The purposes of this study are to examine to what extent the quality of life has declined after IMF economic crisis, to explore the relationship between the unstable employment of workers and the change of the quality of life, to examine which intervening variables have a significant effect on the depreciating change of the quality of life, and to suggest some alternatives for improving the quality of life
Analyzing the data, which were collected at Chonbuk Province in 1998, we found the followings First, there was a significant decline of the worker´s quality of life such as economic family life, occupation life, leisure life, self-satisfaction, and community life Second, we found a significant relationship between the worker´s unstable employment and the decline of their quality of life. That is, the more the workers felt their possibility, the more their quality of life declined during the past 2 years. Third among the worker´s socio-economic and social interactive characteristics, the worker´s property, occupational status, and the frequency of participating into personal network have a significant intervening effects on the decline of the quality of life. That is, the more property the workers have, the higher occupational status the workers have, and the more frequently the workers participate into their personal network, the less the decline of their quality of life was.
Finally, from those findings, this study discusses some alternatives for improving the workers´ quality of life. First of all, it emphasizes the simultaneous reform of the state and the chaebols which are basic sources of Korea´s economic crisis. Second, it also suggests the state policies reducing the unemployed and employment instability of workers, and establishing a complex social welfare system.
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