• Journal of International Area Studies (JIAS)
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.129-153
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• 2010

The guiding research question of this paper is to discover 'why the UK could not develop a general structure in which transnational corporations were born during the end of the 19th ~ beginning of the 20th century like other countries'. In response to this question, although acknowledging its imperfections, the author would like to explore the causality in the context of 'Social Construction' which is reflected in the attributes of British society. As such, researchers are strongly recommended to take into account the actors' interests and the increased value effect of events which is driven by control power. This paper concludes that: firstly, not only was contempt for industrial capitalism prevalent in British society, the British government was unable to recognize the necessity of promoting policies for the development of transnational corporation. In addition, the increase in the clout of commercial-financial capitalists in the city of London along with the expansion of gentlemanly elites interfered with the transnationality of British companies. Secondly, the foundation of the political and economic structures in the UK experienced continuity and challenge simultaneously. Since the 1850's, the British social structure has been progressively characterized by the strengthening power of the commercial-financial elites in London, which resulted not in the transnationality of manufacturing but that of financial services. Finally, the configuration of the social network driven by the British elites consists of the actors' interests and control power in association with severance and connection. Unlike the complementarity of interests, in the initial stage, intended connection based on voluntary motivation between gentries and commercial-financial elites occurred in terms of control power. However, ultimately, the holding of power was transferred to the commercial-financial elites excluding the industrial capitalists and resulted in the reconfiguration of the social network.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.2
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• pp.27-38
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• 2020

Gaesung was the Mecca of Korean ginseng. Factors that Gaesung has been a leading brand of Korean ginseng were multiplicative. Those were natural conditions and huge commercial capital, red ginseng factory, creative business systems and etc. We can quote BongSang Son, SungHak Kong and JeongHo Kim as a famous Gaesung' ginseng merchants. They, as leaders modern ginseng industry had supplied the method of cultivation, prevention of phyto-diseases, excellent ginseng seed, and prepayment system of farming capital. The Gaesung merchants also adopted modern marketing techniques : commercial advertisement, made-order sales, changing package of the ginseng products. The book 'The Dictionary of Korean Companies and Stores' which was published in 1927 introduces BongSang Son as a great businessman in Gaesung. He was not only merchants but also educator and social worker. He practiced the spirit of entrepreneurship. BongSang Son's role of pioneer contributed to the development of Korean ginseng and Gaesung. Due to such efforts of Gaesung merchants, Korean ginseng industry were took a great step forward. This article considered the development of Korean ginseng industry through the life and achievement of the ginseng magnate BongSang Son who was a representative one of Gaesung merchants.