• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.158-175
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to understand and improve the clothing habits and the apparel industry of North Korea in preparation for the reunification of South and North Korea. For this study, literary data, reports, periodicals, interviews and internet data of the two Koreas were reviewed. North Korean clothing habits used to be monotonous and uniform but nowadays people's clothes have become somewhat brighter in color and more diverse in design than before. In particular, liberal and individual dressing habits appeared among the privileged classes. When taking part in national events, women have to wear the traditional Korean costume, Hanbok, while men wear business suits for formal wear. In general, men don't wear Hanbok. Students have to be in uniforms but blue jeans, T-shirts with English logos were popular among them reflecting their sensitivity and openness towards western cultures. The brides usually wear pink Hanboks and the bridegrooms wear black business suits for their wedding. North Koreans also wear Hanbok on national holidays like South Koreans. Clothing is the most important item in the trade of process commission between North and South Korea. Trading items are mid to low end men's clothing for the most part due to less emphasis on fashion in the North. The processing is indirect trade and composed of sample making and contracting, sending out materials and production, carrying in goods and setting accounts. To activate South-North trade, establishment of infrastructure, stabilization of shipping, reducing high costs of distribution, building direct communication system by setting up office in a neutral zone and simplifying procedures in applying for the South and North Korea Economic Cooperation Fund. On the other hand, clothing and textiles education is carried on at art colleges, light industries colleges and commercial colleges in Pyongyang. Clothing institutes which study Hanbok and Western clothes, are installed in each city and province. Graduates who majored in clothing and textiles are posted in institutes or apparel factories. Their job is designing, patternmaking and sewing for their customers. Most of them are women and in good state of economic conditions. The North Korean clothing industry has been the core national industry that has developed based on overseas demand form the mid 1980s. The standard is that of South Korea in the early 1980s. In 1999, trade of North Korean textile products with trade counterparts such as Japan and China was $1.3 million in exports and $1.27 in imports. Of this amount the export takes up 25.4% of the total exports in North Korea. However, fundamentally even in sectors that are irrelevant to politics such as the fashion clothing industry, trust between the South and North should be a prerequisite. Only through this can exchange between North and South and economic cooperation contribute towards the reunification.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2015

Purpose - This is a comparative study of the market development and characteristics of Ulsan in South Korea, Fukuoka in Japan, and Yanji in China, which are major East Sea Rim cities with adjacent areas of similar natural characteristics of the sea and the country. Particularly, it considers these aspects while focusing on the evolution of networks that appear in the distribution system and at the same time examining the institutions of market activation and regulations that are handled by the central and the local government and the changing logistics due to the development of transportation and the concern of food safety, using a meso-analysis approach. Research design, data, and methodology - The study used a historical and comparative approach with a focus on case studies. It made use of various materials such as local newspaper articles, reports, literature, interviews with experts, discussions with local merchants, discussions with customers, and so forth. Results - In the case of Fukuoka, from the 1960s, due to the entry of supermarkets, supermarkets expanded and they have now come to a dominant market position in the current market. They offer a convenient and comfortable environment while providing a large mall offering a variety of educational and cultural activities for customers to meet the customers' needs, such as the preferences of Korean tourists, who appear to prefer Japanese foods. The Fukuoka City Central Wholesale Market has been exporting fruits and vegetables as well as seafood products to Korea, China, and so forth. In the case of Ulsan, as in the early 2000s, due to the expansion of supermarkets, the traditional markets have been shrinking and further, the modernization of traditional markets was conducted under the auspices of the Small Business Administration. In addition to the large discount malls, the expansion of SSM is expected to further drive the small trader bay. Shopping malls, department stores, and traditional markets contend with each other in Yanji, China, but a large number of citizens appear to prefer traditional markets and imported milk in the supermarket after the melamine scandal in China. Recently, the WanYuan (萬源) wholesale market has been partially completed and made an attempt to become a logistics hub in Northeast Asia. Conclusions - For the development of Korea's retail industry, it is important to offer the government with proposals regarding desired regulation. On the other hand, in order to enable the business of traditional markets, it requires an association for cultural tourism. At present, it would be better to provide a venture fund for the youth rather than infrastructure support. This study emphasizes the importance of institutions and policy to develop networks in the East Sea Rim. Future studies should conduct a survey on customers, managers, and merchants more carefully and systematically to understand the market situation while considering the size of the city and its evolution of markets, as well as policies and institutions.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.45
