South Korea established a non-competitive natural gas market in order to have a stable and economical supply of natural gas. The allegation has been raised about the inefficiency of this non-competitive market structure, but reform attempts have failed because of protests. Proponents of this incumbent system argue that gas needs to be supplied by the public sector in a monopolized structure so as to have a stable supply of this essential good, natural gas, and to prevent market failures like exorbitant gas prices and a deficit in supply due to a natural monopoly. They also argue that the unified gas purchase endows purchasing power. However, the gas industry does not exactly meet the categorical characteristics of an essential good or a natural monopoly and the concept of purchasing power is hardly accepted. Moreover, according to agent theory and property theory, the current market and firms are likely to be inefficient; several events are proving this inefficiency to be true. However, people remain unsure about the necessity of gas market reform. Ironically, South Korea has a different policy and market approach to the oil market despite the similarity of these two fuels. The oil market in South Korea constitutes an effective competitive market via a liberalized market, and is supplying the fuel stably and economically, contrary to people’s expectations. This thesis contrasts different approaches in South Korea toward similar hydrocarbon fuels, oil and gas. The competitiveness of the oil market is examined through statistics, Lerner index, analyzing of the profit trend in the market, and price comparison by countries. Results support the validity of South Korean gas market reform if the oil market is effectively competitive through liberalization. / text

Electronic networking is becoming a familiar tool in higher education and research. Because the cost of telecommunications is decreasing, while the power of electronic networks and related computing resources is increasing, the resources and systems of electronic networks can now be used more easily. Access to the new global system of electronic networking has a great potential for the development of information services in South Korea. The principal aim of the research presented here is to determine what campus-wide and nation-wide information system will enable academic and research institutions in South Korea to share their information resources in an effective and efficient way via high-speed networks. The situation in South Korea has been modelled using Checkland's soft systems methodology. Data have been collected via both questionnaires and interviews, using a stratified sample of six South Korean universities as the main source. The factors at work have been examined, and the implications for the university system and for electronic networking in South Korea are considered.

This thesis focuses on identification of the current problems of the South Korean labour market and proposing the possible solutions. The first part contains the theoretical basis of labour force participation, basic concepts and definitions. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of economic theories, which represent a necessary background for understanding the specific features of the choices of women and older workers between work and leisure activities, or retirement. The second part deals with a detailed analysis of the current state of South Korean labour market, by identifining the historical perspectives, by comparing the market indicators with OECD countries and confronting the local working conditions with the ILO standards. The final part identifies the causes of the current labour market problems of South Korea by applying the theories and determinants described in the first chapter. The last part also proposes potential solutions in the form of specific reforms and measures pursuable in the environment of the local labour market.

The object of this project is to dissect the filmic elements in Train to Busan (2016) to analyze how the film represents the Sewol Ferry incident, a national disaster occurred in South Korea, and how the audience is able to engage with the trauma. As the first zombie blockbuster created in South Korea, Train to Busan adapted the elements of the zombie genre that has been delineated repeatedly. The film inherited the traits of zombies, representation of government and media, and feature of human characters from the genre created in Hollywood. Additionally, national characteristics had been added through reflecting the Sewol Ferry incident. Based on the ideas of genre studies, not only the components that construct the zombie genre, but also how the spectators confront the trauma while viewing the movie can be examined. Cinematography, narrative, character settings resemble the tragic event, which consequently trigger the audience to engage with the national trauma. Thus, while adapting the genre constructed in the Hollywood, Train to Busan reveals how Korean adaptation of the zombie media has been made.

