• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.330-347
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• 2023

Purpose: This study identified words closely associated with the keyword "dietary supplement" (DS) using big data in Korean social media and investigated consumer perceptions and trends related to DSs before (2019) and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (2021). Methods: A total of 37,313 keywords were found for the 2019 period, and 35,336 keywords were found for the 2021 period using blogs and cafes on Daum and Naver. Results were derived by text mining, semantic networking, network visualization analysis, and sentiment analysis. Results: The DS-related keywords that frequently appeared before and after COVID-19 were "recommend", "vitamin", "health", "children", "multiple", and "lactobacillus". "Calcium", "lutein", "skin", and "immunity" also had high frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) values. These keywords imply a keen interest in DSs among Korean consumers. Big data results also reflected social phenomena related to DSs; for example, "baby" and "pregnant woman" had lower TD-IDF values after the pandemic, suggesting lower marriage and birth rates but higher values for "joint", indicating reduced physical activity. A network centered on vitamins and health care was produced by semantic network analysis in 2019. In 2021, values were highest for deficiency and need, indicating that individuals were searching for DSs after the COVID-19 pandemic due to a lack an awareness of the need for adequate nutrient intake. Before the pandemic, DSs and vitamins were associated with healthcare and life cycle-related topics, such as pregnancy, but after the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer interests changed to disease prevention and treatment. Conclusion: This study provides meaningful clues regarding consumer perceptions and trends related to DSs before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and fundamental data on the effect of the pandemic on consumer interest in dietary supplements.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.287-299
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• 2024

Xiaohongshu, a community-centric social media platform, has pioneered a unique e-commerce model known as 'buyer commerce,' leveraging user-generated content (UGC). Distinctively, Xiaohongshu Live Commerce focuses on fostering deep user relationships and providing superior product and information services, crucial for sustained consumer engagement. This study investigates consumer behavior in purchasing health functional foods via Xiaohongshu Live Commerce, aiming to understand the determinants of continuous usage intention. A novel theoretical framework was devised by integrating the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) and the Task-Technology Fit (TTF) model. The research model scrutinizes the impact of Xiaohongshu Live Commerce characteristics, such as perceived usefulness and perceived online intimacy, on task-technology fit. Additionally, it examines the moderating role of perceived risk specific to health functional foods and the influence of expectation confirmation on perceived usefulness, online intimacy, and task-technology fit, alongside their effects on satisfaction and continuous usage intention. The findings reveal that expectation confirmation positively influences perceived usefulness, online intimacy, and task-technology fit. Perceived usefulness significantly enhances task-technology fit, while perceived online intimacy and risk do not significantly affect task-technology fit. Moreover, perceived usefulness and intimacy positively impact consumer satisfaction and continuous usage intention, with task-technology fit playing a pivotal role. Perceived risk moderates the relationship between perceived usefulness and task-technology fit. These insights suggest that companies can augment consumer satisfaction and continuous usage intentions by enhancing the perceived usefulness of technology, effectively managing perceived risks, and continually improving user experience

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2018

This study proposed a registered dentist model for the disabled based on consumer in-depth interview and supplier survey. This study proposed that dental clinics in the community take role as registered dentists for the disabled. Qualification screening and facility prerequisites are required to be selected as the registered dentists for the disabled and patients of the registered dentists were restricted to the disabled who can cooperate to dental treatment services with or without the aid of physical bondage. In order to encourage the participation in the program, subsidies for the registered dentists were necessary. Also, this study proposed financial supports for the medical expenses for patients at the same level as the current dental care center for the disabled. The registered dentist program for the disabled meets the needs of disabled consumers, such as accessibility of medical institutions, expertise of medical staff, and ongoing treatments with familiar medical staff. The registered dentist program for the disabled is expected to provide prevention and ongoing management for oral health promotion of disabled people and it also contribute to lower economic burden of oral health care of the disabled.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2010

Ramyen and Korean noodles (guksu) are popular foods in Korea and around the world. Since 1998, rice consumption in Korea has gradually decreased, whereas consumption of noodles has continuously increased. The purpose of this study is to assess the consumption of ramyen and Korean noodles of Koreans, using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) of 2007. Korean adults (>20) were selected to examine the associations between noodle consumption and food and nutrient intake and health status. SAS 9.1 and SUDAAN 9.1 were used for the data analysis. 10.3% of Korean adults consumed ramyen, and 15.4% consumed Korean noodles. The consumption of ramyen and Korean noodles were higher in men than in women, in lunch than in other meals, and in the lowest income quartile than the highest quartile. Ramyen and Korean noodle consumer groups consumed more grain products, seasonings, and oils than the nonconsumer group. The noodle group showed significantly lower systolic blood pressure than the non-consumer group. The noodle groups showed lower rates of hypertension and metabolic syndrome than the non-consumer group. From these results, we conclude that ramyen and Korean noodles may have positive health effects. More studies on the association between noodles and the health of Koreans and those in other countries should be done in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.305-311
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• 2023

