• Journal of Korea Trade
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.21-47
• /
• 2021

Purpose - Offshoring has emerged as one of the major trends in international trade and has become one of the strategies for achieving competitiveness in the global market. In spite of this, the expected gains of offshoring can be offset by hidden costs and risks, such as those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the trade war between the USA and China, and the ongoing trade dispute between Korea and Japan. To obviate such business failure and prevent critical business blunders, offshoring strategies that efficiently consider both risk elements and potential wealth creation are urgently need. The first purpose of this study is to contribute to the development of more advanced offshoring strategies to help host countries select the best locations to manage supply chain risks and create unique value. The second purpose is to specifically analyze the current status of Korea and provide Korean companies with implications to be considered when deciding whether to offshore or re-shore. Design/methodology - A Network DEA model was applied to measure the comparative location efficiency of national competencies for offshoring strategy from perspectives of wealth creation opportunities (profitability and marketability) and supply chain risk management. The location efficiencies are compared among a total 70 countries selected from the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) and globally attractive locations outlined by Kearney (2017). For the secondary analysis of efficiency, a t-test examining the nature of competitive advantage and the level of sophistication in production processes was implemented in three divisions. We then analyzed differences in offshoring performance in terms of the identified national traits. Moreover, Tobit regression analysis is conducted to investigate the correlation between value-added business activities and each divisional efficiency, seeking to determine how each degree of value-added business activity influences the increase in offshoring productivity. Findings - Regarding overall location efficiency for offshoring performance, only the USA and Italy were identified as being efficient as host countries for offshoring, under circumstances of advanced development, such as productivity and risk management. Korea ranks 13th among 70 countries. The determinants of national competitiveness depend on national traits (the nature of competitive advantage and business sophistication). Countries with labor/resource advantages and labor-intensive industries are more competitive in terms of marketability than others. In contrast, countries with strong technology-intensive industries benefit offshoring companies, particularly in the technology sector, with the added advantage of supply chain risk management. As the perception of a value chain is broader in a country, it can achieve both production sophistication and competitive advantages such as marketability and SCRM. Originality/value - Existing studies focus on offshoring effectiveness from a company perspective. This paper contributes to comparing country efficiency in producing core competencies related to an offshoring strategy and also segments countries into three performance-based considerations associated with the global offshoring market. It also details Korea's position as an offshoring location according to national efficiency and competency.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.107-118
• /
• 2022

As connected and automated driving(CAD) technology is entering its commercialization stage, service platforms providing CAD-based mobility services have increased these days. However, CAD-baded mobility services with these platforms need more consideration for the demand for mobility services when determining target areas for CAD-based mobility services because current CAB-based mobility design focus on driving performance and driving stability. For a more efficient design of CAD-based mobility services, we analyzed the applicability for the introduction of CAD-based mobility services in terms of driving difficulty of CAD and demand patterns of current non-CAD based-mobility services, e.g., taxi, demand-responsive transit(DRT), and special transportation systems(STS). In addition, for the spatial analysis of the applicability of the CAD-based mobility service, we propose the Index for Autonomous Driving Applicability (IADA) and analyze the characteristics of the spatial distribution of IADA from the network perspective. The analysis results show that the applicability of CAD-based mobility services depends more on the demand patterns than the driving difficulty of CAV. In particular, the results show that the concentration pattern of demand in a specific road link is more important than the size of demand. As a result, STS service shows higher applicability compared to other mobility services, even though the size of demand for this mobility service is relatively small.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.23-38
• /
• 2022