This study investigates how Korean Parachute Kids perform academically in their schools and what social factors contribute to Korean Parachute Kids' academic performance. Korean children who came to the U.S. for educational purposes without their parental supervision are called `Korean Parachute Kids'. They have several characteristics: most of them come from high SES families, their parents have high expectations of their children and force them to go to the U.S., Korean Parachute Kids are pressured to attend Ivy League colleges, and their parents tend to compensate for their absence with money or presents. Korean Parachute Kids who come to the United States without their parents encounter many problems, both academically and socially. Many Korean Parachute Kids struggle to adjust and face academic failure due to language barriers, cultural differences, and the different curricula in the U.S. This failure occurs even though acquiring an education is the reason for Korean Parachute Kids' stay in the U.S. and is what their parents have invested exorbitant amounts of money. In light of the absence of their parents, many Korean Parachute Kids' behaviors go unchecked, which may, in turn, cause these children to be maladjusted in many aspects of their school lives. Korean parents' high expectation for their children's academic success is regarded as one of the factors that cause their children to misbehave. Research is needed in order to inform Korean parents and Korean and U.S. society about the academic and social implications of early study abroad for Korean children. Guidelines should also be provided in order for Korean parents to discern what the good and bad aspects of early study abroad in the U.S. are for their children. This research will also be beneficial to educators in America in that they will be aware of Korean Parachute Kids' academic and social difficulties in school since the number of Korean Parachute kids who study in the U.S. continues to increase. / Urban Education

The main objectives of this research were to determine the perspectives of South Korean educators regarding the inclusion of environmental education into the curriculum of South Korean schools and to establish the educators’ level of knowledge of environmental education. The research was conducted using a translated questionnaire, which was administered to the educators. The findings of the research showed that few South Korean educators have had any training in environmental education. While most have had no exposure to environmental education it was found that they would appreciate training in the subject. The study highlights the importance of, and discusses the implementation of, environmental education in some Asian countries, as well as the constraints experienced during implementation. On the basis of the research findings, it is recommended that South Korea draw on the knowledge of other countries in both improving the current curriculum so as to include environmental education at all levels, and in the professional development of its educators, in order to bring about the effective inclusion and implementation of environmental education in South Korean schools. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Environmental Education)

La littérature juridique nous apprend que le divorce, institution fort ancienne permettant de rompre de manière définitive et radicale le lien conjugal, est étroitement lié à l'idéologie dominante et aux fluctuations politiques du pays considéré. La comparaison des législations en matière de divorce, objet de notre étude, permet alors, d'une part, de constater que l'évolution du « droit de divorcer » est marquée par des étapes successives d'interdiction et de rétablissement du divorce aussi bien en France qu'en Corée du Sud. Le principe du « droit de divorcer » une fois admis, cette démarche comparative permet d'autre part, de découvrir que, s'agissant du « droit du divorce », le choix législatif fondamental s'articule autour de deux idées dans les deux systèmes juridiques : diversifier les cas de divorce afin de répondre à la diversité des situations de crise conjugale, et dédramatiser le divorce en incitant les époux à trouver un accord sur les conséquences du divorce. L'approche comparative révèle une fois encore que les règles aboutissent à des solutions souvent proches mais que pour y parvenir, les législateurs respectifs des deux pays ont parfois emprunté des chemins différents / The legal literature let us know that a divorce, very old institution allowing to break the marital relation in a definitive and radical way, is closely linked to the prevailing ideology and political movements of the country. The comparison of legislations in divorce, purpose of our study, allows, on the one hand, to notice the evolution of the “right to divorce” is underlined by successive steps of prohibition of divorce and recovery both in France and in South Korea. The principle of “right to divorce” once accepted, this comparative approach allows on the other hand, to perceive that, regarding “divorce law”, the fundamental legislative choice turns on two ideas in both legal systems : diversify divorce cases to answer the diversity of a marital crisis, and not dramatize divorce encouraging spouses to reach an agreement on the consequences of divorce. The comparative approach reveals once again that the rules often lead to similar solutions but to accomplish goals, sometimes the legislators of the both countries have took different ways

