Potholes on urban expressways are a critical pavement maintenance problem because they threaten driving safety, generate vehicle-damage claims, and require repeated emergency repairs. However, network-level evidence integrating climate, traffic, maintenance execution, and detection practice remains limited. This study addressed this gap through a stage-1 empirical assessment of pothole occurrence and pavement maintenance response on the Seoul urban expressway network. The novelty lies in integrating six years of operational data, including pothole repair records, compensation cases, monthly rainfall, monthly average temperature, route-level traffic volume, maintenance budget and execution records, detection pathways, and repeated pothole locations. A total of 28,821 pothole repairs were recorded between 2020 and 2025, with Olympic-daero (11,330 cases), Dongbu Trunk Road (6,594 cases), and Gangbyeonbuk-ro (5,067 cases) accounting for approximately 79.8% of the total. The compensation burden was also concentrated, with 158 cases and a total payout of KRW 48,592,000. Pothole occurrence showed a clear dual-season pattern, with high counts during the thawing period and a stronger summer peak, increasing from 1950, 3100, and 3773 cases in June, July, and August when rainfall rose from 174.60 mm to 333.68 mm and 352.15 mm, respectively. Traffic remained consistently high (48,576–96,700 vehicles/day) but varied by only approximately 5.1% annually, indicating that climate governed outbreak timing, while traffic acted mainly as a chronic aggravating factor. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based Camera Detection System (CDS) detection contributed to 54.3% and 57.2% of external detections in 2024 and 2025, respectively, while repeated repairs accounted for 3,957 cases across 783 locations (13.7% of total repairs). These findings support seasonal preventive maintenance, route-based prioritization, AI-assisted detection, and hotspot-focused management.

This longitudinal case study examines how a non-specialist English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instructor, trained in English education but with limited disciplinary expertise in Bio-Health, designed and refined an ESP course through the integration of generative AI over a three-year period (2023–2025). Using a mixed-methods approach, the study analyzed changes in instructional design practices and student perceptions. Data sources included annual student surveys, instructional materials, and the instructor’s reflective journals. Findings indicate that generative AI functioned as an external cognitive resource that reduced disciplinary content burden and supported instructional decision-making. Over time, instructional focus shifted from compensating for content limitations to structuring learning experiences through AI-supported design decisions, particularly in reading, vocabulary instruction, and project-based learning. Student perceptions of course effectiveness and major relevance increased, with the most positive evaluations following AI-supported project implementation in 2025. These changes are conceptualized as AI-mediated hybrid expertise, referring to professional knowledge in which pedagogical expertise is reconfigured through AI-supported access to disciplinary knowledge.

This study examines odor survey results from 2020 and 2024 in the D-City Dyeing Industrial Complex to identify the structural limitations of Korea’s odor control system under the Odor Prevention Act and to assess their administrative implications. Despite significant improvements in both complex and designated odor substances within legal standards, residents’ complaints persisted. This discrepancy suggests that the concentration-based regulatory framework fails to reflect the sensory perception of intermittent odors shaped by meteorological, topographical, and receptor factors. Moreover, the reporting system for odor-emitting facilities is not a legally binding administrative act, limiting local governments’ ability to impose optional measures such as complete process enclosure. These institutional and spatial constraints are transferred to front-line administration, where overburdened officials exhibit street-level bureaucratic behaviors (such as simplified compliance and reactive complaint handling) as adaptive strategies. Drawing on Lipsky’s (1980) theory of street-level bureaucracy, this study interprets such practices as rational responses to structural constraints and proposes policy reforms emphasizing financial support, the adoption of odor-frequency indicators, and the reinforcement of administrative capacity. The findings indicate that effective odor management requires an integrated approach combining institutional reform with strengthened capacity for local implementation.

The adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has attracted growing attention across industries due to its potential to transform organizational processes and value creation. Despite its high applicability, however, the diffusion of generative AI in the telecommunications industry remains limited. Existing studies have largely focused on identifying individual barriers to AI adoption, providing insufficient understanding of how these barriers interact and form a complex hierarchy of constraints. Addressing this gap, this study investigates the structural interrelationships among barriers to generative AI adoption in the telecommunications industry. Based on a comprehensive literature review and expert validation, fifteen key barriers were identified. Using a Delphi-based Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) approach, this study examined the hierarchical influence structure among the barriers. Subsequently, the Matrix Impact Cross-reference Multiplication Applied to Classification (MICMAC) technique was employed to classify the barriers according to their driving power and dependence. The results reveal a four-level hierarchical structure in which environmental barriers play a foundational role. In particular, the absence of alignment in institutional frameworks and technical standards emerges as a root-level barrier exerting strong influence on higher-level constraints. Regulatory uncertainty and concerns about job displacement function as independent drivers linking foundational environmental conditions to execution- level constraints. Most technical, organizational, and economic barriers are concentrated at the intermediate level, forming a highly interdependent execution layer. At the top level, delays and uncertainties in decision-making regarding generative AI adoption appear as outcome-oriented barriers resulting from the cumulative effects of lower-level constraints. By highlighting that barriers to generative AI adoption in the telecommunications industry operate as a structurally connected system rather than isolated factors, this study extends existing adoption research through a structural perspective. The findings provide practical insights for telecommunications firms in prioritizing adoption strategies and offer implications for addressing institutional and regulatory conditions that shape the diffusion of generative AI.

