Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Brief Report

Missing Occupation, Missing Risk: Insights From COVID-19 Case Investigation Data in Busan, South Korea: Jin-Hwan Kim, Daseul Moon, Changhoon Kim; J Prev Med Public Health. 2026;59(2):204-210. Published online March 12, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.25.718

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material: Objectives
This study evaluated the quality and analytic utility of occupational data in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case investigation records from Busan, South Korea, during the period of comprehensive surveillance in 2020–2021, when occupation was inconsistently integrated into routine case reporting despite its importance for infection-risk assessment.
Methods
We analyzed 25 283 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported between February 21, 2020, and December 31, 2021. Occupational information was extracted from investigation forms, epidemiological reports, and electronic medical records. We assessed completeness, internal inconsistencies, and codability to the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations (KSCO), and examined temporal trends across pandemic phases. Descriptive statistics and manual reviews of free-text entries were conducted.
Results
Occupational information was recorded for nearly all investigated cases in 2020–2021 (>99%), but entries were often vague (“unemployed,” “other”) or institutional (“school,” “hospital”), which limited their utility. A minority of entries could be standardized to KSCO 1–3-digit categories because of ambiguous wording or contradictions between occupation and workplace. Although data collection virtually ceased in 2022 and 2023 after individual-level investigations were discontinued, patterns in the 2020–2021 dataset already showed that design flaws in the occupation field reduced analytic value.
Conclusions
Busan’s early COVID-19 surveillance system recorded occupation for nearly all cases but produced limited analyzable information. The disconnect between data entry and analytic usefulness highlights the need for structured, dual occupation–industry coding, searchable picklists, and real-time quality checks so that occupational risk can be systematically identified and incorporated into future pandemic preparedness and response.; Summary

Korean summary
본 연구는 코로나바이러스감염증-19에 대한 전수감시가 이루어지던 2020-2021년 시기에 부산광역시 확진자 역학조사에 포함된 직업 정보의 질과 그 활용 가능성을 평가했다. 약 2년 동안 약 99% 이상의 확진자에서 직업 정보가 기입되어 있었으나 “무직”, “기타” 등의 모호한 기재나 “학교”, “병원”과 같은 기관 수준의 기재가 빈번해 활용 가능성은 제한적이었다. 자료 입력과 분석적 유용성 간의 괴리는 향후 감염병 대비 및 대응에서 직업적 위험을 체계적으로 파악하고 반영하기 위해, 구조화된 직업-산업 이중 입력 체계, 검색 기반 폐쇄형 입력 기능, 실시간 자료 질 점검 체계 도입이 필요함을 시사한다.

Key Message
- Occupation is critical for infection-risk assessment, yet occupation was not systematically collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. - In Busan, although occupational information was recorded for most confirmed COVID-19 cases reported between February 2020 and December 2021, many entries contained workplace names or industry categories instead of specific occupations, limiting standardization and analytic utility. - To improve the quality of occupational data in future pandemic preparedness, dual occupation–industry coding, searchable picklists, and real-time quality checks are needed.

Original Article

Gender Inequalities in Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Population-based Study in Korea: Minku Kang, Sarah Yu, Seung-Ah Choe, Daseul Moon, Myung Ki, Byung Chul Chun; J Prev Med Public Health. 2023;56(5):413-421. Published online August 19, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.23.170

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3 Web of Science
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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Objectives
This study explored the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on psychosocial stress in prime working-age individuals in Korea, focusing on gender inequalities. We hypothesized that the impact of COVID-19 on mental health would differ by age and gender, with younger women potentially demonstrating heightened vulnerability relative to men.
Methods
The study involved data from the Korea Community Health Survey and included 319 592 adults aged 30 years to 49 years. We employed log-binomial regression analysis, controlling for variables including age, education, employment status, marital status, and the presence of children. The study period included 3 phases: the period prior to the COVID-19 outbreak (pre–COVID-19), the early pandemic, and the period following the introduction of vaccinations (post-vaccination).
Results
The findings indicated that women were at a heightened risk of psychosocial stress during the early pandemic (relative risk [RR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98 to 1.05) and post-vaccination period (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.10) compared to men. This pattern was prominent in urban women aged 30-34 years (pre–COVID-19: RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.10; early pandemic: RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.25; post-vaccination period, RR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.31).
Conclusions
The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted unequal impacts on psychosocial stress among prime working-age individuals in Korea, with women, particularly those in urban areas, experiencing a heightened risk. The findings highlight the importance of addressing gender-specific needs and implementing appropriate interventions to mitigate the psychosocial consequences of the pandemic.

Summary

Korean summary
코로나19 대유행이 국내 경제활동인구의 정신건강에 미친 젠더화된 영향을 조사하였다. 연구대상자는 2017-2021년 지역사회건강조사 조사대상자 319,592명이다. 연구 결과, 대유행 이후 30-39세 연령대 여성의 스트레스 수준이 남성에 비하여 현저히 증가한 것으로 나타났으며, 사회적 거리두기를 엄격하게 시행하였던 도시 지역에서 이러한 경향이 두드러졌다. 이번 연구 결과는 대유행 대응 노력에서 취약 집단을 지원하기 위한 중재 정책의 필요성을 강조한다

Key Message
We investigate the gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the working-age population in Korea, focusing on ages 30-49, utilizing data from the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) from 2017 to 2021 including 319,592 participants. Findings reveal a notable increase in stress levels among women in the 30-39 age group after the pandemic compared to men, accentuating in urban areas with stringent social distancing measures. Our results underscore the necessity for intervention policies to support vulnerable groups in pandemic response efforts.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Resilience Factors Mitigate the Impact of (COVID)-19 Concerns on Depressive Symptoms
Young-Mee Kim, Sung-il Cho
American Journal of Health Behavior.2025; 49(2): 27. CrossRef
Psychological distress and compliance with sanitary measures during the Covid-19 pandemic
Irwin Hecker, Solène Wallez, Honor Scarlett, José Luis Ayuso-Mateos, Richard Bryant, Giulia Caggiu, Claudia Conflitti, Katalin Gémes, Josep Maria Haro, Vincent Lorant, Roberto Mediavilla, Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz, Anna Monistrol-Mula, Matteo Monzio Compa
PLOS One.2025; 20(7): e0317272. CrossRef
Hwa-byung (anger syndrome) as a risk factor for suicidal ideation in MZ generation: a survey study in South Korea
Chan-Young Kwon
Frontiers in Psychology.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Exploring the association between consultation themes and suicidal ideation: a gender-stratified analysis of Hangzhou Mental Health Hotline (2014-2023)
Deyuan Wu, Yating Wei, Qiuxia Chen, Xiaonv Fu, Haidong Song
BMC Psychiatry.2024;[Epub] CrossRef

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