• Economic Analysis
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.30-69
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• 2019

This paper analyzes the effects of trade on demand for labor of trading firms in Korea. We apply system GMM methodology to estimate the effects of imports and exports on employment of Korean manufacturing firms using firm-level data from the Survey of Business Activities of Statistics Korea between 2006 and 2014. According to our estimated results, for firms with high-productivity, exports have a positive and significant effect on the labor demand, while other firms do not show any such significant effects. Furthermore, our results show that offshoring mitigates the positive effects of exports on employment, since tasks within the firms can be relocated abroad. On the other hand, an increase in imports reduces demand for labor because labor is replaced with low-priced imported inputs. Also, when firms partake in global outsourcing, the negative effects of imports are mitigated as those firms expand their production by enhancing their efficiency in the process of offshoring. Therefore, our results suggest that it is important to consider heterogeneous firm productivity as well as offshoring in analyzing the effect of trade on labor demand of firms.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Navigation
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.31-42
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• 1993

The purpose of this study was to find out the most approriate international marketing strategy of Korean shipping firms for Uruguy Round expected to be agreed among GATT members in 1993. In literature sur-vey, the service marketing philosophy was reviewed to clarify the functions and roles of marketing concept in setting up the international marketing strategies for shipping firms. The marketing concepts are characterized as follows ; 1) production-oriented stage, 2) sales-oriented stage, 3) marketing-oriented stage in the order of historical development. An comparative analysis was car-ried out to examine the differences in marketing strategies among Korean shipping firms and U.K. ship-ping firms.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.203-236
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• 2002

Environmental Performance Evaluation(EPE) is a key process of Corporate Environmental Management. This paper presents the results of an empirical survey on the status of current practices in EPE of Korean firms. Based on a corporate environmental management(CEM) model, which is initially developed by Hibbitt and Kamp-Roelands(2001) and modified in terms of EPE, the survey is peformed on the population of Korean firms, which are composed of firms certified as "environmentally friendly" by Korean government and/or certified under Is014001, and compares its results with those of Europe's. Although the relatively low response rate and some methodological limitations makes us be cautious about the interpretation, the results shows many interesting aspects of the current states of Korean firms' EPE practices. That is, the levels of EPE implementation in the environmentally-leading companies of Korea are almost the same as that of European companies, I. e., in the-final-part-of-developing-stage (3rd stage) level of the CEM model. It is also shown that as In Europe's case, Korean firms are also moving slower in external relationships than in internal control and management, are more developed in the parameters like environmental policy, Internal control, Information system, which are requirements of certification under Is014001, than in parameters like life cycle analysis and full cost accounting, which requires more research efforts, etc.orts, etc.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.95-113
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• 2000

This paper aims to analyze the competitiveness of the Korean Deep-sea Fisheries firms in the firm level. The extant researches on this topic have been done mainly in the macro-or industry-level perspectives and depended on the quantitative analyses using the aggregated data. The results of these researches are useful to figure out the main features of the industy, however, hardly give any implications on the strategic or competitiveness-related problems in the firm level. To accomplish the research purposes this study analyzes the competitiveness of the Korean Fisheries firms on the value chain scheme using qualitative tools. Specifically this paper focuses on the industry competition characteristics, key success factors, the competitiveness, and the supporting systems and policies of the Korean Government. Data are gathered by questionaire and analyzed by factor analysis and Kruska-Wallis one-way ANOVA. The results shows that the competitiveness of the Korean Deep-sea Fisheries firms is not behind the foreign competitors. However the resource securing, the market development, R&D investment are the main obstacles to the firms. The governmental supports are kedined to improve the competitiveness of the Korean Deep-sea Fisheries firms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.751-762
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• 2002

Korean apparel industry is facing critical moment due to shortage of labor, wage increases and intensive competition among domestic manufactures. In addition, international production has been shifting to China and the other low-wage countries from established locations such as Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Global sourcing has been received considerable attention since firms can enhance their competitive advantage as well as comparative advantage by coordinating their sourcing activities global]y. This studs regarded global sourcing as one of the strategic tools to achieve competitive advantage of Korean apparel firms, and explored the current status by literature reviews and series of in-depth interviews with managers of korean apparel firms. The findings of this study were as follows: 1) Due to geographical advantage, China was the most favored nation for outsourcing for domestic markers. However, exporting firms preferred Latin America (including Mexico) to take advantage of duties, quotas and geographical proximity to the US market. 2) In selecting the global sourcing country, productivity, technical ability, local government regulation, and culture were considered important. 3) Most Korean apparel firms sources production globally, and followed by raw materials and trims. 4) Cost and quality were the most important factors in deciding subcontractors, and experience, productivity, equipment and finances were the next concerns. Academic implications and future directions were suggested based on findings.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.101-135
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• 1992

An an exploratory attempt, this study examines the patterns of strategic changes of the firms and changes in strategic group structure in response to environmental changes of the industry. Empirical analyses of 39 firms in the Korean tile industry for the period of 1986-1990 reveals that :1) environmental changes had different impacts on attractiveness of different product/market segments :2) the relatively large firms in less attractive product/market segments were more likely to change their domains :3) according to their specific target product/market segments, the firms tended to strengthen different resource capabilities which were identified as key success factorss to compete in each target segment : and 4) these differences in strategic changes of the firms resulted in the changes in strategic group structure during the same period. Implications and the limitations of this study are finally discussed.

