• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.2022-2038
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• 2010

Our study was designed to provide some insights on positive country image and the mechanisms of influence that Asian fashion industries can draw upon for future benefit. We focused on a country image and fashion products with Asian ethnic influence. Asian traditional costume elements reflected in contemporary fashion products may be important representative tools for national cultural identity. This study qualitatively investigated how and to what extent country image and additional information influence the evaluation of fashion products influenced by Chinese, Japanese, and Korean traditional dress. We conducted four focus-group interviews (FGI) with 30 students from a fashion program at a university in the United States. We analyzed the evaluation of fashion products influenced by Chinese, Japanese, and Korean traditional dress, and their associations with country image. Our qualitative analysis offered more developed empirical evidence for the various paths through which country image affects the evaluation of fashion products influenced by the ethnic dress of Asians. The results of our study showed that the more direct the source of prior knowledge, the larger the influence on product evaluation. This study showed that certain cues in the evaluation of fashion products with Asian ethnic influence induce changes in the affective state (that stem from the psychological and social nature of fashion products) and illustrate the necessity of considering the affective processes involved in the appropriate use of the country image. In the fashion industry, extrinsic properties such as the country image significantly influence the attitude and purchasing decisions of consumers. The significance of this study lies in its verification of the relationship between the country image and additional information. Modular and situational-contextual influences are also revealed as important factors that deserve more attention, as well as considerations regarding the dimensions of the country image described in attitude theory.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.699-709
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to investigate consumer shopping orientation toward foreign brands in the context of clothing involvement, ethnocentrism, country-of-origin effects and demograpic variables. Prior to this paper, shopping orientation was studied in connection with ethnocentrism and country-of-origin effects. The questionnaire was distributed to 300 female consumers over twenty years old living in Pusan area and finally 213 data serfs were used for statistical analysis. By factor analysis, 6 clothing involvement factors were identified; fashion interest, symbolism, pleasure interest, inclination to harmony, aesthetic expression and perceived risk. A result of canonical correlation analysis about shopping orientation factors and clothing involvement factors is as follows. Two shopping orientation factors (follow to foreign brands and country-of-orion consciousness) positively correlate with three clothing involvement factors (fashion interest, symbolism and pleasure interest) , and two shopping orientation factors (preference to domestics and country-of-orion consciousness) positively correlate with author clohting involvement factor (percived risk). Anocova procedure revealed that five shopping orientation factors were related to clothing involvement factors, groups according to ethnocentric disposition, country-of-origin effects and demograpics respectively, even though there are some differences. Based on the conclusions, marketing strategies were developed.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.37-52
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• 2022

Purpose - The objective of this study is to investigate what motivates global FDI inflows in the different economic development level and to clarify the FDI motivation type in the level of qualitative economic growth. Design/methodology/approach - Major macroscopic social·economic factors induced FDI inflows were analyzed using fixed-effect panel regression with 30-year panel data of 28 countries from 1985 to 2014. For analysis in the stage of economic growth, two category of developed and developing countries was used. And to analyze FDI motivation type in the level of qualitative economic growth, 4 shares of GDP; consumption·government·investment expenditure and export, was used as explanatory variable. Findings - In developed country, TFP(total factor productivity) and GDP have a great influence on FDI inflows, and consumption and labor compensation have a slight effect. This result indicates that the market seeking-driven, horizontal type investment is shown along with efficiency seeking investment. In developing country, human capital and TFP is shown to have greater impact on FDI inflows and labor compensation, exports, investment and government expenditures also have impacts. Thus it has confirmed that not only efficiency-seeking vertical investment for using low cost well educated laborer, but also government-driven economic growth and export policies could affect the FDI inflows. Research implications or Originality - The FDI investment decision making of multinational companies is decided by their own purpose. But, in the concept of as follows; 1) FDI is a long-term capital flowing for maximization of economic utility with limited global resource, 2) Thus FDI could be affected by macro socio·economic factors of host country. 3) Also such macro factors is different by each economic growth qualitative level. Therefore macro socio·economic factors of each country could be affected by the qualitative level of their own economic growth. To attract FDI inflows, it is desirable to implement differentiated incentive policies in the qualitative level of economic growth. Furthermore in developing countries it is recommended to implement government driven economic growth policies as follows; fostering well educated human resources, improving technology productivity in the relative lower cost labor market compared to developed countries and boosting international export volume.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.28
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• pp.225-237
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• 1996

The product evaluation and purchasing behavior of US brand jeans have been studied. The intrinsic and extrinsic cues are usually adopted to interpret the purchasing decison making processes. Among extrinsic cues price and brand name have been studied exten-sively but country-of-origin has not been examined in Korea. With the liberalization of retail industry foreign brands are aggressively penetrating in Korean pparel market. Since the penetration of imported apparel has increased tremendously lately the consumer attitude toward foreign produced clothing has great importance. The findings of the study were 1) Price was the most important among extrinsic cues ex-cept quality. Brand name was more important than store and country-of-origin. 2) The country image had significant influence to the preference as apparel production country. 3) The evaluation and willingness to buy of the jeans were greatly influenced by the be-havioral charcteristics of consumer variables. 4) The model to predict the willingness to buy of the jeans has been developed.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.153-166
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• 2017

