• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.8
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• pp.233-267
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• 2001

The management environment in Korea today is undergoing rapid changes; in particular, domestic corporations and businesses are confronting formidable adversity with IMF crisis and WTO. Though cost cutback, higher quality, rapid production, and diversification of products were accepted as important requirements for competitiveness in the past, they have been replaced by brand power. Consumption patterns have changed their focus from function to image orientation. This is why managers in corporations have invested enormous amounts of resources into producing powerful brands, which can attract consumers' attention greatly enough to improve the image of their products. Brands are regarded as a vital vehicle for marketing strategies and thus as a legal asset. Brands with remarkable and favorable image can secure a loyal consumer groups stable revenues. M & A, currently active between corporations, makes brand equity all the more important. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of internal marketing and increased brand diversification on brand equity by combining them as influential factors with marketing mix factor. For this purpose, literature review was make on previous fragmented studies of influential factors on brand equity build-up. Based on the findings of this study, some operational implications were suggested for marketing managers. The findings and implications of the present study are as follows; First, efficient communication among organization members was found to have a significant effect on product quality. Second, job satisfaction and efficient communication among members was shown to significantly influence price policies. Thirdly, efficient communication among organization workers proved to have a significant effect on distribution strategies. Forth, efficient communication among members was demonstrated to significantly influence advertisement and other public-relations activities. Fifth, opacity of market environment appeared to have a significant effect on product quality, prior market entrance as perceived by organization members turned to be of negative influence on product quality. Sixth, opacity of market environment was found to have a significant effect on price policies. Seventh, opacity of market environment was shown to be of significant effect on distribution strategies. Eighth, grater opacity of market environment proved to improve advertisement and other public-relations activities. Ninth, price policies, distribution strategies, advertisement and public-relations activities were found to have a significant effect on brand equity value. To sum up these findings, in order for corporations and businesses to cope with consumers' needs that are increasingly segmented, internal marketing strategies and brand diversification should be implemented so as to generate greater synergy effect. It is also important to stress that differentiated, higher competitiveness should be secured for Korean corporations and businesses to survive in the drastically changing, globalized market environment. In this regard, continuous and long-term management strategies for brand equity build-up should be ensured and is essential in the present unlimited competition. The last but not least important point to notice is that to increase brand equity value, intensive investment and constant emphasis should be made on internal marketing management on intra-organizational members before strengthening external marketing.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.419-421
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this study was to introduce the concept of health inequalities, and to discuss the underlying assumptions and ethical backgrounds associated with the issue, as well as the theoretical and practical implications of health inequalities. Methods : Based on a review of the literature, we summarize the concepts of health inequalities and inequities and discuss the underlying assumptions and ethical backgrounds associated with these issues from the view of social justice theory. We then discuss the theoretical and practical implications of health inequalities. Results : Health inequality involves ethical considerations, such as judgments on fairness, and it could provide a sensitive barometer to reflect the fairness of social arrangements. Discussion on health inequalities could deepen our understanding of the social etiology of health and provide a basis for the development of comprehensive and integrative social policies. Conclusions : Health equity is not a social goal in and of itself, but should be considered as a part of a broader effort to seek social justice.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-25
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• 2008