• Proceedings of the Technology Innovation Conference
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• 2004.02a
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• pp.202-221
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• 2004

Technology is the most important determination factor on firm`s competitiveness. It helps firms to secure sustainable competitive advantages. Therefore Korean electronics part firms have increased their R&D investment since the 1990s. But their R&D management capabilities seem to be low level. Empirical study was undertook to verify factors that effect on R&D performance with enhancing R&D management capabilities. To accomplish the purpose, data collected valid samples in Seoul and Kyunggi Province. Using SPSSWIN 10.0package, regression analysis was used to verify hypotheses. This study verify that important factors of 4th R&D generation effect on improving R&D performance. Therefore Korean electronics firms must learn advanced firms in developed countries. Based on learning and accumulating R&D management capabilities, Korean electronics part firms should establish their firm-specific R&D management model.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.159-175
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• 2023

Purpose - This paper empirically investigates the relationship between born global strategy and the accounting- and market- based financial performance of Korean firms. Further, this study identifies the characteristics of born global firms (BGs) in comparison with non-BG counterparts in terms of size, R&D, and liability. Design/methodology - Using a database of listed Korean SMEs in the manufacturing sector from 2010 to 2020, this study applies panel generalized least squares (GLS) estimation and logistic regression techniques. Findings - This study finds that BG strategy is negatively related to the firm's accounting-based financial performance, while it is positively related to the market-based financial performance. This study also finds that BGs have higher sales volume and more total assets compared to their non-BG counterparts. In addition, Korean BGs spend more on R&D, and at the same time have higher liability. Originality/value - BGs, by definition, are firms that are actively penetrating foreign markets from the early stages of their establishment. Previous studies of Korean BGs have tried to identify the determinants of BGs' rapid internationalization and their superior performance. However, most of these studies have utilized either qualitative case- or survey-based analyses with relatively limited numbers of observations. From a different perspective, this study provides more objective evidence by investigating how the BG strategy affects the financial and market performance of firms, and by characterizing BGs in terms of financial data.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.74-92
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• 2021

Purpose - Utilizing a large sample of Korean firms, this study examines international diversification impacts on corporate tax avoidance and whether firms affiliated with large business groups (known in Korean as "chaebol") reinforce the relationship between international diversification and tax avoidance. Design/methodology - This paper hypothesizes that 1) international diversification is likely to increase tax avoidance, 2) the positive effect of international diversification on tax avoidance is likely to be more pronounced for chaebol firms. We examine the hypotheses by using Korean firms listed in the Korean stock market between 2011 and 2016. We employ the number of foreign subsidiaries and the entropy index as proxies for international diversification and CASH ETR and GAAP ETR as proxies for tax avoidance. Findings - Our findings are summarized as follows. First, we have found that as firms are more internationally diversified, tax avoidance increases. It means that international diversification can be employed as a method of reducing the tax burden. Second, firms affiliated with chaebol are strengthened by the positive relation between international diversification and tax avoidance. It is interpreted that chaebol firms have more effective opportunities to reduce taxes than other firms. When entering foreign markets, they can share experience and resources to decrease taxation within the large business group. Originality/value - This study provides empirical evidence regarding the tax effect of international diversification. Unlike prior studies, international diversification is positively related to tax avoidance in Korea. In addition, we present additional evidence on the chaebol effects of international diversification on tax avoidance, in which they have an advantage to reduce taxes using transfer pricing through related party transactions, income shifting to low tax rate countries, and establishing subsidiaries in tax havens.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.229-243
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• 2022

The importance of digital economy and platform firms in the Korean economy is growing. However, the concept and definition of platform firms are still in vague. In addition, the construct of platform firms in ecosystem has not yet investigated. In this paper, we attempt to define the platform firm and to classify the platform depends on the attributes of firms and business. We find 552 platform firms compose Korean platform ecosystem. From this study, the understood of platform concept can be accurated. Specifically, from the perspective of a 'firm' rather than a business-oriented attribute, and furthermore, the type of platform firm and detailed classification of industries and services were proposed for empirical analysis in the future. In addition, through the analysis of the current status of the platform ecosystem, policy recommendations for the future development and activation of the ecosystem were presented.