• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.71-97
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• 2003

In this study, the main goal is conduct an empirical research for MNC's(multinational companies) contingency factors and entry modes. Through examining elements of success and limitations of foreign companies in the domestic market, a resulting purpose can be suggested such as developing attractive foreign investment policy. The results in this study are as below. The results from Logistic Regression Analysis there were indications for preference factors for WOS (Wholly Owned Subsidiary). The factors were 'Strategic Motivation', 'Intelligent Property', and 'Market Latent Purchasing Power'. For JV (Joint Venture) there were preferred factors such as 'Degree of Using Product Factors', 'Differential Products Development Ability', and 'Systematic Incentives'. However, this thesis is limited to identifying clear causal relationship between the 'Performance' of foreign investment enterprise which entered WOS or JV and various factors which were suggested in the contingency factors (independent variables).

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2016

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to find the issues associated with international expansion of Korean franchisors going international and suggest lessons of proposition to reduce the failure risk in international expansion of franchise systems. Research design, data, and methodology - This is the exploratory study and structured to review (1) background to motivate the expansion of franchisors towards international market, (2) the status of Korean franchisors going international in recent years, (3) issues, (4) lessons learned from the experiences, and (5) summary. Secondary sources were reviewed to get necessary data and statistics. Results - Master franchising was the most preferred entry mode for Korean franchisors. Franchisors must understand the expenses to be incurred as well as revenues associated with international activities. Brand is the core asset of franchisor as a differentiation strategy. Conclusions - The paper indicates that even if international franchising is the unique business model for franchisors to use in little or least risk compared with other international entry modes, it needs a set of complex capabilities that much differ from those in domestic and franchisors should take a step approach to the international market with the planned and long term perspective.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.189-215
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• 2017

This study analyzes the determinants of the choice of foreign direct investment mode by Korean fashion firms in entering into foreign markets. We have established hypotheses regarding their choice among three classical entry modes including a wholly-owned subsidiary, a joint venture and an M&A based on factors such as the investing firm's size, international experience and international strategy type, host market potentials, cultural distance and foreign investment risk. By conducting multiple logistic regression over secondary data on 100 Korean fashion firms, we found that all variables but cultural distance were statistically significant. The results may contribute to advancing international business theory on the fashion industry and developing fashion firms' global strategy.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.290-311
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• 2010

This study aimed at exploring the primary motivations in the behavior of MNCs' setting up R&D Labs in China, four main subjective motivations were founded. R&D Labs consisted of the following four types: local market support Labs, local technology support Labs, global technology center, and internationally interdependent Labs.he choices of the R&D Lab type features are different because of the various R&D investment motivations. Provided that MNCs' investment motivations in China are in order to obtain Chinese markets and customers, local market support Labs are supposed to be chosen so as to support Chinese markets; provided that investment motivations are in order to gain talents and science and technology resources, global technology centers are supposed to be used to achieve the highest synergy result; provided that investment motivations win an absolute competitive advantage in China, local market support Labs are extremely necessary in preoccupying markets; last but not the least, provided that investment motivations are environmental owing to their instability, local technology support Labs are a good choice for their relatively low R&D expenses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.27 no.9_10
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• pp.1081-1092
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to identify the current situation of textiles and apparel firms in the overseas markets and to examine the relationship between firms' characteristic(i.e., sales volume) and international marketing strategies. A random sample of 311 textiles and apparel firms were selected. The survey design method was used to test conceptual framework. Adjusted response rate was 33.4%(n=115). Descriptive analysis (i.e., frequency, percent) and $\chi$$^2$-test were used for data analysis. About the current situation of textiles and apparel firms in the overseas markets, the motivation for international market entry was highly found to expand their operation from domestic to international market, and most firms were found to be involved with OEMs(Original Equipment Manufacturers) as an entry mode for international market. China and US market were the most popular market among Korean textiles and apparel firms. Product differentiation strategy, pricing strategy based on manufacturing cost and buyer's offering price, place strategy using foreign buyers and participating a few international exhibition were frequently used among Korean textiles and apparel firms for international marketing. Among textile firms, sales volume was related to product strategies(product development), price strategy(buyer's offer) and place strategy(channel). Among apparel firms, product strategy(product labeling), price strategy(price satisfaction). The findings of this can be used when Korean textiles and apparel firms do strategic planning and evaluate the international marketing strategies. Also information and results of this study may assist policy makers to develop better ideas and strategies for textiles and apparel industry.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.325-351
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• 2016