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• pp.191-238
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• 2010

The purpose of this paper is to make research on the trend of the worldwide medical device market, the trend of the medical device market in the major foreign countries, the present status of the medical device industry in Korea and Gangwon area, the present status of export competitive power and the SWOT analysis of competitive power of the medical device industry in Gangwon area, and the strengthening methods of export competitive power of the medical device industry in Gangwon area. As the research method, the questionaire for the strengthening of export competitive power of the medical device industry in Gangwon area was carried out from August 13 to Otober 22, 2009. The worldwide medical device market in 2008 is estimated at USD 210.2 billion, with the United States being the largest market, followed closely by Japan and Western Europe. In 2006, the worldwide export amount of medical devices recorded USD 121.1 billion and the worldwide import amount of medical devices recorded USD 126.3 billion. As of the end of 2008, the number of Korea's medical device manufacturers expanded to 1,726. The production amount of Korea's medical device industry in 2008 recorded 2,525 billion won, and the domestic market volume of medical devices in 2008 recorded 3,618 billion won. Korea's export amount of medical devices in 2008 recorded USD 1,132 million and recorded a 9.67% growth compared to the previous year, and the import amount of medical devices recorded USD 2,123 million and recorded a 1.43% reduction compared to the previous year. As of the end of 2008, the number of Gangwon area's medical device manufacturers expanded to 81. The production amount of Gangwon area's medical industry in 2008 recorded 380 billion won, and Gangwon area's export amount of medical devices recorded USD 269 million and recorded a 0.25% reduction compared to the previous year, and the import amount of medical devices recorded USD 3 million and recorded a 39.63% reduction compared to the previous year. According to the result analysis of the questionaire for the strengthening of export competitive power of medical device industry in Gangwon area(August 13~October 22, 2009), the competing country of the export medical device is the United States being the highest ranking. Comparing to the collective competitive power level 100 of the competing country, the collective competitive level of the export medical device is 60 below and 70-80 below being the highest ranking. Comparing to the quality level 100 of the United States, EU and Japan, the quality level of the export medical device is 80-90 below being the highest ranking. Comparing to the design level 100 of the United States, EU and Japan, the design level of the export medical device is 90-100 below being the highest ranking. Comparing to the technology level 100 of the United States, EU and Japan, the technology level of the export medical device is 80-90 below being the highest ranking. According to the SWOT analysis of competitive power of medical device industry in Gangwon area, the strength is the abundant expert manpower of the medical device in Wonju area. The weakness is the fragility of the brand recognition of the medical device industry. The opportunity is the demand increase of the new medical device owing to the advanced age of population. The threat is the difficulty of entry into overseas market owing to the request of the new specification certification of the medical device. In order to strengthen the export competitive power of the medical device industry in Gangwon area, the following measures should be taken by the government, local self-government body, related organization and medical device industry : the development of new technology and design, the enhancement of brand recognition. the acquisition of the foreign specification certification, the building of overseas distribution channel and after sales service channel, the positive participation in overseas medical device exhibition and opening of medical device exhibition, the training of expert manpower, the strengthening of overseas marketing, and the application of FTA and the establishment of counter measures against FTA. In conclusion, the medical device industry in Gangwon area has the difficulty in the entry into the overseas market owing to the shortage of overseas marketing capability. Therefore, the government and local self-government body should make the intensive and systematical support for overseas marketing of the medical device industry. For the support of overseas marketing, the government and local self-government body should provide positively the support of expenses for the acquisition of foreign specification certification, the support of participation in the overseas medical device exhibition, the despatch of market development mission, the increase of the support amount for R&D investment fund, and the training of expert manpower of medical devices.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.638-649
