• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.219-237
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• 1998

Economists have identified informed consumer choice as one element of a better-functioning health care market, and thus increased attention is directed to the role of information in the health care system. In this country, however, little work has been done for understanding consumers' search behavior in health care market. Based upon this observation, expectant mothers' information search for the choice of delivery care institution was investigated. In doing so, two hypotheses were proposed: 1) Those women who were more active in the search for information would make choice of a delivery care institution with more confidence and would feel greater subsequent satisfaction. 2) The activeness of expectant mothers in information search would depend upon their various personal characteristics, such as socio-economic status, obstetric conditions, and knowledge and attitudes in relation to delivery and health care. The data used for the analysis were collected through face-to-face interviews with those women who had childbirth during the period from January 1, 1996 to the date of interview in February 1998. The survey was conducted using prepared structured questionnaire in Seoul. The sample was drawn from each of arbitrarily defined four regions of Seoul, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest, in proportion to the number of births reported in 1996 in each of them. The distribution of the interviewed women by educational level was made similar to that of mothers of new babies reported in 1996. The sample size was planned to be about 300, but ended up with 319. The results of analysis were generally consistent with the proposed hypotheses. Apparently, information increased expectant mothers' confidence in selecting a delivery care institution and subsequent satisfaction with the institution. Indication is that policy efforts should be strengthened to produce and disseminate relevant, comprehensible and credible information that can aid patient decision making. Also, attention should be directed to motivate patients to actively engage in information search from adequate sources.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.279-298
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to develop home economics educational programs on the theme of 'improving consumer life' for sustainable development. It is a program to enhance the changemaker mindset for responsible production and consumption among the 17 goals of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). The program was developed 8 that to make solar cookers, make household goods from recycled materials, change maker-practice green life, eco-friendly journal 1, plastic warnings, design alternatives for disposable products, change maker-efforts and eco-friendly journal 2. The developed program was validated 3 times by a group of experts and students. This program has the following features. First, the Home Economics Education(HEE) program under the theme of 'Improving consumer life' for sustainable development are carried out at the stage of change-maker education with project-based process. It can improve students' collaboration skills, self-directed skills, communication skills and problem solving skills. Second, eight programs can increase understanding and interest in sustainable development, and learners are interested in social issues. This program can raise learners who play an active role in solving social problems by increasing their interest and interest in the class, free from the form of passive classes. Third, the HEE programs under the theme of 'Improving consumer life' for sustainable development are meaningful in that they are closely related to students' lives and encourage them to practice in their own lives. Fourth, since the program is well-suited to the present time and includes content elements for sustainable development, it can induce changes in learners' perceptions, attitudes and behaviors.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1-20
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• 2012

This study aims to define the influences of an individual's talent types and body consciousness factors on high((intense)-level appearance management behavior in 367 adults(female 172 and male 195). The present study is the first to consider both human talent type and the body consciousness on the high level-appearance management behavior correlates to appearance management behaviour. According to the result of the analysis, plastic surgery on body forms or faces are done by few people. However, straightening teeth, ear piercing, removal of spots or imperfections, and eyebrow tattoos are conducted by many consumers without much resistance. It is rather widely accepted, despite the fact that it can cause pain, discomfort, and side-effects. Furthermore, although excessive acts such as muscle training, dieting, weight managing, and oriental treatments can lead to side-effects, the standardized efficient beta value turned out to be high for these treatments. Thus, this study suggests that both the interpersonal talent among 8 talent factors and 2 body consciousness factors contributes to the reinforcement of the self-identity through high level-appearance management behaviors, but except risky plastic surgery. Therefore, this study supports the previous researches that body consciousness composed of self-source, which is desires and efforts to achieve the ideal body, and external-source, which is the internalization of other people's feedbacks.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.101-116
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• 2022

This study aims to apply the problem-based learning method to a college course on 'Consumer Studies' in a teacher education program. The participants of this study were 27 undergraduate students who were enrolled in the course. The PBL class was implemented for seven weeks using two problems: proposing special lectures on economic concepts and financial consulting. The effectiveness of PBL was analyzed through self-reflective journals, self-assessment, and a learning satisfaction survey of students. The result of this study was as follows. Students achieved the learning objectives and strengthened their collaboration and communication skills with team members during the PBL process. Moreover, students improved their self-directed learning and problem-solving ability through the PBL class. The results of self-assessment, in terms of learning task performance, active interaction, and self-directed learning were generally high at 4.63 points. In addition, the overall learning satisfaction level was very high, with a score of 4.75. The results will provide effective information on PBL classes to instructors and prospective teachers and will be used as data for learner-centered PBL classes.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2012

Children have become the target of intense and specialized food advertising efforts. This study examines the content of TV food advertising and discussed possible concerns from the perspective of children. A total of 102 ads were collected from two cable networks aimed at children. Most of the food ads used emotional appeals and did not provide information clues such as nutrition values. Ads with high sales pressure and celebrity endorsements appeared frequently and the ads for snack foods and high-carbohydrate bakery products were dominant. Understanding food ads can be a significant indicator to establish the orientation of consumer ad education and build educational programs appropriate for children. The issue that appears conspicuous in child targeted advertising and marketing is the childhood obesity and food advertising relation; subsequently, there is a need to evolve advertising that targets children into a positive educational information source.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.140-147
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• 1999

Currently, the consumer pattern is directed to small quantity and high variety these days. World market is led by technological innovations and changes rapidly. To survive in this environment, the raising of small and medium enterprises is highly desirable. In the context of nationwide restructuring, competitive medium and small industries which are in good financial status should lead the nation's economy. But general ignorance of the safety issues could lead to a miss management of this industry in this field. In this study, actual condition and improvement of safety management are as follows; We have to 1) find out the factors which endangers this industry, and set a proper guideline for safety management. 2) encourage safety management of these industries by themselves, and advertise and provide technical support for using PC and internet. 3) set a higher standard of safety issue when accrediting a prospective medium and small industry, and have a firm control of this issue once accredited. 4) supply more governmental financial aids to terms of safety issues for medium and small industries.

