• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.79-88
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• 2012

Purpose - The objective of this paper is to suggest that a company's CRM activities have an effect on customer loyalty in the Korean retail industry. Typically, Korean customers use large local marts with convenience in the absence of any other choice. Therefore, this study aims to shed light on the fact that customers do not break away from their preferred retail stores, either owing to their stringent loyalty (the lie loyalty) or difficulty in turning to alternative choices. Research design, data, methodology - By surveying a sample of 200 hyper-markets through a questionnaire, and excluding dubious and missing responses, I obtained 181 samples to be included in the empirical analysis. The survey was conducted for two weeks during October 2011. AMOS and SPSS18 statistical packages were used for conducting statistical analysis for this study. This paper was developed using the concept of customer equity on CRM, which is known to have a positive impact on customer loyalty through the satisfaction and switching-barrier parameters. The hypothesis of this paper is that customer equity is composed of relationship equity, value equity and brand equity, and that the relationship equity variable has positive effects on the value equity and brand equity amongst other types of customer equity. Moreover, customer equity influences customer loyalty through parameters including customer satisfaction and switching costs in the Korean retail industry. Results - According to the results of the analysis, it was confirmed that relationship value had a positive effect (+) on all variables, including the perceived QoS (Quality of Service), store brand images, economic value, and store convenience. It was also confirmed that the assumption that the perceived QoS (Quality of Service), economic value, and store convenience had a positive effect on customer satisfaction was shown to be statistically significant, with a p-value below 0.05. Only the store brand value variable had an effect on the switching-cost variable with respect to the causal sequence of the variables, including the perceived QoS, store brand value, economic value, and store convenience. The remaining variables did not seem to influence the switching-cost variable. On the other hand, another effect showed that customer satisfaction had a statistically significant influence on the switching-costs variable. Moreover, the customer satisfaction and switching-cost variables also had a statistical influence on customer loyalty. Conclusions - The CRM activities had an influence on various variables (including perceived QoS, perceived economic value, store brand value, and store convenience) pertaining to customer values. Customer satisfaction and switching-cost had some effects on customer loyalty as a parameter. This confirms that stringent loyalty exists with respect to customer loyalty in the retail industry. The fact that the variable had such a statistically significant influence on the switching-cost and store brand equity variables means that consumers react to the reputation of a brand, confidence about the store, and quality confidence. The implications of this study in the retail industry should be further extended to devise strategies for customer retention.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.49-56
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• 2010

Euryale ferox is only annual hydrophyte among endangered plants in Korea and its seed is high valuable medicinal material. This studies were carried to find out key factors that made E. ferox endanger in Korea and to apply the results for effective management of the natural wetlands inhabited by E. ferox. We investigated the distributed sites reported by previous studies and classified the distribution-affected factors into three categories, eutrophication(hypothesis 1), soil accumulation(hypothesis 2) and increasing of water level(hypothesis 3) in the habitat. These three hypotheses were tested in the field and explained the results with the morphological characteristics of seed germination stages of E. ferox. The geographical distribution ranges of E. ferox diminished at a rate of $1^{\circ}$ latitude with about 10 natural wetlands for last 30 years. Water eutrophication in the wetland had a positive effect on the establishment of E. ferox. But higher in soil accumulation and water depth, then lower in the establishment rate of E. ferox. These results indicate that water depth in the wetland must be below 50cm during the germination season, especially in May and emergent hydrophytes filter zone is need to protect soil accumulation from soil erosion within its watershed for the effective management of wetland with E. ferox.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.619-627
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• 2013

Deutzia paniculata Nakai is a Korean endemic species that has a very restricted distribution in Gyeongsang-do, South Korea. The genetic diversity and structure of five populations of D. paniculata were investigated using 31 ISSR loci from six primers. The Shannon's index (0.429) and genetic diversity (0.271) were relatively higher than those of other rare plant species in Korea. The Miryang (MY) and Yangsan (YS) populations, which have higher flowering rates than the other populations, showed greater genetic diversity than the other populations. An analysis of the molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 16% of the total variation could be attributed to differences among the populations, and 84% to the differences within populations, indicating moderate gene flow among adjacent populations. The high genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation in the Deutzia paniculata populations, which have a restricted distribution, is considered to be affected by outcrossing of the mating system and abundant individuals in the populations. These results suggest that ex situ conservation strategies are needed to sustain the current genetic diversity of D. paniculata.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.31-39
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• 2014

