This article investigates the historical background and distinctive characteristics of the Korean food hygiene policy during the 1960s. The 3 main findings of this study are as follows. First, Food Sanitation Law in the 1960s was established too hastily and thus mistakenly accommodated two discordant laws as American style law and empire of Japan style law. The legislation of Food Sanitation Law was progressed too quickly for the justification purpose of 5·16 military coup, as one of reorganization tasks of the Korean legal structure established under Japanese imperialism, Second, a division in charge of food hygiene in the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs was newly installed in 1967, as an outcome reflecting a variety of social demand, at least, minimally. Rongalite shock in Korea prompted diverse suggestions for preventing unfortunate accidents from toxic and harmful food. However, Korean Government did not provide the division with necessary budget and manpower to implement relevant regulations. Third, "the special law against health crimes" legislated in 1969, was characterized by severe punishment policy which might be performed afterward but not by protective measures against accidents in advance. The law enabled regulators to punish corrupt dealers up to life sentence. For the constitutional amendment for President for the third term, Park Chung-hee's regime tried to calm down the complaints of people. In sum, the regulations of Korean food hygiene in the 1960s were identified as government practices using an interesting combination of low costs and severe punishments.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Budgets ; Humans ; Hygiene* ; Institutionalization* ; Japan ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Legislation as Topic ; Military Personnel ; Punishment ; Sanitation ; Shock ; Social Control, Formal

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the relationship between working hours and the occurrence of industrial disasters based on manufacturing businesses that are members of Federation of Korean Trade Unions. METHODS: Repliers were managers of the safety & health department in the union, and 215 surveys out of 300 businesses that agreed to participate in the research were analyzed. RESULTS: 94 out of 300 companies, which counted for 43.7%, replied to have experienced industrial disasters. 56 of those (59.6%) had less than 52 working hours per week, and 38 companies (40.4%) had more than 52 working hours per week. 109 companies, which counted for 50.7%, did not have an incident of industrial disaster. Companies with an average of more than 52 hours of working hours per week were shown to have a 2.29 times (95% CI 1.08~4.87) higher possibility of having industrial disasters than those with less than 52 hours of working hours. CONCLUSION: As the study showed that industrial disasters were more likely to occur in businesses with working hours longer than 52 hours, ways to reduce working hours need to be developed and various safety measures need to be taken to prevent industrial disasters in case workers are undergoing long working hours.

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the relationship between working hours and the occurrence of industrial disasters based on manufacturing businesses that are members of Federation of Korean Trade Unions. METHODS: Repliers were managers of the safety & health department in the union, and 215 surveys out of 300 businesses that agreed to participate in the research were analyzed. RESULTS: 94 out of 300 companies, which counted for 43.7%, replied to have experienced industrial disasters. 56 of those (59.6%) had less than 52 working hours per week, and 38 companies (40.4%) had more than 52 working hours per week. 109 companies, which counted for 50.7%, did not have an incident of industrial disaster. Companies with an average of more than 52 hours of working hours per week were shown to have a 2.29 times (95% CI 1.08~4.87) higher possibility of having industrial disasters than those with less than 52 hours of working hours. CONCLUSION: As the study showed that industrial disasters were more likely to occur in businesses with working hours longer than 52 hours, ways to reduce working hours need to be developed and various safety measures need to be taken to prevent industrial disasters in case workers are undergoing long working hours.