• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.15-30
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• 2008

According to the research taken by the National Statistical Office, the fertility rate of a Korean fertile female is 1.17. This figure is the lowest in the world, and the reduction in the fertility rate over the last 30 years was the biggest in the world. It can be seen as a warning alarm about the effects of a low birth rate and a silver society. Assuming that there are several factors involved in this phenomenon, this study inquired into the attitude towards children, attitude towards nourishing children, attitude towards sex roles and the harmony between the jobs and families of married females, and examined the factors that influence the willingness to give birth. Final 581 copies of the survey questionnaire were used for analysis and the collected data were analysed by SPSS, Pearson's correlation analysis, t-test, ANOVA, and Duncan's Multiple Range Test. Three main conclusions were reached: Firstly, the value variables, such as sex-role attitudes and the preference for work or home, affect the willingness to give birth. Therefore, it can be said that one's values have a significant effect on these variables and the willingness to give birth. Secondly, both working morns and housewives have a strong tendency to give a birth if they are supported on child rearing. Finally, the employment of the married women itself can be a variable that can affect childbirth. In other words, the working hours affect employed married women so as sex-role attitudes, the preference between work and home, ideal number of children, and the income to housewives. Also, even in whole married women, the employment itself can be a major factor of the willingness to have a baby. Therefore, unemployed married women have more of a tendency to have children than employed married women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.334-347
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• 2013

This study obtains information required for a comprehensive understanding of the brand-switching behavior by cosmetics consumers and for the establishment of effective strategies to make customers more loyal to the company. The study examines the relationships between customer shopping orientation and brand switching motives with respect to cosmeceuticals. A descriptive survey method using a self-administered questionnaire was employed. The sample consisted of 1,258 females between the ages of 20's and 30's residing in Seoul and the Gyeonggi area who use whitening products, sunscreen, or other anti-aging cosmetics. The results showed that shopping orientation influenced brand-switching motives in regards to purchasing cosmeceuticals. The orientation of depending on information and seeking fashion trend were the major factors to induce brand-switching behavior in purchasing whitening products, sunscreen, and anti-aging treatments. However, there were differences in the type of factors of shopping orientation and in their intensity of affecting brand-switching motives depending on the specific cosmeceuticals. In particular, in the case of sunscreen, as compared to other products, the customer shopping orientation should be considered from more diverse perspectives in order to formulate effective marketing strategies related to brand switching. In light of these results, customer shopping orientation with respect to cosmeceuticals is a variable that influences the cause brand switching. Therefore, differentiated marketing strategies that reflect the different characteristics of shopping orientation according to each item of cosmeceuticals are recommended to improve the satisfaction level of the companies' target market. Current consumer needs for practical benefits and for new products should be simultaneously reflected in the plans for new product development of each type of cosmeceutical.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.1555-1564
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• 2010

This study investigated consumer's recognition of food labeling in order to contribute to the development of food labels which are more informative to consumers. The questionnaires had been collected from 120 male and female customers living in Seoul with the age between 10's and 60's from November 2nd to November 7th 2009. For checking the food label at the time of purchase, 58.3% of the consumers checked the food label and the main reason for checking the food label was to confirm sell-by date (60.1%). Sixty percent of the consumers were satisfied with the current food labeling. Among those who are not satisfied, 30.6% complained about difficult terms to understand and 25.8% were dissatisfied with insufficient information. In every age group, most people were not satisfied with labeling on food ingredient and additives, followed by date of manufacture and sell-by date. 53.1% of consumers demanded to label date of manufacture and sell-by date together. For more clear information, consumers wanted use-by date (47.5%) rather than sell-by date (23.3%). 56.7% of consumers was dissatisfied with warning information such as allergic warning and the reasons for dissatisfaction were poor visibility (37.5%) and insufficient information (33.4%). Moreover most consumers (90.0%) showed little knowledge on irradiation. To improve of the food labeling standards into consumer-oriented standards, both amendment of the food labeling standards and consumer education will be necessary.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.53-68
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• 2010

