• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.247-258
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• 2001

This study focused on the recognition and information need for GMO(Genetically Modified Organism). The data were collected from 350 adults living in Daegu and Busan by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Frequencies and chi-square tests were conducted by SPSS Windows. The results of the survey were as follows: (1) the concerns about GMO were high but recognition was low. (2) many respondents were worried about the safety of GMO. (3) many people desired the labelling of GMO, and (4) the need for information about GMO was high and most respondents wanted to be informed about safety of GMO. This study suggests that the consumer education about GMO should be conducted through mass media and consumer protection organizations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1401-1407
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• 2003

A survey of consumers' awareness and attitudes about genetically modified food and korean labelling regulation entered into force in July, 2001 was conducted from October, 2001 to January 2002. The questionnaires were distributed to 519 consumers who are members of panel survey system of Korea Consumer Protection Board and lived in 7 largest cities of Korea. The consumers were asked about knowledge, concerns of potential hazards, intention of purchasing, and present labelling regulation. More than 85.7% of the respondents had some knowledge on genetically modified (GM) foods. More than 44.9% of consumers relied on the information from the civil activity group but only 9.6% of consumers from the government. The greatest benefit of GM food was thought to be a solution for the food shortage in the future. While, regarding a potential hazard, more than 71.6% of respondents worried about the safety of GM foods. First of all, 52.2% of korean consumer concerned about food toxicity or side effect. 53.2% of consumers responded that they would not purchase GM labelled foods and about 28.0% of respondents suspended judgement on willingness to purchase until they would get more information. Regarding complement field of present GMO labelling regulation, over 45.2% of consumers responded that labelling was needed to be more easily found. Also more than 95.1% of consumers hope to expand a list of mandatory labelling articles.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.166-169
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• 2002

유전자재조합(GM)식품에 대해 듣거나 읽어서 알고 있는 사람이 67%정도 되었고,GM식품을 자발적으로 먹겠다는 사람은 18%를 약간 상회하였고 기다려보고 결정하겠다는 사람들이 약 50%정도였다. 농약 등의 화학물질 오염이나 취급부주의 및 기업인의 윤리의식에 대한 불신에 비해 GM식품에 대한 우려는 매우 적게 나타났으나 GM방법에 의해 개발한 제초제 내성 콩을 먹겠다는 사람은 적은 데 비해 같은 방법으로 개발한 비타민이 많은 콩을 먹겠다는 사람은 많은 것으로 보아 소비자들은 GMO이기 때문에 제초제 내성 콩을 거부하는 것이 아니라, 제초제 내성 콩에 대한 내용의 이해부족으로 인한 거부감을, 그리고 비타민 콩은 비타민이 인체에 중요한 영양소라는 것 때문에 호감을 가지는 것으로 해석되었다. 전체적으로 소비자들이 GMO에 관한 정보를 많이 접하기는 하지만 보통 식품에도 유전자가 있다는 사실을 아는 소비자들이 조사 대상자의 40%정도인 것으로 보아 노출된 만큼 내용을 잘 알지 못하는 것으로 나타났다. GM식품에 대하여는 90%이상이 표시하기를 바라고 있는 것과 같이 2001년 7월부터 가공식품에 GM원료 함유여부 표시제도가 시행되고 있는 데, 이 제도의 시행 사실을 알고 있는 소비자는 22%에 지나지 않았다. 효과적인 표시제도의 시행을 위해서는 일반시민이 제도의 시행에 대해 잘 숙지하고 있어야 할 것이다.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.397-407
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• 1999

A survey was conducted to investigate the attitudes of the food specialist to the food developed by gene recombination. The mail survey was distributed to 1,400 food specialists and received 464, a response rate of 33.1%. Respondents were asked about knowledge, concerns of potential hazards, purchasing and labeling of the gene recombination foods. Most respondents (98.7%) have some knowledge on the gene recombination foods. 91.3% of respondents recognized necessity of gene recombination technology. However, they also point out its potential hazards (80.9%). The groups with less knowledge showed their increased worry on the hazard in comparison with ones of having more knowledge(p<0.01). The result indicated that there was negative relationship between knowledge and worry on the gene recombination foods. The groups with more knowledge showed their increased purchasing on gene recombination foods in comparison with ones of having less knowledge(p<0.01). The result indicated that there was positive relation-ship between their purchase intent for gene recombination foods and knowledge. 68.4% of respondents showed their interest on purchasing the gene recombination foods. In this group, most of them (44.9%) has on condition that low cost (27.0%). In addition, they also have not use the foods for their children (17.9%) if they buy it. Most respondents (85.3%) want labeling on the gene recombination foods.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.66-75
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• 2001

A survey was conducted to investigate consumers'attitudes toward the foods developed by gene recombination techniques from December, 1999 to April, 2000. The questionnaires were mailed to 1,500 people, and the 1,101 people responded. The consumers were asked about knowledge, acceptance, intention of purchasing, and labeling information. Although the portion of the consumers (88.8%) knowing the genetically modified floods (GMF) was lower than that of the flood expert group (98.7%), many consumers had some knowledge on the GMF, which may be influenced by news released from mass media. Seventy-nine percent of the consumers responded that gene recombination technology is necessary in food production, which is similar to the findings on the survey of the expert group. The portion of the consumers responding that these foods are potentially hazard was 88.1%, which is a little higher than the data (80.9%) from the expert group. The consumers having greater knowledge less worried about a potential hazard of the gene recombinant foods (p<0.01). Although 62.9% of the consumers responded to be willing to purchase those foods, only 16.2% of them responded to purchase the foods with no conditions, which is lower to that from the expert group (23.5%). There was no statistically significant relationship between the knowledge and the intention of purchasing. The ninety point three percent of the consumers wanted the information on gene recombination to be labeled on the foods. The data from this survey suggest that knowledge of the consumers on the GMF are not accurate, so proper strategy for consumer education may need to be developed. In addition, it is necessary to improve safety assessment system and analytical techniques for genetically modified foods (GMF) and to build pre- and post-market surveillance system fur efficient implementation of the GMF labeling.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.89-102
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• 2002

Genetically modified foods may be defined as the foods deemed as safe by current technology among the many kinds of agricultural and stockbreeding products that are now under research and development using contemporary gene-modification techniques. This study examines hotly debated arguments, both for and against genetically modified- foods, in various countries. This study also investigates consumers'rights and responsibilities. Countries that are developing and exporting genetically modified organisms(GMO) have maintained that GMO can help produce more crops while reducing labor and other production-related costs, and that the genetically modified foods signify ″the second green revolution,″ which will solve future food and environmental problems by strengthening specific nutritive substances and extending shelf-life. But consumer groups, environmental organizations. and food-importing countries are more cautious about importing and consuming those foods because the potential dangers of GMO to human bodies and the environment have not been tested thoroughly yet. South Korea, following suit with others such as EU, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, introduced a law on 'Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods', which went in effect in March, 2001, on the basis of customers'rights to make informed choices. The law takes the ″precautionary principle″ into consideration, rather than stopping at insuring ″substantial equivalence″ in developing and consuming GM foods. The actual impact of the law will depend on the level of citizens'Participation more than on the government's willingness to carry out the law. So far the level of Korean consumers'consciousness about genetically modified foods is very low. Therefore, it is hard to expect consumers to exercise their ″rights not to buy″ foods that are potentially unsafe. The Korean government must devise an effective plan to inform and educate the people about the labeling of genetically modified foods.