ABSTRACT
In improving and sustaining advancement of quality of life of Korean people, it is vital to use ergonomics to respond to common ergonomics-related needs in daily life including working life. Although ergonomics has been introduced to Korean society for almost forty years, this has not been regarded as one of main scientific methods which need to be promoted in Korea. Thus, most of its effort has been more of academic or industrial level effort. One of reasons for this problem is that it has not been accepted as a society-wide tool which needs to be used in all aspects of human life in Korea. But, rapid and vast change of Korean society presents many social and industrial problems which need to be resolved using ergonomics. It is necessary for ergonomists to establish a clear strategy to meet needs of Korean society and industry to resolve problems and to improve quality of life in Korea in the future. Recently roadmaps have been used in establishing strategies for developing technologies. Thus it is good to try to develop ergonomics roadmaps in short and longterm perspectives to set up a strategy for the future. Horino et al. (2007) stated in their ergonomic road map study in Japan that “as we need to focus on meeting priority needs, it is important to identify practicable goals in main business management areas from people-centered points of view.” Therefore, this paper intends to identify current and anticipated social and industrial problems in Korea and needs and to set priority in resolving problems and meeting needs from Korean society and industry.