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• 2013

This study focuses on analyzing the trend of Korean movies and the issues caused by industrialization and the alternatives. The results are as follows: first, there does not exist distinctive genre movie as most of the movie producers concentrate on thoughtless genre fusion of movie, simply hoping for box office success. Second, Giant companies that has large amounts of money and distributors tend to monopolize production, distribution, and running of movie. Consequently, the development of diversity and artistry is absolutely impeded. Third, the structure of Korean movie industry make some well-known movie stars survive the film world and staff members and actors except them face economic difficulty. The solution plans for the problems mentioned above can be drawn like this; first, genre film with distinctive features should be developed. Second, the monopolistic structure of the screen should be changed. Legal organizations are required to redesign the system of unfair Korean film industry. Third, it is suggested that quantitative expansion of special theaters of diversity film be urgently needed. Fourth, appearance fees given to popular movie stars, actors, and staff members have to be provided in a balanced way. Fifth, the way for revitalization of film production should be found through the legal examination of fund for film development. Last but not least, the profit from the additional film market ought to be made.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.7-17
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• 2012

The recent announcement of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) to cease journal accreditation operations as of the end of the year 2014 can easily influence the future of many research journals in Korea. Although this plan has not yet been formalized or structured, its facilitation would be the major turning point for the current Korean research and scholarly journals and publications. In addition, the NRF's plan to select and fund top 20 or more research journals over the five year period beginning 2015 suggests that the competition will most likely increase among Korean journals. Each journal would need to develop its unique strategy to improve and strengthen its competitiveness to become or maintain its position as a major research journal in Korea. The association of Korean Distribution of Science (KODISA) and its research journal, Journal of Distribution Science (JDS), has been continuously improving its reputation as a reputable journal in the distribution and related fields since its establishment in 1999. Due to demand, JDS has had to undergo several changes in its publication cycle first from semiannual publication to quarterly, then finally to monthly publications in 2012, and has become one of the major social science journals in Korea. Furthermore, with the redesigning of its webpage with English language in July of 2011, KODISA has made the published journals freely accessible and available to both domestic and foreign researchers, scholars, practitioners, and learners. These changes have resulted in the rapid increase in the bounce rate and the number of journal submissions by foreign scholars, with four research articles having been submitted by foreign scholars just in March of 2012 alone. However, although the changes and outcomes have resulted in a reasonable success so far, the achievement may only become a short-term success without continuously developing, improving, and implementing both effective and efficient strategies through critical, thorough, and frequent examinations and evaluations of both KODISA and JDS. As such, the purpose of this research is to carefully examine both KODISA and JDS to identify problematic factors and to develop appropriate strategies to change or modify those problems for further strengthening and improving their reputation and status. The paper examines and analyzes the past, present, and future of KODISA and JDS and their managerial, operational, and systematic procedures and operations. The narrow scope of research and inefficiencies in promoting the association and the journal and the improvement of impact factors are identified as the notable problems that could hinder JDS from being included in SCOPUS or SSCI in the near future. This type of examination and exploration has not been previously conducted, so the major limitation of this paper can be identified as not meticulously elaborating on the problems nor proving detailed recommendations based on the existing researches. This article asserted that solving the problem of the narrow scope of research would lead to facilitation of resolving other inefficient problems. Inclusion of international academic disciplines to the distribution and their related fields would be the viable initiation of expanding the research area, and this strategy could promote the journal as well as improve its impact factors. The narrow scope of research seems to be a good research topic and merit further exploration as an individual research project, because this kind of research could yield the creation of new understandings or theories.