg-1 soil） and PFOS （0.001-0.22 tJg L-1 water and 〈0.05-0.741 pg kg-1 soil） were found in all samples. Concentrations of PFCs in soils were high, highlighting that soil is an important sink for PFCs in the agricultural environment. Samples from near WWTPs in Gyeongsang Province contained the highest concentrations of PFOS and PFOA, reflecting the concentration of heavy industry in the province. The concentrations of PFCs in agricultural water （most samples 〈0.05 pg L-~） and soils （most samples 〈1 IJg kg-~） from South Korea were less than acceptable guideline values, indicating that South Korea is not a hotspot of PFOS and PFOA contamination and that there is negligible risk to human and ecological health from these chemicals. However, further studies investigating the seasonal variation in PFOA, PFOS and other perfluorochemical concentrations in the agricultural environment are needed.

Comparative Study on Changes of Croplands Between North Korea and South Korea During 1990–2015

Studies on long-term change of cropland is of great significance to the utilization of land resources and the implementation of scientific agricultural policies. The Korean Peninsula, adjacent to China, plays an important role in the international environment of Northeast Asia. The Korean Peninsula includes South Korea and North Korea—two countries that have a great difference in their institutions and economic developments. Therefore, we aim to quantify the spatiotemporal changes of croplands in these two countries using Landsat Thematic Imager(TM) and Operational Land Imager(OLI) imagery, and to compare the differences of cropland changes between the two countries. This paper take full advantage of ODM approach(object-oriented segmentation and decision-tree classification based on multi-season imageries) to obtain the distribution of croplands in 1990 and 2015. Results showed that the overall classification accuracy of cropland data is 91.10% in 1990 and 92.52% in 2015. The croplands were mainly distributed in areas with slopes that were less than 8° and with elevations that were less than 300 m in the Korean Peninsula. However, in other region(slope > 8° or elevation > 300 m), the area and proportion of North Korea's croplands were significantly higher than that of South Korea. Croplands significantly increased by 15.02% in North Korea from 1990 to 2015. In contrast, croplands in South Korea slightly decreased by 1.32%. During the 25 years, policy shift, economic development, population growth, and urban sprawl played primary roles for cropland changes. Additionally, the regional differences of cropland changes were mainly due to different agriculture policies implemented by different countries. The achievements of this study can provide scientific guidance for the protection and sustainability of land resources.

Clinical application of traditional herbal medicine in five countries and regions: Japan;South Korea;China's Mainland;Hong Kong, China;Taiwan, China

Objective:To study the characteristics of the clinical application of traditional herbal medicine in five countries and regions where traditional medicine(TM)is widely used:Japan;South Korea;China's Mainland;Hong Kong,China;Taiwan,China.And to analyze,from multiple angles,the variations in the methods of TM used in each countries and regions.Methods:Fifty commonly used traditional herbs(TOP50)from classical formulae were selected,and descriptive statistics,correlation analyses,and Friedman test were used to compare methods of clinical application and dosages in the countries and regions of interest based on a retrospective review of randomly-selected medical records.Results:There were significant differences in sequencing TOP50 among the five countries and regions(P<.01).The adherence to the classical formulae,from strong to weak was Japan;China's Mainland;Taiwan,China;Hong Kong,China;South Korea.There were also significant differences in TOP50 dosing regimens(P<.01).Overall dosages of TOP50 from high to low were:China's Mainland;Hong Kong,China;Taiwan,China;South Korea;Japan.Finally,there were significant differences in the dosage intervals(P<.01),with dosage intervals from maximum to minimum as follows:China's Mainland;Taiwan,China;Hong Kong,China;South Korea;Japan.Conclusions:The clinical dosages of traditional herbal medicine used in the China's Mainland are relatively large compared with those prescribed in the other four countries and regions,and the range of dosages in China's Mainland is more flexible.On the other hand,clinical dosages of TOP50 are the lowest in Japan,where the dosage range is also the narrowest,supporting the idea that Doctors of Kampo medicine are highly cautious and are likely to adhere strictly to classical formulae,while Hong Kong,China and Taiwan,China are in the middle.The dosage of TOP50 in South Korea is significantly lower than that used in the China's Mainland;Hong Kong,China and Taiwan,China where the adherence to the classical formulae was the lowest,albeit slightly higher than that in Japan.The methods of clinical application of traditional herbal medicine in the five countries and regions were affected by multiple factors,including history,geography,climate,and culture.