Purpose - Environmental issues, climatic changes, and greenhouse gases are problems to be solved at a global level. With an increased emphasis on the environmental and social responsibility of the management of companies, the manner in which companies approach quality-oriented culture and their individual sustainability management are being discussed as truly important issues to help them secure their competitiveness and growth strategies. This study proposes strategic directions to help manufacturers not only in expanding their competitive quality-oriented company culture but also in strengthening their sustainability management abilities. This study conducts a literature review and empirical research to examine how significantly the variables of a quality-oriented company culture, customer-centered management, and process-centered and supply chain management-centered cooperation affect sustainability management performance in relation to economic profitability, environmental integrity, and social responsibility. Research design, data, and methodology - To verify research models and hypotheses, the study examined 170 companies using a questionnaire survey conducted over six weeks, and involved the performance of data analysis on 146 samples. Questionnaire responses were calibrated based on a Likert scale. The study used the Smart PLS 2.0 program designed for PLS (partial least squares), an analysis instrument of SEM (structural equation modeling). The study then verified empirical research hypotheses working on reliability analysis, validity analysis, factorial analysis, and path analysis. Results - Among the nine hypotheses, four are accepted and the rest are rejected. A quality-oriented company culture focusing on customer-centered management significantly influenced the maintainability management performance of environmental integrity and social responsibility, while economic profitability was dismissed. A process-focused quality-oriented company culture was significantly concerned with economic profitability but not with environmental integrity or social responsibility. A supply-chain cooperative company culture had a significant effect on economic profitability but not on environmental integrity or social responsibility. Conclusion - This study proposes strategic directions to help manufacturers expand their competitive quality-oriented company culture as well as strengthen abilities with sustainability management. It conducts a literature review and empirical research to examine how significantly the variables of quality-oriented company culture, customer-centered management, and process-centered and supply chain management-centered cooperation affect sustainability management performance in relation to economic profitability, environmental integrity, and social responsibility. There are two main conclusions. First, companies should consider the need for social responsibility management and environmental transparent management-focused maintainability management as avenues to create new markets and business, thereby helping the companies secure a reputation for having a customer and process-centered quality-oriented company culture by creating shared values between supply chains and enabling win-win situations through cooperation. Second, we are marching towards a creative win-win era from a society of conflicts and ruptures. Companies should understand that social responsibility management and supply chain management (SCM)-focused cooperation are the foundations of sustainable development, as they try to improve their culture while pursuing both win-win relationships with interested parties and equity in various conflictive relations.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.81-88
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• 2014

Purpose - Entrepreneurship promotion is emerging as an important economic growth agenda. However, in Korea, entrepreneurship has weakened because of the collapse of the venture bubbles of the 2000s and the global economic recession in 2008, which have induced the business community to choose stability over risk. The Korean government has been implementing several support projects to inspire and promote youth entrepreneurship through various means including financial assistance; however, the perpetuation rate of young entrepreneurship is still low as compared to advanced economies such as the US and EU. This case study focuses on the Youth Start-Up Business Support Program of the Small & Medium Business Corporation, and explores practical alternatives. Further, it aims to suggest managerial factors and a conceptual model for change management factors affecting the business performance creation of a startup company, based on the Small and medium Business Corporation's young venture startup fund. Research design, data, and methodology - Many studies examine the current progress and issues of startup firms, for example, a lack of systematic cultivation of entrepreneurship and startup business training, lack of commercialization funding for youth startup businesses, lack of mentoring, and inadequate infrastructure. From prior research, we address four factors, namely, personal managerial capabilities, innovative business model, sufficient cash flow, and social network, affecting startup companies' business performance. This study involved a sample survey of 200 young entrepreneurs to investigate casual relations between the four factors and business performance. A regression analysis was used to verify the hypotheses. Results - First, in relation to differences in the founder's personal characteristics, age, sales amount, and number of employees significantly impact business performance. Second, regarding the causal relation between the four factors for creating business performance, an innovative business model and social networking have supported the hypotheses, revealing that the more that a start-up founder has an innovative business model and social networking, the more the start-up firms are likely to have better performance (e.g., sales volume, employment, ROE, ROI, etc.). Although the founder's competency and sufficient cash flow have no significant relationship with business performance, the mean value was higher performance for high founder's competency and sufficient cash flow. Conclusions - This study provides basic data on policy support strategies of the Small and Medium Business Corporation, to help young entrepreneurs achieve their start-up business goals. It shows that young entrepreneurship startup firms should strive to explore ideas to satisfy customers' needs, and that changes in customer value and the continuous innovation of business model differentiation are required to actively respond to change management. Moreover, at the infant startup stage, they should activate social network programs to share information, thereby offsetting resource scarcity and managing business risk. Further, the establishment of a long-term vision and the implementation of training programs in related specific fields should be supported to strengthen founders' personal capabilities.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2013