This study examines the operational performance of a Manufacturing Execution System (MES)-based smart factory and presents a case study to provide practical insights for the effective adoption of smart factories by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Korea. While Industry 4.0 and Korea’s Manufacturing Innovation 3.0 policy have accelerated the digital transformation of manufacturing sites, the emerging paradigm of Industry 5.0 places greater emphasis on human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience. The case company, S Corporation, is a mid-sized automotive parts manufacturer that implemented an MES-based integrated platform encompassing production management, materials management through a Warehouse Management System (WMS), quality management via a Quality Management System (QMS), and equipment management. This integration enabled real-time monitoring and control of shop-floor operations, thereby enhancing data-driven decision-making. The case analysis, supported by a review of related literature, identifies significant quantitative improvements, including increased productivity, reduced defect rates, shorter lead times, and improved inventory turnover. In addition, several qualitative benefits were observed, such as enhanced process visibility, operational standardization, faster managerial decision-making, and a reduced workload for shop-floor operators. Overall, this study demonstrates a smart factory operational model that integrates the technological foundations of Industry 4.0 with the value-oriented principles of Industry 5.0. The findings provide meaningful implications for SMEs seeking to achieve sustainable and human-centered digital transformation in manufacturing.

A survey was conducted on the main activities and profit-generating businesses of seven agricultural associations based in the Ecuadorian Andes region. The key resources of these associations are as follows: Virgen del Volcán de Lloa: high-quality organic products include barley, wheat, and quinoa from San Antonio de Valencia, which also boasts good genetic resources of cattle for breeding and association-owned land; Agropapa: native potato varieties and a chip processing facility; Asoagroquero: a store selling agricultural supplies, including pesticides, to local farmers; Mushuk Yuyay: production of flour made from quinoa, lupine, barley, wheat, faba bean, and pea; Corpopuruwa: certified seed production of Andean crops under the association’s own brand; Asorprosariv: uniquely devised grain-based beverages and cookies. This study presents the cases of farmers’ associations in the Ecuadorian Andes region that add value to agricultural products and engage in various profit-generating businesses by producing and selling high-quality agricultural products utilizing local native crops.

The Vietnamese government has been fostering an enabling environment for vertical integration within t he rice v alue c hain t hrough c ontract farming (CF) to enhance value chains, improve product quality, and increase farmers’ incomes. While previous studies have explored the impacts of CF participation versus non-participation, there is limited evidence on the differing effects of specific CF types. This study addresses self-selection bias using propensity score matching (PSM) to evaluate and compare the effects of two CF types―indirect contract farming (CF-I) and direct contract farming (CF-D)―on rice farmers’ income and yield in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. Data were collected from 437 rice farmers across three provinces: Can Tho, An Giang, and Hau Giang. The findings indicate that participation in contract farming is not scale-neutral; CF-D tends to benefit larger-scale farmers. Additionally, farmers involved in CF-I experienced higher yields and incomes compared to non-CF farmers, with yield increases ranging from 0.44 to 0.76 tons/ha and income increases from 7.48 to 8.99 million VND/ha. Farmers participating in CF-D saw income increases of 5.04 to 5.54 million VND/ha, but the change in yield was not statistically significant. Moreover, those involved in CF-I had both higher yields and incomes than those engaging in CF-D. This study provides comparative evidence on the effects of different CF types in the rice sector and suggests that scaling up CF, particularly CF-I, can effectively enhance farmers’ yields and incomes.