This study examined the effects of the cognitive and affective country image of Korea on product evaluation and purchase intention for Korean products. The research model was developed from relevant literature based on the halo effect model and data was collected using a self-administered online survey of 772 Southeast Asian consumers from Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The major findings are as follows. First, analysis of variance revealed that Vietnam consumers have a significantly positive perception compared to Indonesia and Malaysia, regarding the affective country image and purchase intention towards Korean products. Second, results from structural equation model showed that the affective country image has significantly positive effects on product evaluation and purchase intention, which means the affective country image is directly and indirectly connected to purchase intention towards Korean products. However, cognitive country image only has an indirect effect on purchase intention. Third, the results of comparing path coefficient among three countries showed that the direct effect is more effective for consumers in Indonesia and Malaysia, whereas indirect effect has a stronger effect on consumers in Vietnam. Academically, this study contributes to an expansion of understanding the effects of country image by empirically proving the different roles of cognitive and affective dimensions for country image. This study provides practical implications for developing marketing communication strategies for businesses that hope to penetrate Southeast Asian countries.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.33-52
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• 2020

Some consumers question the safety of imported fashion products. We examine the effects of the use of an ecolabel, product category, and country of origin on consumer responses such as perceived physical risk, attitude towards a product, subjective norm, and intention to purchase imported fashion products. A sample of 508 adults in their 30s to 40s participated in online survey experiments. The survey experiments used 2 (the use of the ecolabel vs no label) × 4 (country of origin: China, Dominican Republic, Norway, and the United States) between-subjects and 4 (product category: men/women's wear, children's wear, underwear, and accessories) within-sub-jects factorial design. A total of 32 product-catalog images (stimuli) and eight versions of the questionnaire were developed. The use of the ecolabel is identified as having a significantly lower perceived physical risk than the no-label. The consumers' perceived physical risk also differs depending on product category and country of origin. Consumers perceive a higher physical risk about children's wear and underwear than other product categories as well as fashion products sourced from developing countries than from developed countries. The reduction of physical risk is found to facilitate consumers' purchase decision-making process.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

Developing Build-Own (or Operate)-Transfer (BOT) nuclear power project carrying large capital in the long term requires initially well-made multi-decision which it prevents sorts of risks from unexpected situation of target countries. In order to analyze the feasibility of project country, the Analytic Hierarchy Process is adopted. Firstly, the factors influencing the success of BOT nuclear power project in overseas countries were investigated through the literature survey for the country risk and were evaluated by expert interview for estimating comparative weight through pairwise comparison between such factors. Finally, it is developed comparative database of alternate countries with respect to each factor. This analytic method enables the developer to select and focus on the country which has preferable circumstance so that it enhances the efficiency of the project promotion. Also, it enables the developer to quantify the qualitative factors so that it diversifies the project success strategy and policy for the target country.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

Purpose: This study intends to explore the knowledge distribution in immigrant entrepreneurship in a host country Malaysia. In Malaysia, most immigrants are workers who later started their own businesses. They have a higher tendency to engage in entrepreneurial activities thus knowledge distribution from previous employment is necessary. Research design, data and methodology: This qualitative study using in-depth interview approach was carried out with five immigrant entrepreneurs from Bangladesh conducting business in Malaysia. The data were gathered and analysed using thematic analysis facilitated by ATLAS.ti software. Results: The findings provide useful insights on the significance of knowledge obtained during immigrant entrepreneurs' former employment in the host country, enabling them to identify the needed resources quickly to launch a successful business in a host country. Conclusions: This study contributes to the Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship specifically in the context of immigrant entrepreneurship who have former employment in the same business sector and a proposition is developed. For practicality, the findings provide some insights for immigrants who want to start businesses in the host country which allow them to identify and exploit entrepreneurial opportunities due to knowledge distribution at their former employment in the host country later facilitates successful business establishment there.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.67-79
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• 2024

Purpose - A brand's country-of-origin (COO) could influence a behavior of consumers in a country. Nevertheless, there have been few studies of how exporters overcome the barrier of a negative COO effect and what can be a useful strategy for an exporter to alleviate the effect on consumer behavior. Against this background, it is essential to present a factor moderating the effect on consumers' brand awareness. Therefore, suggesting that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management would be such a factor, we attempted to develop a model showing that the management could moderate the relationship between the COO effects and consumers' recall and evaluation toward a foreign brand. Design/methodology/approach - Using the stakeholder theory, the categorization, and the attribution theory as underlying theories, our study developed an empirically testable model that explains and predicts consumers' behaviors. Findings - We posited that positive ESG information influences consumers' brand recall and evaluation. In addition, we posited that positive ESG information moderates the COO effects on consumers' brand recall. Finally, we posited that positive ESG information moderates the COO effects on consumers' brand evaluation. Research implications or Originality - This manuscript filled a knowledge gap of none of alternative strategy toward COO effects in export marketing and provided implications regarding exporters' branding strategy in a foreign country.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.87-97
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• 2021

Purpose: Compared with the past when Japanese retailers used to hesitate to open their shops in the Korean market, because of anti-Japan sentiment, they show confidence in Korea in recent. This study, thus, aims at examining how socio-demographic factors have an impact on customer attitudes towards a Japanese retailer as a shopping destination. Research design, data, and methodology: After the literature review process, the authors have developed a variety of questions to verify the relationship amongst the variables like nationalism, consumer ethnocentrism, war animosity, store country-of-origin and anti-Japan sentiment. Furthermore, after collected questionnaires, the authors used confirmative factor analysis (CFA), T test and linear regression analysis to verify the 25 hypotheses developed. Results: Except for a household size element, it is found that gender, age, education and income levels are related to the degree of nationalism, ethnocentrism, war animosity, store country-of-origin and anti-Japan sentiment. In other words, socio-economic elements influenced Korean customer attitudes towards Japanese retailers. Conclusions: Korean customers tend to show different shopping attitudes towards the Japanese retailers, depending on the characteristics of socio-demographic elements. Furthermore, changing socio-demographic factors will provide positive business opportunities for Japanese retailers in the future.