Ⅰ. Introduction Retailers in the 21st century are being told that future retailers are those who can execute seamless multi-channel access. The reason is that retailers should be where shoppers want them, when they want them anytime, anywhere and in multiple formats. Multi-channel access is considered one of the top 10 trends of all business in the next decade (Patricia T. Warrington, et al., 2007) And most firms use both direct and indirect channels in their markets. Given this trend, we need to evaluate a channel equity more systematically than before as this issue is expected to get more attention to consumers as well as to brand managers. Consumers are becoming very much confused concerning the choice of place where they shop for durable goods as there are at least 6-7 retail options. On the other hand, manufacturers have to deal with category killers, their dealers network, Internet shopping malls, and other avenue of distribution channels and they hope their retail channel behave like extensions of their own companies. They would like their products to be foremost in the retailer's mind-the first to be proposed and effectively communicated to potential customers. To enable this hope to come reality, they should know each channel's advantages and disadvantages from consumer perspectives. In addition, customer satisfaction is the key determinant of retail customer loyalty. However, there are only a few researches regarding the effects of shopping satisfaction and perceptions on consumers' channel choices and channels. The purpose of this study was to assess Korean consumers' channel choice and satisfaction towards channels they prefer to use in the case of electronic goods shopping. Korean electronic goods retail market is one of good example of multi-channel shopping environments. As the Korea retail market has been undergoing significant structural changes since it had opened to global retailers in 1996, new formats such as hypermarkets, Internet shopping malls and category killers have arrived for the last decade. Korean electronic goods shoppers have seven major channels : (1)category killers (2) hypermarket (3) manufacturer dealer shop (4) Internet shopping malls (5) department store (6) TV home-shopping (7) speciality shopping arcade. Korean retail sector has been modernized with amazing speed for the last decade. Overall summary of major retail channels is as follows: Hypermarket has been number 1 retailer type in sales volume from 2003 ; non-store retailing has been number 2 from 2007 ; department store is now number 3 ; small scale category killers are growing rapidly in the area of electronics and office products in particular. We try to evaluate each channel's equity using a consumer survey. The survey was done by telephone interview with 1000 housewife who lives nationwide. Sampling was done according to 2005 national census and average interview time was 10 to 15 minutes. Ⅱ. Research Summary We have found that seven major retail channels compete with each other within Korean consumers' minds in terms of price and service. Each channel seem to have its unique selling points. Department stores were perceived as the best electronic goods shopping destinations due to after service. Internet shopping malls were perceived as the convenient channel owing to price checking. Category killers and hypermarkets were more attractive in both price merits and location conveniences. On the other hand, manufacturers dealer networks were pulling customers mainly by location and after service. Category killers and hypermarkets were most beloved retail channel for Korean consumers. However category killers compete mainly with department stores and shopping arcades while hypermarkets tend to compete with Internet and TV home shopping channels. Regarding channel satisfaction, the top 3 channels were service-driven retailers: department stores (4.27); dealer shop (4.21); and Internet shopping malls (4.21). Speciality shopping arcade(3.98) were the least satisfied channels among Korean consumers. Ⅲ. Implications We try to identify the whole picture of multi-channel retail shopping environments and its implications in the context of Korean electronic goods. From manufacturers' perspectives, multi-channel may cause channel conflicts. Furthermore, inter-channel competition draws much more attention as hypermarkets and category killers have grown rapidly in recent years. At the same time, from consumers' perspectives, 'buy where' is becoming an important buying decision as it would decide the level of shopping satisfaction. We need to develop the concept of 'channel equity' to manage multi-channel distribution effectively. Firms should measure and monitor their prime channel equity in regular basis to maximize their channel potentials. Prototype channel equity positioning map has been developed as follows. We expect more studies to develop the concept of 'channel equity' in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.221-228
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• 2010

A construction firm's performance is largely attributable to performance in individual projects. In this regard, the awarding of an individual project has significant implications. However, project awards have received limited attention in the construction sector from amarket assessment perspective. This event study focuses on an analysis of market responses at the time of project awarding. A total of 252 samples wereselected through a rigorous sample screening processes. Performance was measured as cumulative abnormal return, which is traditionally adopted in event analysis. Research results indicated that the overall return is positive, and that the level isstatistically significant. Equity holders realized a higher return for projects awarded from the foreign countries compared to domestic projects. No relationship was observed between project size and the level of return. Other research findings and implications were discussed in detail from a management perspective.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.33-42
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• 2019

Purpose: many domestic welfare programs use the amount of health insurance premiums as a way of measuring individuals' income levels for administrative convenience. As health insurance reform has been made, we examines the income level is still appropriately measured by the health insurance premiums for the employment success package as one of domestic welfare program. Methodology/Approach: we investigate whether the upper limit of the premiums of the self-employed health insured is appropriate or not after healthcare reform, which currently calculated by multiplying the insurance premium of the employee based insured by the adjustment factor (1.2). Findings: we examined appropriateness of the adjustment factors by comparing the premiums before and after the healthcare reform by utilizing the national health insurance data as well as Korea Welfare panel data. We found that the new value of adjustment factor (1.0~1.1) is smaller than the current one (1.2). Practical Implications: to improve the equity between the employee and the self-employed insured after the health insurance reform, the adjustment factor should be lower.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.207-222
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• 2020