This study empirically investigated the relationship among knowledge transfer, network(firm network and government network) and performance Korean MNCs' subsidiaries in terms of absorptive capacity and entry mode roles in China. For this, absorptive capacity was established as an independent variable, mediating variable, and moderating variable. And the entry mode was divided into single investment and joint venture and set to the moderating variable. Data for the analysis of actual proof was randomly selected from the companies which was established more than 3 years before KOTRA 'The overseas expansion Korean company directory (2014)'. Questionnaires to 138 Chinese subsidiaries of Korean MNCs were collected by FAX and E-mail. AMOS was utilized and collected data investigated the role of the absorption capacity and entry mode as the covariance structure analysis. The empirical analysis showed that absorption capacity has a direct influence on management performance as an independent variable with the network (firm network and government network). It only has a partial mediating role between enterprise networks and management performance, and no meaningful result was gained as its moderationg role bewteen the exogenous variable and management performance. And in terms of Korean companies' moderating role in entering China, they have a moderating role between government network, absorption capacity and management performance, but did not show a statistically significant result between knowledge transfer, enterprise network and management performance. Absorption capacity, as the variable affecting overseas subsidiary's management performance, should not be considered a mediating or moderating variable, but an independent variable. Since the joint venture is showing higher performance than single investment when going into the Chinese market, implication is provided for options in overseas expansion. But this research has the limitation in generalization because it is aiming at the subsidiaries of the Korean company investing in China. Therefore, it is more desirable in the future to conduct a study of the subsidiary of the Korean company entering several countries. It also has limitations in generalization, because the research was conducted using a limited number of variables, despite there are various factors affecting the management performance of Chinese subsidiaries.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1-32
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• 2014

The purpose of this paper is to investigate upon a diversification strategy through market creation of CJ Group, which has contributed in positioning of the firm as one of the leading conglomerates in South Korea. With such objective, the background of CJ Group, followed by its business diversification strategies were explored, with reference to several case studies. The history of CJ Group began with establishment of CheilJedang Industrial Corporation in 1953, as the first domestic sugar producer and exporter of South Korea. The corporation gradually expanded its business ever since at both national and global level, to include the fields of food production, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life chemicals. Later, CheilJedang (CJ) Group was established as an affiliate of CheilJedang Industrial Corporation. With such independence, extension of business has been witnessed across the industries of media, entertainment, finance, information technology and distribution. Thus, the current CJ Group pursues to define itself as a progressive global living culture company with four major business categories from food and food service, biotechnology, entertainment and media, and logistics. Despite its success in today's market, CJ Group underwent hardships in its business diversification in 1990s due to indiscreet management, along with the Asian financial crisis. Here, many firms overcame the financial difficulties by taking advantage of the exchange rate for overseas expansion. Though, CJ Group tried to differentiate itself by focusing on the domestic market by creating something out of nothing. Hence, CJ Group takes a unique position among many cases of business diversification and their categorization. In an effort to identify and classify the types of growth experienced by the top 30 companies in South Korea, the firms were categorized into four groups according to their diversification strategies adapted after the Asian financial crisis. Based on the mode and time of entry, corporations were identified either as the 'Explorer', 'Invader', 'Venture Capitalist', or 'Assimilator'. Here, the majority of the firms showed the qualities of Invader, entering mature markets through large-scaled mergers and acquisitions. However, CJ Group was the only firm that was categorized as an Explorer, for its focus on the newly emerging service sector in culture-contents industry. This diversification strategy through market creation is worth examining, due to its contribution in generating simultaneous growth between the market and the company itself. Diverse brands of CJ Group have been referred to as case studies in this regard, from 'Hatban', 'Cine de Chef', 'VIPS' to 'CJ GLS'. These four businesses, each to represent processed food, film, restaurant service, and logistics industries respectively, show CJ Group's effectiveness in creating a whole new category of goods and services that are innovative. In fact, such businesses not only contributed in advancement of consumers' wellbeing, but toward generating additional value and employment. It is true that the diversification strategy of CJ Group requires long-term capital investment with high risk, compared to the other strategies mentioned in the paper. However, this model does create high employment and additional values that are positive to both the society and the firm itself. Therefore, the paper comes to a conclusion that the diversification strategy through market creation conveys the most positive impact relative to the others.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.177-191
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• 2021

