PURPOSES : This study estimates the effects of traffic safety policies (e.g., the Minsik Act) on the seriousness of traffic accidents in children protection zones. METHODS : A difference-in-differences framework in which the change in the gap of seriousness of traffic accidents occurring in children protection zones and those occurring outside the zone before and after the implementation of the Minsik Act was applied. Furthermore, a placebo test, in which the samples are restricted to a specific period, is irrelevant to the time of students going to school. RESULTS : On average, when the factors causing traffic accidents are not controlled, the degree of damage in traffic accidents in children protection zones appears to be more serious The introduction of the Minsik Act has been shown to reduce the damage from traffic accidents in children protection zones. In particular, illegal U-turns and signal violations increased the severity of traffic accidents in children protection zones, and trucks caused the greatest damage. CONCLUSIONS : The traffic safety policy for children protection zones (Minsik Act) is effective in improving traffic safety by simply “strengthening legal regulations.” This strengthens the importance of traffic safety education to prevent drivers from engaging in driving behaviors such as illegal U-turns and traffic signal violations. It is necessary to ensure the traffic safety of children by establishing a truck operation policy that bypasses children protection zones.

This study developed an evaluation system of adaptation countermeasures for climate change in the water resources sector using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and the assessment procedures were applied to the Second Chungcheongnam-do Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan (Chungnam Implementation Plan). Firstly, the evaluation criteria are composed of two levels according to the hierarchical structure, and AHP gives priority to 4 evaluation criteria of the first level and 16 alternative indicators of the second level. Secondly, after the importance of the evaluation criteria or indicators has been determined, the significance of each measure was evaluated by applying it to the water-sector measures of the Chungnam Implementation Plan, and the effectiveness of the evaluation system was validated. The Chungnam case study shows that the evaluation system will be more effective and efficient when it is applied during development phase rather than after the implementation plan is finalized. It is also expected that the evaluation system will be used to evaluate and prioritize climate change adaptation policies in other regions, and then to compare the means of adaptation to climate change in various regions and to select recommendation policies.

This study was conducted to determine the impact of smoke-free regulations on the environment in personal computer(PC) rooms by measuring indoor levels of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm(PM2.5) before and after the implementation of the regulations. PM2.5 concentrations of 34 PC rooms in Seoul were measured before and after the regulations took effect. A real-time monitor was used to measure PM2.5 concentrations. A field technician recorded the characteristics of PC rooms including indoor volume, number of floors, and the presence of a smoking room and counted the number of burning cigarettes, cigarette butts, vents, and patrons. While outdoor PM2.5 concentrations and the number of patrons were not changed, indoor PM2.5 concentrations, the number of burning cigarettes and cigarette butts in PC rooms were significantly decreased after the regulations were implemented (p < 0.001). Geometric mean(GM) of indoor PM2.5 concentrations in the PC rooms was 139.6 μg/m3 before the regulations took effect and 55.7 μg/m3 after the regulations implemented. After the regulations, smokers were observed in 11 of the 34 PC rooms in which PM2.5 concentrations were not significantly decreased(p = 0.18). When smokers were not observed after the regulations, the GM of indoor PM2.5 concentrations was 37.2 μg/m3. Although PM2.5 concentrations in some PC rooms were decreased after the regulation, higher PM2.5 concentrations were observed in PC rooms with smokers. As such, compliance with the smoke-free regulations should be strictly ensured to achieve a better indoor air quality.

With the upcoming enforcement of the Fundamental Law of Resource Circulation in January 2018, changes are expected to occur in waste management policies. Until now, South Korea has worked hard to prevent waste generation and improve recycling. The recycling rate has improved, but recyclables are not considered high-quality. To resolve these issues in its member states, the EU is promoting resource efficiency policies. Their plan is to integrate the environment with the economy, achieve economic growth, and create jobs. A circular economy has also been adopted as a strategy to promote the resource efficiency policies. The key content of the strategy consists of an action plan and a waste law revision. Goals for the recycling of wastes by 2030 have been set in laws revised through this strategy, which also includes recycling evaluation standards and calculation methods. For Korea to cultivate a resource circulation society in the future, the EU’s resource efficiency policies and strategies must be preemptively implemented in a manner that suits the situation in Korea, and terms must be defined and standards established for recycling.