As the COVID-19 continues spreading, Korea's Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that all public schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools, must begin on April 9, 2020, via online teaching for the first time in the nation's history. There were opposite views among educators regarding the unprecedented attempt to start school online. This study intends to analyze the strategies and policies of distance learning in the public education sector using the experiences in Korea, which has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic over the past six months, and thus presents educational implications that may be of interest other countries in the post-COVID-19 era. This study first conceptualized the distance education policy in two domains: technological infrastructure and technological teaching and learning, and then examined what specific policies have supported distance education in school settings. For the analysis of policies supporting distance education in Korea, this study analyzed the relevant documents that include the annual plan and press release uploaded on the website of MOE from early March until early August. Accordingly, 13 documents that contain the distance education policy were analyzed in this study. To provide equal opportunities for all students and ensure fair resource allocations, technological inequality should be discussed in the context of educational inequality. Finally, this study looks at how strategies and policies could be related to educational equality and equity.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.785-793
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• 2021

The purpose of the research is to assess the factors affecting the liquidity of the commercial banks that are conducting mergers and acquisitions activities in Vietnam during the 2008-2018 period. This study employs samples based on 2-component data sets with cross-section and time-series data collected from the annual report of the State Bank and the audited acquisitions financial statements of nine commercial banks engaged in mergers and acquisitions activities. To carry out the research objectives, the authors conducted quantitative analysis through the Pooled OLS, REM, FEM and GMM models. The results shown that: (i) bank liquidity is positively affected by liquidity lagged, the return on equity (ROE) and economic growth; negatively affected by bank size, non-performing loan, short-run loan to deposit ratio; (ii) there is not enough evidence to conclude about the relationship between net profit margin, equity-to-assets ratio and inflation rate to bank liquidity; (iii) notably, we found evidence that, after the mergers and acquisitions, the liquidity of Vietnamese commercial banks decreased. The findings of this study suggest that bank managers take a more comprehensive view of the results of mergers and acquisitions and implications for banks to improve liquidity in the post-merger and acquisitions conditions.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2021

This study examined the effect of Debt Equity Ratio (DER), Net Profit Margin (NPM), and Size on stock prices with company performance as measured by Return on Assets (ROA) as a mediating variable. The sample used is 136 manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in the 2014-2018 period. This research was tested using a Warp PLS statistical test tool to prove the proposed hypothesis. The results showed that DER has a significant negative effect on ROA and a significant positive effect on Stock Price. NPM has a significant positive effect on ROA as well as a significant positive effect on Stock Price. While Size has a significant positive effect on ROA but has no effect on Stock Price. ROA has a significant positive effect on Stock Price. ROA does not act as a mediating variable in the relationship between Size and Stock Price; however, ROA acts as a mediating variable in the DER and Stock Price relationship, as well as, in the relationship between NPM and Stock Price. The implications of the results of this study can be used by investors in making investment decisions, paying attention to the company's financial aspects, namely DER, NPM, Size, and ROA.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.258-271
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• 2022

The rapidly aging trend of Korea is a major factor that threatens the sustainability of the long-term care insurance system. Therefore, looking at how Japan and Germany mitigated the financial burden when they managed similar long-term care insurance systems will provide important implications for improving the Korean system in the future. The study was conducted using the literature review method, and the "country" was set as a unit for the case analysis. The three countries selected are Korea, Japan, and Germany. Recently in Korea, the insurance premium rates of all subjects have been rapidly rising, which can exacerbate the issue of intergenerational equity. On the other hand, Japan has responded to the aggravating finances for long-term care insurance due to aging by raising coinsurance for selected groups like the wealthy elderly. Germany is selectively raising the insurance premium rates by additionally increasing the premium rate for childless recipients. A more preventive and quality-oriented care service plan can be promoted by referring to the recent changes in Japan and Germany. In addition, a more effective and selective increase in payment burden in Japan and Germany could be considered in response to a recent equity issue in Korea.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.215-229
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• 2023

Purpose - Based on the funding-horizon theory, this study aims to test the effects of cash needs and the persistence of external funding needs on firms' external financing. Design/methodology/approach - Financial data of Korean listed companies were collected from DataGuide. Immediate and near-term cash shortfalls are defined using the methodology of Haung and Ritter (2021). We estimate multinomial logit regressions for the financing choice. Findings - First, all three cash depletion variables used in our study increase the likelihood of external financing. Second, firms prefer to issue debt to meet immediate spending and equity to meet long-lived cash needs. Third, this effect is more pronounced for high R&D firms. Fourth, chaebol firms with internal capital markets defer raising external capital for immediate and near-term cash needs. Research implications or Originality - This paper provide empirical evidence that immediate and near-term cash needs induce external financing, and the persistence of cash needs affects the choice between debt and equity, the finding which is consistent with the funding-horizon theory of financing decisions. Being the first paper to test the funding-horizon theory using Korean data, this paper contributes to the literature on the capital structure of Korean firms.