This study investigates the characteristics and physical habitat requirements for each Bufo gargarizans life history through a literature survey. After deriving variables for each component of Bufo gargarizans, in order to reduce regional deviations from eight previously studied literature research areas for deriving the criteria for variables, a total of 12 natural habitats of Bufo gargarizanss are selected as spatial ranges by selecting four additional sites such as Umyeonsan Ecological Park in Seoul, Wonheungibangjuk in Cheongju in the central region, Changnyeong Isan Reservoir in the southern region, and Mangwonji in Daegu. This study presents Bufo gargarizans SI, a species endemic to Korea, whose population is rapidly declining due to large-scale housing site development and road development, and develops a Bufo gargarizans HSI model accordingly to improve the function of the damaged Bufo gargarizans habitat and to present an objective basis for site selection of alternative habitat. At the same time, it provides basic data for adaptive management and follow-up monitoring. The three basic habitat requirements of amphibians, the physical habitat requirements of Bufo gargarizans, synthesized with shelter, food, and water, and the characteristics of each life history, are classified into five components by adding space and threats through literature research and expert advice. Variables are proposed by synthesizing and comparing the general characteristics of amphibians, among the previously studied single species of amphibians, the components of HSI of goldfrogs and Bufo gargarizans, and the ecological and physical environmental characteristics of Bufo gargarizans. Afterwards, through consultation with an amphibian expert, a total of 10 variables are finally presented by adjacent forest area(ha), the distance between spawning area and the nearest forest land(m), the soil, the distance from the wetland(m), the forest layered structure, the low grassland space, the permanent wetland area(ha), shoreline slope(%), PH, presence of predators, distance from road(m), presence or absence of obstacles. n order to derive the final criteria for each of the 10 variables, the criteria(alternative) for each variable are presented through geographic information analysis of the site survey area and field surveys of the previously studied literature research area. After a focus group interview(FGI) of 30 people related to the Bufo gargarizans colony in Cheongju, a questionnaire and in-depth interviews with three amphibians experts are conducted to verify and supplement the criteria for each final variable. Based on the finally developed Bufo gargarizans HSI, the Bufo gargarizans habitat model is presented through the SI graph model and the drawing centering on the Bufo gargarizans spawning area

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.432-440
• /
• 2022

Purpose: Eating disorders often result in somatic complications, including cardiac abnormalities. Cardiac abnormalities may involve any part of the heart, including the cardiac conduction system, and can lead to sudden cardiac death. The current study aimed to evaluate the incidence of cardiac complications in pediatric patients with eating disorders and their associated factors. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients aged 10-18 years who were diagnosed with DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-V) eating disorders and underwent electrocardiography (ECG) and/or echocardiography between January 2015 and May 2020. Results: In total, 127 patients were included, of whom 113 (89.0%) were female. The median body mass index (BMI) was 15.05±3.69 kg/m². Overall, 74 patients (58.3%) had ECG abnormalities, with sinus bradycardia being the most common abnormality (91.9%). Patients with ECG abnormalities had significantly lower BMI (14.35±2.78 kg/m² vs. 16.06± 4.55 kg/m², p<0.001) than patients without ECG abnormalities, as well as lower phosphorus and higher cholesterol levels. Among the 46 patients who underwent echocardiographic evaluation, 23 (50.0%) had echocardiographic abnormalities, with pericardial effusion being the most common (60.9%). The median left ventricular mass (LVM) and ejection fraction were 67.97±21.25 g and 66.91±28.76%, respectively. LVM and BMI showed a positive correlation (r=0.604, p<0.001). After weight gain, the amount of pericardial effusion was reduced in 3 patients, and 30 patients presented with normal ECG findings. Conclusion: Cardiac abnormalities are relatively frequent in patients with eating disorders. Physicians should focus on this somatic complication and careful monitoring is required.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.101-130
• /
• 2018