A comparative study of organic agriculture development between China and South Korea

Human activities including modern agriculture have caused environmental pollution, so people begin to pay attentton to safe food. As a result, organic agriculture has emerged. Organic agriculture in South Korea （hereinafter referred as Korea） and China has developed rapidly since the appearance of organic agriculture in 1970s and 1980s respectively. Organic agriculture in China and Korea has developed steadily through agricultural support policies, certification management, institutions construction etc. In the development of organtc agriculture, China and Korea are now facing some technical and extension problems. In general however the development of organic agriculture in China lags behind Korea. China can learn from the experience about the development of organic agriculture in Korea to solve contradiction between development of organic agriculture and food safety, to strengthen the organic food certification, to introduce a system of agricultural direct payment and other positive measures, thus will guarantee steady and healthy development of organic agriculture in China.

Review of the Eilema group of lichen moths from South Korea,with description of one new species(Lepidoptera:Erebidae:Arctiinae:Lithosiini)

This review details Eilema group in the subfamily the Korean species of the Arctiinae of Erebidae： 19 species in five genera （Manulea, Collita, Katha, Dolgoma, and Wittia）, a new species （Collita hwacheonensis Bayar- saikhan ＆ Bae, sp. nov.）, and an unrecorded species [C. vetusta aegrota （Butler 1877）]. All species are diagnosed, and figures of the adults and genitalia and a key to species based on male genital structure of Eilema group in South Korea are included.

A taxonomic review of the genus Miaenia Pascoe, 1864(Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from South Korea with a new record of M. tonsa(Bates)

The cerambycid genus Miaenia Pascoe(Coleoptera: Cerambycoidea) of South Korea is taxonomically reviewed. Two species, Miaenia fasciata fasciata(Matsushita) and Miaenia maritima Tsherepanov have been recorded. In this paper, M. tonsa(Bates) is added to the Korean cerambycid fauna for the first time. A key to Korean Miaenia species, re-description and diagnostic illustrations, including male genitalia for each species, are provided.

Men＇s health in South Korea

Over the last four decades, rapid industrialisation and a Westernized lifestyle have changed disease patterns in South Korea. This study was conducted to review the current state of men＇s health in South Korea. By reviewing reports of government authorities and domestic and foreign studies related to men＇s health, we found that in men ~〉 65 years of age, 28.4% considered their health status good, whereas 38.3% considered their health status poor. The prevalence of moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms was similar to that in Caucasians. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was higher than the global average. The incidence of cryptorchidism and hypospadias showed a tendency towards increase. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus continuously increased by 10.8% in 2008 and was the fifth leading cause of death in 2008. The prevalence of obesity increased from 26.0% in 1998 to 31.7% in 2007. The prevalence of ischaemic heart disease has continuously increased, with heart diseases causing one of every 12 deaths. The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2005 was 17.2% among adults 〉~ 45 years of age. The top five prevalent cancers in men, in descending order, were cancers of the stomach, lung, liver, large bowel and prostate, among which the incidence of stomach, lung and liver cancers decreased by 0.7%, 0.6% and 2.2%, respectively, from 1999 to 2007, whereas the incidence of large bowel and prostate cancers increased by 7.0% and 13.2%, respectively. The prevalence of depression, dementia and sleep disorders was estimated as 17.3%, 4.21% and 20.2%, respectively. Together, these findings suggest that disease patterns in South Korean men are becoming Westernized.

Historical Changes and Characteristics of Rehabilitation,Management and Utilization of Forest Resources in South Korea

This study analyzed the causes of forest devastation,the characteristics of forest rehabilitation process,and the success factors of reforestation. And it reviewed the management of rehabilitated forest resources and identified the income sources of mountain villages in South Korea. The devastation of forest starting from the early twentieth century was continued to the 1950’s. The main causes of deforestation were the illegal cutting of trees for fuel and the slash-and-burning agriculture in forest. The success factors of reforestation were the decrease in the dependence on forest of fuel source,strict administration system and national participation. Sustainable forest management could be made possible through the practical use of social issues like public work project for prevention of landslide damages caused by the thinned logs left in the forest. Also it could be possible by making people realize that the public benefit was obtained from forest and the income sources of mountain villages were supplemented by non-timber forest products and tourism. Food and Agriculture Organization indicated Korea as the country that forestation was succeeded in a very short period. Korea seems to be not ordinary because economic growth was accomplished with rehabilitating natural environment. Korean forestation can become a good prototype of combining environmental rehabilitation and economic development.