This study tried to develop the theoretical backgrounds, explaining consumers energy consumption behavior and analyzed its effects. In other words, this study investigated the factors influencing the amount of electronic energy consumption. In this study, we used 678 questionnaires which were selected a quota sampling by living area who were above 20 years old and married. Summary of results of this study follows. First, attitude for energy saving was positively related with female, high school graduated large size of family members, elderly, and middle-class consumers. In addition, consumers' search for energy saving were appeared passively in young consumers under 30 years old, and the family with the highest household income. Consumers' purchasing energy-efficient products was presented in large size of family members, and young consumers. Second, consumers' environmental oriented behavior, action-directed behavior, healthseeking behavior were significantly related with energy saving behavior, and active information search for energy saving, but not with purchasing energy-efficient products and consuming behavior of electrical energy. Third, the quantity of electric energy consumption was affected by the size of family members, the living size of house related with high energy demand, the attitude for energy saving, and searching information for energy-saving.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.51-62
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• 2011

Financial consumers can invest their financial assets directly or indirectly. This investment type have effect on their financial well-being and may be influenced by their financial characteristics and investment attitude. The purposes of the study were to classify the consumers by direct and indirect investment behavior of their financial assets and to investigate their socio-economic characteristics and investment attitudes to give implications for financial counseling and education. The data came from the 2009 Fund Investors Survey which was conducted by Korea Investors Protection Foundation. Total 2,530 consumers were analyzed using frequency, CROSSTAB, ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. In general, consumer tended to be rational in choosing the investment type. Noninvestors consisted of 38.5% of the sample. The economic level was the lowest for the noninvestors. The consumers who invest both indirectly and directly consisted of 21.0% and their economic level was the highest. Their investment tendency was between direct and indirect investors'. The proportion of direct investors ws 12.1% and that of indirect investors was 28.4%. Although the economic levels of indirect investors and direct investors were not statistically different, there were differences in their demographics and investment attitudes. The proportions of those aged 30-39, female and nonmarried were greater for indirect investors. They had the tendency to invest safely and diversely for a long term with reserve money. On the other hand, direct investors tended to be male, married and aged 40-49. They tended to invest intensively for a shorter term and seek returns even with borrowing money.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.15-30
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• 2009

This study explored the level and general propensity of consumption-oriented attitude and impulsive buying behavior of high school students, and clarified factors affecting impulsive buying. The research results can be summarized as follows. 1. The degree of consumption-oriented attitude and impulsive buying behavior of high school students were relatively low. 2. Consumption-oriented attitude was found to have significant differences among students based on monthly allowance, self-esteem, influence of friends, influence of mass media and influence of consumer education at school. Moreover, impulsive buying behavior was found to have significant differences according to sex, level of parents's education, fathers job, monthly household income, monthly allowance, influence of home, influence of friends and influence of mass media. 3. The impulsive buying differed significantly according to consumption-oriented attitude. That is, the group showing a higher degree of consumption-oriented attitude also indicated higher impulsive buying. 4. The variables affecting the level of impulsive buying behavior were the level of consumption-oriented attitude, influence of mass media, influence of friends and sex. In other words, consumption-oriented attitude, influence of mass media and influence of friends had a positive affect, and female students were more apt to impulsive buying than male students.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1927-1938
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• 2008

Companies can build a close relationship by providing benefits that consumers want. As long relationships between consumer and company are stressed these days, it is very important for the growth and development of companies to assess what benefits consumers perceive and how they reflect them to their buying behaviors. Thus, this study aims to examine the relational benefits that consumers perceive in internet clothing purchase and how these perceived relational benefits affects relational commitment and customer loyalty. This study surveyed 343 male and female in their 20s and 30s for empirical analysis who have ever purchased clothing through internet shopping malls. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, ANOVA analysis, Duncan test, and ${\chi}^2$-test are carried out using SPSS for Windows 12.0 for statistical analysis. The results are as follows. First, the dimensions of relational benefits perceived by consumers in internet clothing purchase are found 6 including customization, economic, psychological, social, shopping convenience, and informational. Second, consumers' perception of relational benefits significantly affect on relational commitment and loyalty, thus consumers with greater recognition of relational benefits have higher relational commitment and loyalty. Third, based on the dimensions of consumer's perceived relational benefit, consumers are categorized into 6 types: group perceiving social benefit, group perceiving economic/shopping convenience benefit, group perceiving shopping convenience benefit, group perceiving customization benefit, group perceiving informational benefit, and group perceiving psychological benefit. The group perceiving customization benefits have higher relational commitment and loyalty than the others. It is expected that this study will help internet companies establish customer relationship management strategies, which are needed to promote relationships with customers and to enhance customers' loyalty to internet shopping malls.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.251-265
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• 2014

