• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

World stone production in 2021 stood at 162.5 million tons, up by 7.5 million tons, or 4.8 percent, compared to the previous year when the production came in at 155 million tons. Six top countries with the most of stone production were China, India, Turkey, Brazil, Iran and Italy and these six countries accounted for 72.8 percent of total production in the world. Stone exports stood at $21.68 billion in 2021, up by $2.3 billion from the previous year. Exports of raw materials and processed stones stood at 54.4 million tons, up by 2.98 million tons from the previous year. In terms of aggregate exports, exports of natural stones increased by $2.3 billion to $21.7 billion while exports of artificial stones rose $2.6 billion to $13.6 billion in 2021 compared to the previous year. The average price of stone (Code: 68.02) was up by $65.2 per ton to $794.82. The price of board, processed stone, an ingredient for building materials, increased by $3.52 per square meter to $42.96 per square meter. Recycling was always the problem as the volume of the total quarry was 333.5 million tons, of which only 28.8 percent were finished products and the remaining 71.2 percent were waste generated from stone extraction and processing. Korea's stone exports stood at $1.97 million in 2021, down 38.3 percent on year, while imports were up 8.6 percent to $758.9 million. Stone exports are expected to grow to 66.1 million tons in 2025, while usage is expected to reach 108.92 million tons, or 2 billion square meters.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1956-1964
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• 2009

Understanding ethical fashion consumers in Korea is essential for the expansion of the ethical fashion market. This study analyzed ethical consumers in Korea in an examination of the factors that influence ethical purchase behavior and attitudes. The differences between ethical fashion consumers and non-ethical fashion consumers were investigated using eight variables (perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE), self-direction, benevolence, universalism, social responsibility, perceived behavioral control, face saving, and group conformity). Data were collected by means of a questionnaire through both on-line and off-line surveys from April 20 to June 7, 2009. Only the respondents knowledgeable of ethical products or ethical consumption were asked to complete the questionnaire. A total of 494 samples were used for analyses. Using independent samples t-test, the differences in each variable between two groups were examined. There were significant differences between ethical fashion consumers and non-ethical fashion consumers in attitudes toward ethical consumption behavior, behavioral intention, PCE, self-direction, universalism, social responsibility, and face saving variables. The factors influencing attitude and behavior intention were investigated by step-wise regression analyses. For ethical fashion consumers, the attitudes to ethical consumption behavior were largely influenced by PCE and benevolence. Social responsibility was the most predictable variable in guiding behavioral intention. Behavioral intention was also influenced by benevolence and attitude. Group conformity was found to be negatively correlated with behavioral intention. The findings of this study provide significant guidance for marketers of ethical fashion products. This study is the start of ethical fashion consumer research in Korea and can develop into variable subfields in the future.