콘크리트 포장은 아스팔트 포장에 비해 우수한 내구성에 의한 장기공용성 확보로 잦은 유지보수가 필요없는 포장 형식이 다. 도심지의 교차로는 많은 교통량과 다양한 하중 조건이 집중되는 구간으로 아스팔트 포장에서는 파손이 빈번하게 발생하 고 있어 내구성 확보가 요구된다. 이에 본 연구에서는 도심지 교차로 구간에 적용된 콘크리트 포장의 특성 및 공용성을 분 석하기 위해 일본 나고야시를 방문하여 현장 조사를 수행하였다. 현장 조사 결과, 대부분의 교차로에서 진출입부 구간뿐만 아니라 중앙부까지 콘크리트 포장을 적용하고 있었다. 교차로에 시공된 콘크리트 포장 형식으로는 줄눈 콘크리트 포장과 줄 눈 철근콘크리트 포장이 확인되었으며 공용상태의 경우 경미한 수준의 스폴링 및 대각선 균열 등이 관찰되었다. 일부 교차 로에서는 콘크리트 포장 적용 시 교통차단을 장기간 유지할 수 없어 조강 포틀랜드 시멘트를 사용하는 1DAYPAVE와 슬래 브를 공장에서 사전 제작하여 시공하는 프리캐스트 콘크리트 포장 등 신속하게 교통 개방이 가능한 공법도 적용된 것으로 확인되었다.

싱가포르에서는 1970년대 후반부터 버스 정차와 가감속이 빈번하게 발생하는 버스정류장 및 버스차로 구간을 중심으로 콘크리트 포장을 광범위하게 적용해 왔다. 본 연구에서는 싱가포르 도심지 버스정류장에 적용된 콘크리트 포장의 현장 조사 를 수행하였으며 버스정류장에 적용된 콘크리트 포장의 공법, 연장, 손상 유형 등의 조사를 통해 적용 현황과 공용상태를 분석하였다. 조사 결과, 싱가포르 도심지 버스정류장 구간에는 대부분 줄눈 철근콘크리트 포장이 적용된 것으로 조사되었으 며 약 18~32m의 연장을 지닌 것으로 확인되었다. 줄눈 간격의 경우 주로 8~9m로 형성되어 있으며 손상 유형으로는 줄눈부 스폴링 및 줄눈재 파손, 망상 균열, 대각선 균열 등이 확인되었다.

일본 나고야시에서는 타도시에 비해 중차량 교통량의 비중이 높아 도로의 약 30%를 콘크리트 포장으로 적용하고 있으며 도심지 버스정류장에도 콘크리트 포장을 적극적으로 적용하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 일본의 나고야시 도심지 버스정류장에 적용된 콘크리트 포장 현황과 공용성을 분석하기 위해 다양한 버스정류장 구간에 대해 현장 조사를 수행하였다. 현장 조사 는 버스정류장에 시공된 콘크리트 포장 형식, 연장, 줄눈 간격, 파손 유형, 표면처리 등 적용 특성 및 공용성을 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 버스정류장에 주로 줄눈 콘크리트 포장과 줄눈 철근 콘크리트 포장이 시공되어 있었으며 일부 구간에서는 반강 성 포장이 적용되어 있었다. 또한, 스폴링, 줄눈재 파손 등이 확인되었으나 공용성에 영향을 미치는 수준은 아닌 것으로 분 석되었다.

본 연구는 일본 나고야시 도심지 교차로에 적용된 프리캐스트 콘크리트 포장을 대상으로 현장 조사를 수행하여 연결 방 식에 따른 구조적 특성과 손상 유형을 분석하였다. 조사 결과, 해당 지역에는 다웰바와 타이바를 이용한 연결 방식과 코터 식 조인트 방식이 적용된 것을 확인하였다. 공용 상태 분석 결과, 다웰바 방식에서는 줄눈부 스폴링 등 일반적인 줄눈 콘크 리트 포장의 손상이 나타났으며 코터식 조인트 방식에서는 그라우트 홀 주변의 미세 파손만이 확인되었다. 본 연구에서 확 인된 손상은 포장의 구조적 성능 및 주행 안전성에 영향을 미치지 않는 경미한 수준으로 분석되었다. 또한, 프리캐스트 슬 래브 간 단차는 관찰되지 않아 평탄성이 우수한 것으로 판단되었으며 이는 도심지 콘크리트 포장의 장기공용성 확보에 긍정 적으로 작용할 것으로 기대된다.

일본은 오래전부터 다양한 형식의 콘크리트 포장을 도심부 도로에 적용해 왔다. 특히 나고야는 다양한 도심부 환경에서 콘크리트 포장을 운영하는 대표적인 도시로서 일반도로, 교차로, 버스정류장, 지하차도 등 다양한 도심부 구간에 콘크리트 포장을 적용하고 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 나고야 도심부 도로에 적용된 콘크리트 포장의 현황을 조사하고 공용성능에 대 한 영향을 분석하였다. 현장 조사 결과, 교차로 구간에는 줄눈 콘크리트 포장(JCP)과 줄눈 철근 콘크리트 포장(JRCP)이 주로 적용되었으며 프리캐스트 콘크리트 포장(PCP)과 1DAYPAVE도 적용되었다. 또한, 일반도로와 버스정류장에는 JCP, JRCP, CRCP가 적용되었으며 지하차도에서는 미끄럼 저항성 향상을 위한 표면 패턴이 적용된 콘크리트 포장을 시공한 것으로 분 석되었다. 공용성 분석 결과, 현장 조사에서 관찰된 손상 수준은 경미하였으며 전반적으로 우수한 공용성을 보이고 있는 것 으로 관찰되었다.