China is the biggest market for the Korean fashion industry. However, China is still difficult in regards to market entry and market success in China despite the geographical proximity. This study investigated the image of Korea and its impact on brand identity, brand attitude and intention to purchase with a focus on Chinese consumers in order to identify the variables of a country's image that affect a consumer's intention to purchase. The results of this survey targeted 214 Chinese consumers who were used for the final analysis. The survey subjects were female consumers in their 20s and 30s, living in metropolitan cities in China. Exploratory factor, reliability and frequency analyses were conducted using SPSS 19.0; in addition, confirmatory factor and path analyses were administered with AMOS 18.0. We identified two general images of Korea (economy and culture), two images of Korean (stylish and friendly) and three Korean fashion-product related images (quality, design and prestige). The results of the structural equation model were as follows. 1) Economy factor exerted significant effect on quality and prestige. 2) Stylish factor exerted a significant effect on all of the Korean fashion product images (quality, design and prestige). Friendly factor exerted positive impact on prestige. 3) All of the Korean fashion product images significantly influenced brand identity. 4) Brand identity exerted a significant effect on brand attitude. Lastly, brand attitude significantly affected intention to purchase.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.41-52
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to examine how female labor force participation, family policies, and gender equality are related to fertility rate across countries. Multiple measures has been collected from various data sources(such as OECD, UNDP, and WVS) and the panel data set which includes (mostly) OECD countries range from 1990 to 2019 are analyzed. The major findings are as follows. First, based on OECD countries samples, female labor force participation is positively associated with the fertility rate, which implies that women's labor force participation does not lead to a reduction in fertility rate. Second, the length of paternity leave is positively associated with fertility rate whereas the direction is the opposite for the relationship between the length of maternity leave and fertility rate. This is attributed to the possibility that a longer period of maternity leave incurs the a higher opportunity cost of earning income, which leads to a reduced fertility rate. Third, countries with higher gender inequality index tend to have a higher fertility rate. Similarly, countries with higher gender equality value have a lower fertility rate. When the gender equality value is devideed into three sub-categories, education, politics, and employment, the gender equality value in education is the only sub-category which is negatively associated with the fertility rate. This study confirms that female labor force participation may not be a contributing factor in the lowering of fertility rate but instead can be positively associated with the fertility rate. Also, the results show that family policies or gender equality values can be significantly affect fertility rate.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 2023

This study analyzed the purchase status of athleisure wear and consumers' dissatisfaction with online shopping post-COVID-19. The target population comprised female consumers in their 20s to 50s who are interested in exercise and fashion. The study investigated differences according to age. It was found that athleisure wear was purchased once every two to three months and used as sportswear and/or daily wear. Purchase information was obtained via the Internet, and purchases were made online. Design, price, wear sensation, and textiles were the most important selection criteria, and T-shirts and leggings were the most frequently purchased garments. Additionally, textile characteristics such as moisture-absorbing and quick-drying as well as elasticity were evaluated as important. Online shopping of athleisure wear has increased since COVID-19 due to the time savings, low price, opportunity to compare several products, and delivery convenience. However, consumers were dissatisfied due to the differences between the screen image and the actual product, the inconvenience of returns, exchanges, and refunds, the lack of product information, product quality, and delivery. Furthermore, it was found that pursuing value of athleisure wear differed according to age. Consumers in their 20s and 30s required athleisure wear with the characteristics of sportswear and daily or urban wear and those in their 40s and 50s required garments with good performance as sportswear. Based on consumer feedback, it is necessary for manufacturers to provide product information that can improve product reliability.