The Characteristics of Structural Charge in Knowledge Network of Korean Manufacturing

한국 제조업의 지식 네트워크의 구조적 변화의 특성

This paper analyzes the characteristics of technological knowledge flow-structure of Korean manufacturing in dynamic perspective. In doing that, the concept of the knowledge network is introduced which is defined as a set of industries and their interaction(knowledge flow) or linkage. The analysis of the inter-industrial knowledge flows is based on the technological similarity by using R&D researchers'academic background in the year of 1984, 1987, 1990. The analysis is carried out by such methodology as network analysis, indicator analysis and simple statistical analysis. And the final results are drawn both in absolute terms(dimension effect) and in relative terms (proportion effect) respectively. The main findings are as follow. First, the Korean manufacturing knowledge network appears to strengthen existing inter-industrial knowledge linkages rather than to construct new linkages. Second, the network seems to form a dualistic structure in that some high-technology sectors (knowledge production sectors) emerge along with traditional sectors (knowledge absorbing sectors). Third, since the mid-1980s, an inter-industrial fusion is witnessed among technologically intensive sectors, indicating that some sophisticated innovation modes are emerging in Korean manufacturing system.