Characteristics of vegetation structure in breeding area of Siberian rubythroat (Luscinia calliope) in Daecheongbong peak, Mt. Seoraksan national park, South Korea

Most of forest birds have the characteristics for habitat selection. The purpose of this study is to clarify the vegetation structure in breeding area of Siberian rubythroat (Luscinia calliope). In Daecheongbong peak, Mt. Seoraksan national park, South Korea from May to August, 2001, breeding population of Siberian rubythroat and the dominant species in breeding area of Siberian rubythroat (Luscinia calliope) were surveyed by line transect method along the ridge in the Daecheongbong peak area. Number of individuals and location of song posts were observed and recorded. According to the survey results, the study area was classified into high, middle and low density areas. Those birds selected the forest area of dominant species for Ermans birch and dwarf Siberian pine as habitat and preferred the shrubs area with the lower height and higher coverage.

Comparative Analyses of Height Growth Velocities of School Boys in South Korea and Japan in the Past 50 Years

The paper compares the height growth velocities of male schoolchildren in South Korea and Japan over the period 1961-2018. Growth in height was measured with the same birth cohorts, not by comparing mean height of ascending ages in the same year. Starting from a lower economic base and mean height in the 1960s, high school males aged 17 in South Korea became 3 cm taller in mean height than their Japanese peers in the mid-2000s versus 2 - 3 cm shorter in the 1960s through 1970s. Children in Japan ceased to grow taller by the end of the 1980s, not because they quit taking more animal-sourced foods, meat and milk, but because they had drastically steered away from fruit and vegetables in their diets since the end of the 1970s. Having largely converged economically with Japan, South Korean children ceased to grow any taller in the mid-2000s. More importantly, it was discovered in this study that successive cohorts in South Korea started to fall gradually but steadily in height growth velocity from 1st graders in middle school, aged 12 years to 3rd graders in high school, and aged 17 years, to be once again 3 cm below their Japanese peers in the early-2010s. Analysis of Korea Household Expenditure Surveys classified by age groups of household head, decomposed by the author, revealed that children under 20 years of age in South Korea began to steer away from fruit and, particularly, vegetables in their at-home consumption in the mid-1990s, to average only 15% of the level of older adults in their 50s in the mid-2010s. These results lend supports to the importance of fruit and vegetables as determinants in height and its growth velocities in two genetically similar nations over time and stages of economic growth.

Formal Volunteering and Mental Health in South Korea: Does Age Matter?

Extensive research shows a positive association between formal volunteering and mental health and this association is stronger for older adults compared to their younger peers.The purpose of our study is to re-examine the link between formal volunteering,age,and mental health in a non-western society,South Korea.We employ two recent waves—years 2012-13–of nationally representative data from the Korea Welfare Panel Survey to test the extent to which the relationship between formal volunteering and mental health,as measured by depression,varies across two non-elderly age groups—young adults(18–35)and those middle-aged(36–55).Findings reveal that being a formal volunteer is psychologically more beneficial to young adults compared to their middle-aged counterparts.Understanding the age differential in the link between formal volunteering and depression in South Korea is crucial,given the different economic and sociocultural contexts,at current time,for young adults and their middle-aged peers.

Generalized Anxiety and Major Depressive Symptoms of General Public in South Korea during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic

The extent of viral spread and strategies in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic have been different in each country.There are overall increased mental health concerns in many countries but it is unclear what the general public individuals who do not have heighten vulnerability to stressors for existing mental diseases or significant physical illnesses were experiencing during the pandemic.We evaluated the stressors and mental health of general public in South Korea that has a relatively low confirmed cases and deaths.Responses on the on-line survey questions were used to assess the mental and physical symptoms in association with individuals’reported stressors.Individuals with the symptoms of the generalized anxiety disorder(GAD)were reported in 58.9%,and major depression(MD)in 23.2%,mostly in minimal to mild degrees,cut-off scores of 5 and 10,respectively by the validated screening tools,GAD-7 and PHQ-9.Both GAD and MD symptoms were in 21.5%of the respondents.The total number of stress had significant association with the scores of GAD-7,PHQ-9,physical symptoms,sleep difficulties and resilience(p<0.01).GAD scores were also associated with sleep difficulties(p<0.01)and raising young children(p<0.05).MD scores were associated with sleep difficulties,job-dissatisfaction,and educational level(p<0.05).The limitations of the study include small sample size,usage of smartphone or email,potential under-reporting by stigma in the socio-cultural context and evolving nature of pandemic.We conclude that keeping careful watch for mental symptoms,stressors,sleep difficulties and other physical symptoms are important even for the individuals without previous mental illnesses during the pandemic era.