• Proceedings of the Korean Operations and Management Science Society Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.189-206
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• 2005

Much of work on network externality assumed network effects are dependent on the network size. Therefore, very little consideration is given to the view that marginal benefits from joining the network may not increase with the network size if consumer benefits come from the direct interaction with neighbors, namely local network. In this study, we used the agent-based simulation method to reexamine the effectiveness of the traditional network market strategy under the presence of the local network where two incompatible technologies compete. We found that the strategy of growing an initial customer base is not effective under the presence of the local network. Our study also showed that targeting customers based on their technology Preference is not as effective as targeting customers within the same local network. As a result, the focus of a network market strategy should be directed to taking advantage of the customer network.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2022

Religions and beliefs can affect the shopping behaviors of its followers and practitioners. However, the knowledge about the factors that motivate, facilitate and even constrain customers' purchase of spiritual goods, such as feng shui items, is limited. Therefore, in this study, I examined the reasons, facilitators, and constraints of purchasing spiritual goods from the buyers' perspective. Two research questions directed the examination process, including (1) why users buy spiritual goods? And (2) what factors may facilitate or constrain the purchase and use of spiritual goods? Using Vietnam's feng shui market as the context, I applied the autoethnographic and ethnographic methods to collect and analyze the data. I found that the two main reasons to purchase the feng shui items were the products' meaning and beauty. In addition, I observed three groups of factors that could facilitate or constrain the purchase and use of feng shui items, including information about the products and their sellers, disposable income and life stage of the buyers, and price and authenticity of the products. Finally, based on these findings, I discussed the practical implications for managing the spiritual goods market in Vietnam.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.77-100
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• 2023

Purpose - Using the Model of Goal-Directed Behavior (MGB), this study identifies the critical factors that influence consumer intention to purchase an electric vehicle (EV). This study also provides differentiated policy implications to the Korean and Chinese governments and EV-related companies for the expansion of the EV market in both countries by comparing consumers' perceptions of EV purchase intentions. Design/methodology - Our extended MGB model adds to the standard model consideration of financial incentives, perceived risks, and environmental concerns. An online survey was conducted of Korean and Chinese consumers. Based on the collected responses, all tested hypotheses were verified using PLS-SEM (Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling). Differences in the path analysis results between Korea and China were compared and verified using Henseler's MGA (multi-group analysis), the parametric test, and the Welch-Satterthwaite test. Findings - The most critical factor that influences the intent to purchase an EV in consumers from both countries is personal desire. PBC and SN were identified as the critical factors that respectively increase personal desire in Korea and China. In addition, in Korea, among the three factors EC, FIP, and PR, environmental concerns were found to have the most significant impact on attitudes and purchase intention. In contrast, in China, economic factors (specifically financial incentives) had greater importance than environmental issues. Originality/value - This study has academic contributions in that it presents a new research model that includes financial incentive policies, environmental concerns, and perceived risk variables based on the MGB to explore consumers' purchase intentions. This study can also make a practical contribution in that it provides some meaningful implications to the governments and EV-related companies of both countries based on the differences in the analysis results of the Korean and Chinese markets.

• Asia Pacific Journal of Business Review
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-21
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• 2020

The purpose of this research is to investigate young consumer motivation in regards to shopping mall. Young adults are an emerging age group that has economic autonomy and power of making independent decisions. In addition, this young segment providing an interesting challenges and opportunities for marketing professionals. Therefore, it is pertinent to analyse their shopping motivations, so that the marketers can understand and influence the consumption behaviour of this specific group. A survey using self-administered questionnaire was conducted to assess the mall-directed shopping habits and shopping orientations. A total of 164 usable surveys were obtained. In addition of exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling was applied to prove the hypotheses. We have found that young Australian shoppers were motivated to visit malls primarily by the role enactment and exploration dimensions. They were the strongest motivators which explaining why young Australian consumers patronize malls. Young consumers of Australia enjoyed the mall environment, exploring new things, socializing with friends, comparing prices and the variety of products and services offered. The results of our study have several implications that should be of benefit to the retailing industry and mall management. Developers of malls must develop their mall more than simply a place for buying products. As such, mall management should make sure that their mall atmospherics offer a mall environment that is pleasing to multiple senses, to ensure it is conducive for shoppers to stay and spend more of their time and money. Mall management must execute strategies to maintain their attraction to younger consumers, perhaps by including stores that are futuristic and offer the most advanced styles or technologies, and appeal to somewhat older adults by offering the tenant, entertainment, and experience mix they will prefer. It is recommended that future research utilize random sampling methods to ensure the generalizability of results.