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A joint study by three JNU researchers (Academic Research Professor Lee Hye-rin in MICE & Complex Resort Research Center, Professor Hong Seong-hwa and Professor Kang Joo-hyun in Department of Tourism Management) won the Best Academic Paper Award at the Jeju International Conference of the Korean Tourism Association held at the Jeju Haevichi Hotel from June 26 to 28.

The theme of the conference was "Preparation and Role for a New Leap in Tourism," and it provided a platform for academic research to discuss the direction that Korean tourism should take in the post-COVID era and explore new solutions for the future of tourism in Jeju.

Conducted by professors Lee Hye-rin, Hong Seong-hwa, and Kang Joo-hyu, the joint research, which received the Best Academic Paper Award, focused on analyzing the "Leisure Disparity among Seniors - A Comparison with the Younger Generation" They examined the reality of leisure disparities faced by the senior in Korea, considering the imminent ultra-aged society, by comparing the leisure disparities between the 20-to 30-year-old generation and seniors.

The research has found that the leisure gap felt among seniors stems from the differences in the environment they grew up in, or in other words, differences in experience between generations. It was further attributed to variations in the perception of leisure and its values, as well as disparities in digital literacy and technological capabilities.

Until now, many studies on senior leisure have predominantly focused on the positive aspects of leisure phenomena. However, this research expands the scope of senior leisure research by bringing attention to the negative aspects, such as leisure disparities. Additionally, by analyzing senior leisure disparities from a holistic perspective, it allows for a comprehensive understanding of the reality of senior leisure, which provides academic significance.