Purpose - As the members of the baby boomer generation have retired in earnest, the start-up market has received more attention than ever before. According to recent statistical data, an increasing number of entrepreneurs are in their fifties. There has been a continuous increase in promotional materials on small business issues published by start-ups. This means that senior start-ups have increased in number. A number of support systems have been established for youth start-ups, but there are few government support policies in place for the senior start-up market. Thus, this study suggests a number of constructive alternatives from the perspective of government policy and marketing strategy for entrepreneurs, in order to generate competitiveness in the start-up process, through examining the current state of the senior start-up and by diagnosing extant problems. Research design, data, methodology - This study gives a number of options regarding the government's support policies and the securing of competitiveness in order to vitalize senior business start-ups. As for the government's support policies, funding support policy, publicizing business start-up policies, and operating systematic mentoring policies before retirement have all been covered. In particular, in order for senior business start-ups to become competitive, development through mutual relations with diverse policies is urgently needed. The aging population is becoming an issue in Korea, so businesses for the aged, and the creation of jobs for these people, will become a social issue. Senior business start-ups are playing an important role in expanding enterprise productivity, in addition to enhancing national competitiveness. Expanding senior business start-ups is important, because they also serve to expand the national infrastructure. Productivity increase through continuous expansion is thus recommended. Results - In order to expand the competitiveness of business start-ups, marketing-related observations and learning in regard to customers are necessary for the baby boomer generation, and competitiveness for seniors is urgently needed. Conclusions - Studies on the business start-up policies for the domestic baby boomer generation are almost non-existent, and systematic studies on small businesses are necessary. Only the government is providing statistical studies for small businesses, and such research remains at a general level for entrepreneurs. Therefore, a support system that can actually assist entrepreneurs is essential. Continuous business start-up studies with respect to the baby boomers should be vitalized, to invigorate studies on competition. In order to supplement and strengthen foundational support, senior business start-ups must develop various competitive capabilities with a focus on the customer. The government and the various stakeholder agencies and organizations involved with start-up businesses must find ways to offer support to founders. Such support should include access to knowledge and legal and consultancy services in order to incubate the rapid increase in start-ups founded by seniors. Government support projects should be expanded to meet this end.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.77-96
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• 2017

Purpose - This study aims to develop correspondence strategies to the environment change in domestic retail store types. Recently, new types of retails have emerged in retail industries. Therefore, trade area platform has developed focusing on the speed of data, no longer trade area from district border. Besides, 'trade area smart' brings about change in retail types with the development of giga internet. Thus, context shopping is changing the way of consumers' purchase pattern through data capture, technology capability, and algorithm development. For these reasons, the sales estimation model has been shown to be flawed using the notion of former scale and time, and it is necessary to construct a new model. Research design, data, and methodology - This study focuses on measuring retail change in large multi-shopping mall for the outlook for retail industry and competition for trade area with the theoretical background understanding of retail store types and overall domestic retail conditions. The competition among retail store types are strong, whereas the borders among them are fading. There is a greater need to analyze on a new model because sales expectation can be hard to get with business area competition. For comprehensive research, therefore, the research method based on the statistical analysis was excluded, and field survey and literature investigation method were used to identify problems and propose an alternative. In research material, research fidelity has improved with complementing research data related with retail specialists' as well as department stores. Results - This study analyzed trade area survival and its pattern through sales estimation and empirical studies on trade areas. The sales estimation, based on Huff model system, counts the number of households shopping absorption expectation from trade areas. Based on the results, this paper estimated sales scale, and then deducted modified probability model. Conclusions - In times of retail store chain destruction and off-line store reorganization, modified Huff model has problems in estimating sales. Transformation probability model, supplemented by the existing problems, was analyzed to be more effective in competitiveness business condition. This study offers a viable alternative to figure out related trade areas' sale estimation by reconstructing new-modified probability model. As a result, the future task is to enlarge the borders from IT infrastructure with data and evidence based business into DT infrastructure.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.39-48
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• 2019