Background: The National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER)'s classification of and airborne fraction ratio for consumer chemical products (CCP) does not reflect the characteristics of various product classifications. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to reclassify the types of spray products according to the diverse spray characteristics of CCPs to evaluate the airborne fraction ratio of representative spray types and to compare them with previous CCPs types and airborne fraction ratios. Methods: One thousand seven hundred two products were selected through market research, and 932 newly reported products were selected. After that, 200 were selected to evaluate products with potential inhalation exposure. After classifying six product types that are expected to show differences in the airborne fraction ratio according to the type of product, a final 38 products were selected for use in the airborne fraction ratio through random sampling. Results: CCP has been reclassified from two to six types so that the characteristics of all products are well-reflected. The NIER simply had two airborne fraction ratios, but the results of experiments with six types of products showed a significant difference in values (p<0.01). Airborne fraction ratios of propellant general foam, pump general aerosol, and pump trigger foam in spray type, which were not previously present in NIER, were 7.1%, 24.4%, and 3.5%, respectively. Conclusions: For the diversified types of CCPs, the newly proposed classification was more appropriate than the existing NIER classification. The airborne fraction ratio was also different for each type, so a new value was suggested.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.49-67
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• 1999

This paper focussed to find out the consumer appraisement and purchase consciousness on organically grown products since public pay more and more attention on organic food and market for organic products has been grown very rapidly. It is intended to deliver the necessary information at first time in Korea to the policy maker for environmentally sound agriculture, establishment for marketing strategy and consumer movement related with it. 66.2% of investigated consumer ever purchased the organic products, and they are inhabitant in apartment complex, belongs to high income group and eldly people, and used to buy frequently at 45.8%. For the reason why they choose the organic products ; 84.7% for health and safe, 48.6% for taste. But the reason why they not choose the organic products ; 56.7% for unconvenient to shop an organic food, 51.4% for expensiveness. On the purchasing the consumer mainly rely upon the certification label(67%), the marketing place(29.6%) and information and recommendation of shopkeeper(23.6%). Korean consumers intend to buy an organic products if variable products and crops are offered in the market and offered at reduced price. The group purchased intensively the organic goods appraise for an organic products positively, and group who do not express any careless intend never to purchase an organically grown products because of its high price. Consumer indicated the support policy and action program by government(69.2%), research & development on organic agriculture and its extension activity(48.8%) are necessary to stimulate an organic agriculture in Korea.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.23-41
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• 2006

The present paper aims to examine the Influences of on line word of mouth(WOM) information valence and information contents to the information searcher. Specially, to examine the interaction effect it's two variables. For that purpose, we categorize WOM information valence into two subcategories; positive and negative, and WOM content into two subcategories; objective evaluation and subjective evaluation. We conducted experimentation design 2*2 and subjects are asked to their attitude and purchase intention after they are exposed each of four different types of WOM information. The result can be summarized as follow; First, the negative WOM has stronger effect on consumer's attitude and purchase intention than positive. Second, factual WOM has stronger effect on consumer's attitude and purchase intention than subject. Finally, when consumer face negative WOM, subjective WOM has more effect on consumer's attitude and purchase intention than factual. On the contrary, when consumer face positive WOM, factual WOM has more effect on consumer's attitude and purchase intention than subject. In conclusion, the korean Foreign Trade Act and other relative acts should be revised, and both educational services and health services should be contained within the definition of "the international trade" for the governmental benefits of supporting the services exportation.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.111-127
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• 2022

This study examined how chicken breed affects consumer behavior. The breeds evaluated were a Korean native chicken (KNC) and a commercial broiler (CB). Consumer behavior was measured by evaluating sensory attributes (taste, odor, and texture) and purchase behaviors [satisfaction, purchase intention, and willingness to pay (WTP)]. The sensory evaluation was conducted using healthy Korean consumers (n=100). The chicken was cooked in baeksuk (Korean traditional chicken soup), which is a seasonal summer health food in Korea. The participants evaluated sensory attributes and purchase behaviors between blinded samples of baeksuk (CB) and unblinded samples of baeksuk (KNC). The sensory evaluation involved chicken breasts and legs. The participants considered KNC as having a more umami taste, a chewier and juicer texture, and a less metallic odor than CB. Moreover, when participants were given KNC breed information, they expressed higher satisfaction, purchase intention, and WTP. The results of this study contribute to consumer behavior literature by revealing the effects of breed information on consumer sensory perceptions and purchase behaviors. Furthermore, the findings provide evidence that branding KNC is one way to increase its demand and low market share while contributing to sustainable consumption.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.172-180
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the consumer characteristics in foodservice according to university students' lifestyles. The data were collected by the questionnaire survey of 520 university students from Daegu Gyeongbuk Province. The SPSS/Win 12.0 program was used to analyse the samples. The results are as follows: 1) Lifestyle was divided into 10 factors and 3 clusters, namely "Convenience Intention" (cluster I), "Health Information Intention" (cluster II), and "Gender Equality Intention" (cluster III). 2) The differences in general characteristics between the three clusters were founded on gender, frequency of visits, companion, information type, and the type of restaurant. 3) The characteristics of cluster I (Convenience Intention) are explained by it consisting of the group with low averages in consumer dissatisfaction, complaints, compensation, and repurchase intention, where as cluster II was the high average group and cluster III the middle average group. Based on these results, consumer characteristics in foodservice are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 2011

This study analyzed consumer attitude, habit strength, subjective norm, a pros evaluation, and intention to consume to estimate perceptible variables that affect apple consumption. Data were collected from 207 men and women through a selfadministrated questionnaire. A partial least squares regression was conducted as one of structural equation models to estimate and test hypotheses. The results showed that attitude, habit strength, and the pros evaluation affected the intention to consume apples, and that the intention increased apple consumption. The results also showed that some marketing strategies are needed to promote apple consumption and to make consumers change their intention, to develop habits for eating apples by changing their diets, and to impress upon them that apples are good for health. This can be interpreted as meaning that it is most important to understand consumer behavior, particularly consumer psychology, which is reflected in the recent trend of marketing that concentrates on meeting the consumer's needs rather than the producer's.