싱가포르는 고온다습한 기후조건과 중차량의 잦은 가감속에 따른 피로 하중으로 인해 아스팔트 포장이 빈번하게 파손되어 도심지 교차로 구간에 콘크리트 포장을 적용하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 싱가포르의 도심지 교차로 구간에 시공된 콘크리트 포장의 적용 특성 및 공용성 분석을 위해 현장 조사를 수행하였다. 현장 조사를 통해 도심지 교차로에 적용된 콘크리트 포 장의 형식, 연장, 줄눈 간격 및 파손 유형 등을 분석하였다. 조사 결과, 도심지 교차로 구간에 적용된 콘크리트 포장의 연장 은 약 38~40m로 측정되었으며 포장 형식은 줄눈 철근콘크리트 포장과 반강성 포장으로 분석되었다. 줄눈 철근콘크리트 포 장은 줄눈 간격이 약 15~18m로 구성되어 있었으며 반강성 포장은 줄눈이 별도로 형성되어 있지 않는 것을 확인하였다. 파 손의 경우 줄눈 철근콘크리트 포장에서는 줄눈부 스폴링 및 줄눈재 파손 등을 관찰할 수 있었으며 반강성 포장에서는 표면 균열과 박리 등의 파손을 볼 수 있었다. 이러한 파손들은 포장 공용성에 악영향을 미칠 정도는 아닌 것으로 분석되었다.

This study examines the integration of ChatGPT into an advanced Korean course in a U.S university context, with a focus on its instructional design and classroom implementation. Over a semester, eighteen students used ChatGPT as a supplementary tool within process-oriented writing tasks. Survey data were used to examine learners’ responses to this instructional use of ChatGPT. The results indicate that students perceived ChatGPT as particularly helpful for grammatical corrections and receiving immediate feedback. Learners who recognized its benefits reported a positive impact on the usefulness of feedback, their writing development, and interest in future AI use. However, concerns about over-reliance, ethical issues, and occasional inaccuracies were also noted. By situating ChatGPT within a specific instructional context, this study highlights both the perceived benefits and limitations of AI-assisted writing in Korean language education. This study also offers practical guidance for educators, including structured stages for AI application in writing, usage guidelines, assessment criteria, and sample prompts. Finally, it emphasizes a balanced approach in which AI complements, not replaces, teacher feedback to maintain quality through professional judgment.

To secure food safety while fostering a new business called a shared commercial kitchen, it is important to establish appropriate regulations. However, no research has been conducted to confirm the hygiene management status and hygiene levels of shared commercial kitchens in Korea. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to provide basic data for identifying sanitary blind spots and establishing reasonable regulatory levels that reflect them by conducting a sanitary and phytosanitary survey of 10 industries that advocate for shared commercial kitchens. According to the survey, document management (44.7%), personal hygiene (47.0%), and food hygiene (48.9%) were found to be weak, and the swab test conducted in shared commercial kitchen workshops showed that the aerobic plate count from the hands of workers was “at a level that needed to be corrected” and confirmed that personal hygiene management was necessary. Considering the mandatory application of HACCP and cGMP to shared commercial kitchens by the US FDA, it is necessary to consider setting up international-level safety management regulations to enhance the hygiene of shared commercial kitchens in Korea and ensure food safety.

Potholes accelerate the pavement deterioration rate, posing a significant challenge to the Pavement Management System (PMS). Furthermore, potholes severely undermine road safety and traffic efficiency by causing vehicle damage and inducing evasive maneuvers. However, conventional manual maintenance methods are limited in their ability to respond rapidly to such degradation due to the inevitable time lag spanning from pothole occurrence and detection to repair. To address this, this paper proposes a fully automated framework that integrates real-time detection via crowdsourcing with robotic repair. In this paper, we quantify total delay times, comprising reporting, waiting, and repair phases, of 15 major routes in Jeju Island using an one-dimension corridor model. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed system reduces the detection-to-repair time by over 90%, effectively eliminating administrative waiting times and significantly decreasing the number of residual potholes. This indicates that the proposed strategy can enhance the overall efficiency of the transportation network by minimizing the delay time and the number of residual potholes. By transitioning from methods reliant on manual labor to an operational model driven by data and operating in real time, this study confirms the technical and economic feasibility of the proposed system in optimizing the PMS, thereby simultaneously ensuring road safety and minimizing social costs.