Social class has become a major focus of research in the field of Western psychology due to its critical impact on human life. The Korean scholarship in psychology, however, has paid very little attention to the issue of social class despite the deepening of social stratification in the country; and the concepts and measurement they used were typically borrowed from sociology. In this study, I discussed what social class means and how it should be measured in order to emphasize the importance of the concept and its related issues. To this end, I examined a variety of theoretical backgrounds on the measurement of social class and the concept of socioeconomic status (SES)-a term commonly used as a synonym for social class. This study divided the method of measuring social class into objective social class and subjective social class, and outlined the characteristics of each approach and their main indicators. Finally, I assessed the recent trend in the Korean psychology on social class measurement. Among the 23 studies I have found, 65.2% used the objective social class index; and education was the objective indicator they most frequently employed, followed by income and occupation. Social stratification identity was used in all seven studies that applied subjective social class. And seven different words to describe social class was found. Based on these results, I concluded that there should be a call for more direct research on social class variables. In addition, I suggest that 'social class', instead of socioeconomic status, should be used as a preferred term in the future studies and propose a few notes on how to use the objective indicators and subjective social class measurement.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
• /
• 2022.06a
• /
• pp.1245-1246
• /
• 2022

Walkability is an indicator of how much pedestrians are willing to walk and how well a walking environment is created. As walking can promote pedestrians' mental and physical health, there has been increasing focus on improving walkability in different ways. Thus, plenty of research has been undertaken to measure walkability. When measuring walkability, there are many objective and subjective variables. Subjective variables include a feeling of safety, pleasure, or comfort, which can significantly affect perceived walkability. However, these subjective factors are difficult to measure by making the walkability index more reliant on objective and physical factors. Because many subjective variables are associated with human emotional states, understanding pedestrians' emotional states provides an opportunity to measure the subjective walkability variables more quantitatively. Pedestrians' emotions can be examined through surveys, but there are social and economic difficulties involved when conducting surveys. Recently, an increasing number of studies have employed physiological data to measure pedestrians' stress responses when navigating unpleasant environmental barriers on their walking paths. However, studies investigating the emotional states of pedestrians in the walking environment, including assessing their positive emotions felt, such as pleasure, have rarely been conducted. Using wearable devices, this study examined the various emotional states of pedestrians affected by the walking environment. Specifically, this study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of monitoring biometric data, such as electrodermal activity (EDA) and heart rate variability (HRV), using wearable devices as an indicator of pedestrians' emotional states-both pleasant-unpleasant and aroused-relaxed states. To this end, various walking environments with different characteristics were set up to collect and analyze the pedestrians' biometric data. Subsequently, the subjects wearing the wearable devices were allowed to walk on the experimental paths as usual. After the experiment, the valence (i.e., pleasant or unpleasant) and arousal (i.e., activated or relaxed) scale of the pedestrians was identified through a bipolar dimension survey. The survey results were compared with many potentially relevant EDA and HRV signal features. The research results revealed the potential for physiological responses to indicate the pedestrians' emotional states, but further investigation is warranted. The research results were expected to provide a method to measure the subjective factors of walkability by measuring emotions and monitoring pedestrians' positive or negative feelings when walking to improve the walking environment. However, due to the lack of samples and other internal and external factors influencing emotions (which need to be studied further), it cannot be comprehensively concluded that the pedestrians' emotional states were affected by the walking environment.

• Journal of Naturopathy
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.16-23
• /
• 2023

Background: There is a need for index research on music therapy activities for the elderly in Korea. Purposes: This study aims to suggest application standards in music therapy by surveying the elderly's preference for music therapy activities. Methods: A survey of music-related actions and musical instrument preferences was conducted with 91 older people in 4 nursing homes. The questionnaire consisted of information about music activities, genres of songs, types of instruments, methods of movement, and purpose of participation in activities. Results: The preference for musical activities was for playing musical instruments, followed by singing, music appreciation, flowing movements, and concert-oriented activities. Music genres appeared in the order of popular songs, folk songs, and children's songs. The instrument type preferred drums, followed by shakers and woodblocks. As a movement application method, movement using themes is preferred. Participating in music activities was leisure, followed by stress relief and emotional cultivation. Conclusion: When applying music therapy to the elderly, it predicted that the treatment effect would be high when the elderly focus on playing musical instruments and singing activities preferred by the elderly. Music genres selected from popular music and folk songs, and musical instruments are drums and shakers. Therefore, if you use it, you can expect a more significant effect.