Purpose - The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of chatbots' innovation attributes on the innovation acceptance for consumers who have used chatbots to purchase fashion products that account for a large share of transactions in mobile shopping. Research design, data, and methodology - Data were collected from Korean consumers aged 20 to 49 who had experience using chatbots when purchasing fashion-related products via mobile circumstances. After a pilot survey of 31 customers, pre-questionnaire was revised for the final test, and the final questionnaire was distributed to 1,500 subjects. Out of these, 244 were retrieved. After excluding 48 inappropriate responses, 196 were used for statistical analysis. Frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, one-way ANOVA, regression analysis and independent t-test using SPSS 23.0 were employed for data analyses. Results - First, four factors of chatbots' attributes were extracted: relative advantages and compatibility, complexity, sensibility, and diversity. Second, two factors were extracted for fashion leadership: fashion opinion leadership and fashion innovativeness. Two groups based on the fashion leadership were identified: active innovation adopters and passive innovation adopters. Third, relative advantages and compatibility, diversity, sensibility of innovation attributes were found to have effects on the innovation acceptance in order. Fourth, significant differences were found in sensibility of innovation attributes and innovation acceptance in groups by marital status and age. The married in their 30s and 40s perceived sensibility as a more important attribute of chatbots than the unmarried in their twenties. Among the groups of different income levels, meaningful differences were found in diversity of innovation attributes and innovation acceptance. Fifth, there were significant differences found in relative advantages and compatibility, sensibility of innovation attributes, and acceptance of Innovation among the groups by fashion leadership. Active innovation adopters were found to be more aware of the importance of relative advantages and compatibility, and sensibility of innovation attributes, and innovation acceptance. Conclusions - The present study provides chatbots' marketing strategies for fashion items need to be modified by demographic characteristics and fashion leadership. Particularly, fashion leadership was found to be an important factor in determining the perception of innovation attribute as well as innovation acceptance.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 1992

The application of island biogepgraphy and habitat fragmentation theory to protected area management in Korea is discussed. The accelerating destruction and degradation of natural habitats, with the associated erosion of biodiversity, demands and urgent response and a critical review of attitudes to protected area management. The flora of Korea will continue to change in both distribution and status in response to these man induced changes. The conservation and management of ecosystems, because of the variety of threats and the varying levels of biodiversity to be conserved, requires an integrated approach. Such an approach assesses the variety of threats, prevalent and potential, and responds with a strategy combining habitat, species and population management. The application of island biogeography, habitat fragmentation and edge effects theory to conservation strategies in Korea will assist in the understanding of the dynamic relationships between the isolation. degradation and fragmentation of surviving habitat patches. The application of such approaches is discussed with recommendations made for the adoption of an increasingly scientific approach to plant conservation based upon a knowledge of the conservation status and distribution characteristics of the Korean flora. Such data combined with demographic studies on topics such as Minimum Viable Population Size will allow an integrated approach to plant and habitat conservation to progress.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.489-494
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• 2006

For the ecosystem conservation and the effective management of naturalized plant species on 261 uninhabited islands distributed in southern and western sea in Korea, we tested the interrelationship between the pattern of distribution and dispersal of the naturalized plant species and the factors of geographical environment of uninhabited islands such as island area, distance from mainland, latitude, longitude, human impacts and habitat diversity. Out of 261 uninhabited islands surveyed, 106 species of the naturalized plants occurred on 229 (87.7%) islands. The naturalized plant species per island averaged 4.6 (SD=4.07) species, and plant species number were higher in southern group (87 species) than in western group (64 species) of islands. Plant species occurred on more than 100 islands were three species : Rumex crispus L. (153 islands), Erigeron annuus Pers. (130 islands), and Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist (121 islands), the highest grade '5' of 'degree of naturalization'. The occurrence frequency of 106 naturalized plant species was significantly correlated with island area, distance to mainland, strength of human impacts, and latitude and longitude. Correlation coefficient (r=-0.330) between occurrence frequency and distance from mainland was higher than between occurrence frequency and island area (r=-0.182). The result of path analysis confirmed that plant species number was significantly affected by island area p=0.336) and distance from mainland (p=-0.490), but in this analysis the effect of human impacts on plant species number was very weak (p=0.003). On the basis of these results, strategies on the conservation of ecosystem and the management of naturalized plant species in the uninhabited islands of Korea were discussed.