In this study, I have focused on the process for an eventual reunification of North and South Korea. In this process, Korean political, economic, cultural and religious issues are necessarily present. My study focuses on cultural and religious factors. I adopt the German reunification as a case study. The German reunification process provides Koreans with lessons about the negative changes in the status of German women since the German reunification caused extreme instances of the loss of status and economic opportunity for women. German reunification shows that the unequal situation and systems in society were not only due to political positions. Strong religious factors deeply influenced the German mentality. A similar religion-factor is at work in North Korean society which is influenced by Confucianism and in South Korean society which is influenced by Confucianism and conservative Christianity. I argue that religion is one of the major factors in the political culture of Korea, and religion can either assist a fair and equal process for both women and men or it can in a biased way maintain a male-oriented form of reunification. Consequently, the cultural and religious factors in this process of reunification must include an equalization of women and men. This can only take place if Korean women are major participants in the entire reunification process. There is a serious need for a reunification theology which incorporate gender into Korean theology, thus providing a 'feminist reunification theology.' A 'feminist reunification theology' presents basic theological principles that will help build an egalitarian community. There are three important ways to include women's concern for true reunification: 1) The creation of an egalitarian community in work, family and society; 2) The restoration of humanity by healing love and forgiveness through the power of Cross; and 3) The need for religion to be reformed in which a women can be a co-leader in family, church and nation.

The main objectives of this research were to determine the perspectives of South Korean educators regarding the inclusion of environmental education into the curriculum of South Korean schools and to establish the educators’ level of knowledge of environmental education. The research was conducted using a translated questionnaire, which was administered to the educators. The findings of the research showed that few South Korean educators have had any training in environmental education. While most have had no exposure to environmental education it was found that they would appreciate training in the subject. The study highlights the importance of, and discusses the implementation of, environmental education in some Asian countries, as well as the constraints experienced during implementation. On the basis of the research findings, it is recommended that South Korea draw on the knowledge of other countries in both improving the current curriculum so as to include environmental education at all levels, and in the professional development of its educators, in order to bring about the effective inclusion and implementation of environmental education in South Korean schools. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Environmental Education)

La faillite internationale est la faillite présentant des éléments d'extranéité. Avec l'expansion du commerce international et la succession d'instabilités économiques, l'importance du sujet a été considérablement accrue. 11eme puissance mondiale avec une économie reposant largement sur le commerce, la Corée (République de Corée), non moins concernée par cette tendance, a modernisé sa législation il y a une décennie. Le volume des échanges commerciaux entre la France et la Corée ayant doublé en 10 ans avec aujourd'hui près de 200 entreprises françaises présentes sur le territoire coréen, les règles nouvelles du droit coréen régissant les faillites transfrontalières ne sont plus indifférentes pour le juriste français. Le droit international privé coréen des faillites, sans paraître à première vue fondamentalement différent des droits français ou européen, comporte plusieurs particularités et fait par ailleurs l'impasse sur des notions phares de l'universalisme modifié auquel il prétend avoir adhéré. La substance, les motivations, et les possibles suites de cet état actuel du droit sont traitées dans la présente étude, avec un regard sur le droit des faillites, le droit de la procédure civile et le droit international privé coréens ainsi qu'une comparaison de ces derniers avec les droits français et européen. / Cross-border insolvency denotes the situations arising out of insolvency involving extraneous aspects. Along with the expansion of international trade and the succession of economic instabilities, the importance of its study has undoubtedly become greater. As one of the most concerned actors by this phenomenon, Korea (Republic of Korea) has modernized its legislation a decade ago. The volume of trade between France and Korea having doubled in 10 years, with nownear 200 French companies established in Korea, the new rules of Korean law governing crossborder insolvencies are no longer irrelevant to French jurists. Korean cross-border insolvency law, while not appearing prima facie to be fundamentally different from French or European laws, has several peculiarities and obfuscates the core principles of modified universalism to which it claims to adhere. The substance, the motivations and the possible results of this state of law will constitute the topic of this thesis, with an overview of Korea's bankruptcy law, civil procedural law and private international law, along with their comparison to French and European laws.