• Journal of Ethics
• /
• no.75
• /
• pp.63-98
• /
• 2009

The Social Conflict Index in Korea is considerably high. In the situation where both parties' interests conflict each other, Korean society has shown immature democracy, which couldn't peacefully resolve the conflict because of the lack of tolerance against the counterparty's position. In terms of upbringing educated citizens, who could democratically communicate with others and approach problems, communication skill training is very important, reducing social costs by extreme conflict. Thus, this paper studied the necessity of communication skills training and its sociopolitical implication through case studies about "Communication and Negotiation" class, which is proceeded under university liberal education. Under current university curriculums, increased liberal education programs, related with speaking, focus on cultivating logical and critical thinking in the main. Based on these thinking skills, "Communication and Negotiation" has important implication in terms of cultivating mindset which resolves conflicts and considers other's position by collaborative and emotional perspectives. In terms of cultivating practical communication skills, this "Communication and Negotiation" class requires the change of teaching skills with various training programs, under students' active participation and feedback in the class exercise for resolving problems. Ultimately, through "Communication and Negotiation" class, and as members of society, students could learn matured citizenship and sense of responsibility by respecting others' position and reasonably resolving conflicts.

• Asia Marketing Journal
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.99-123
• /
• 2008

Consumer satisfaction/dissatisfaction is key determinant of brand loyalty and store patronage behavior. But the results of many customer satisfaction surveys implemented by department stores show that consumer satisfactions do not predict the actual patronage behaviors well. The main reason of these surprising results would be that the consumer satisfaction indexes do not include some important determinants of consumer satisfaction. Many customer satisfaction surveys mainly focus on the evaluation of functional benefits including product assortments, merchandise prices and locational convenience. Recent studies indicate that emotional/hedonic benefits strongly influence the consumer satisfaction, intention to repurchase and intention to revisit. Our study suggests that both functional values and hedonic values should be included in developing the index of consumer satisfactions. The purpose of our study is to investigate the relationship between shopping value and consumer satisfaction, and actual patronage behavior. Shopping values is defined as the difference between total benefits and total shopping costs. Total benefits include the dimensions of product quality, service quality, and hedonic benefits. Total costs are classified as the monetary costs and non-monetary cost. The conceptual framework developed for this empirical study is as follows.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.386-393
• /
• 2023

The domestic marine healing industry is undergoing significant revitalization efforts, with a focus on understanding the efficacy and effectiveness of marine healing resources. This study establishes utilization and management standards through a detailed analysis of the active components within well-recognized marine healing mud materials. Samples of mud materials were collected from domestic tidal flats. These samples exhibited an average composition of 7.87% sand, 74.95% silt, and 17.17% clay, with a combined mud content (silt+clay)(silt+clay) consistently exceeding 90%. Notably, SiO₂ emerged as the most prevalent effective ingredient at 68.4%, followed by Al₂O₃ (13.3%)>Fe₂O₃ (4.0%)>K₂O (2.9%)>Na₂O (2.3%)>MgO (1.6%)>CaO (1.0%)>TiO₂ (0.7%), in terms of average content. Subsequently, through an analysis of effective ingredients, Si, Al, Fe, K, Na, Mg, and Ca were identified as elements demonstrating significant functionality. Among these, key indicator ingredients were selected for quality control, all of which were found to possess efficacious properties. Notably, K, Mg, and Ca exhibited particularly high concentrations. Based on these findings and referencing existing literature, it is recommended that domestic tidal flat mud resources earmarked for utilization as marine healing resources should possess a raw material mud content of no less than 70.0%. Moreover, the cumulative index components K₂O+MgO+CaO should meet or exceed a threshold of 5.0% for optimal effectiveness.