Based on the existing OFDI (outward foreign direct investment) literature, this study endeavored to verify how the corruption of host countries affects the partner strategy of EMNEs (emerging multinational enterprises) when EMNEs enter global markets through joint ventures. Following the existing literature, this study classified corruption and partner strategies into two categories, respectively. First, the corruption of host country was divided into grand corruption and petty corruption. Second, EMNEs' joint venture partner strategy was divided into home country partner joint venture and host country (i.e., local) partner joint venture. Our hypothesis suggested that the greater the host country's grand corruption, the more EMNEs would choose the host country partner, while the strong petty corruption leads to the preference of home country partner in host country. The hypotheses were verified with a sample of 890 foreign direct investment cases of Chinese multinational companies from 2005 to 2015. As a result of the study, regardless of the degree of corruption, it was found that they prefer joint ventures with home country partners when EMNEs enter the global market through joint ventures.

• Journal of Korean Port Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.43-58
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• 1993

There has been fast progress in economy in Korea derived by a consecutive five-year plan program for economic development started in the early 1960's. In the field of transportation, rapid changes in the technological environment of transportation and communication have brought a revolution of the transport system, of which inter-modal transportation through containerisation is typical. Because of the rapidly growing traffic volumes of cargo, especially container traffic, and lack of investment into transport infrastructure in the past, both road and railway are beyond their capacity. As a result, the public-road network has suffered a serious congestion problem. For instance, in relation to the corridor between Seoul and Pusan, today, it takes about 14 hours for the journey of container trailer through Kyongbu Expressway, for which it used to take only 7 hours in 1986. For the railway, though the congestion problem is not very serious compared with the road sector, a shortage of capacity on certain main lines has emerged as a problem as railway traffic has increased. Furthermore, the further expansion of the system in near future is difficult due to burden of higher construction the cost. Unlike these two modes, coastal shipping, which has been paid relatively less attention for commodity transport in Korea, shows no constraint in this respect. In addition, it is the most cost efficient mode of transport. This work therefore aims to make a proposal for the alternative inland transportation mode, which is to promote the coastal transport of container. Three obstructing factors for the promotion of the coastal transport are investigated and some solutions for those are suggested as follows : First, it appears to be essential to provide exclusive ports for the coastal shipping, that comply with simplification, specialization and rationalization. The optimum size of berths on the exclusive ports in Pusan port is estimated as 16-20. We found that it needs periodical study and publicity on the advantages from the adoption of the coastal mode. Inducing competition in the coastal shipping market is also necessary. For the supply of the fleet in the coastal shipping, chartering of the surplus ships in the oversea shipping is found to be more desirable than new shipbuilding. Second, to solve the fragmentation of the companies which wish to participate in the coastal transport, government has to implement the subsidy policy. The encouragement of participation of the shipping lines engaging in Korea-Japan run and Korea-East South Asia run, into coastal shipping also needs to be considered cautiously. Third, simplification of the document for entry in ports is needed for rational coastal shipping management. We can use B/L (Bill of Lading) for coastal shipping as a prerequisite to get the indemnity by P & I Club. The reduction of the government controls on entering and leaving the ports also needs.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.5-16
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• 2009

Against the backdrop of the increasing trend towards economic globalisation, many international firms are indicating that decisions on how to enter foreign markets remains one of the key strategic challenges confronting them. Despite the rich body of literature on the topic, the fact that these challenges have continued to dominate global marketing strategy discourses point to someevident lacunae. Accordingly, this paper considers the variables, categorised in terms of firm contexts (standardisation, market research, competition, structure, competitive advantage) and host country-contexts (economic development, cultural differences, regulation and political risk), which influence the degree of involvement of UK companies in overseas markets. Following hypotheses were drawn from literature review: H1: The greater the level of competition, the higher the degree of involvement in the overseas market. H2: The more centralised the firm's organisation structure, the higher the degree of involvement in the overseas market. H3a: The adoption of a low cost-approach to competitive advantage will lead to a higher degree of involvement. H3b: The adoption of an innovation-approach to competitive advantage will lead to a higher degree of involvement. H3c: The adoption of a market research approach to competitive advantages will lead to a higher degree of involvement. H3d: The adoption of a breadth of strategic target-approach to competitive advantage will lead to a lower degree of involvement. H4: The higher the degree of standardisation of the international marketing mix the higher the degree of involvement. H5: The greater the degree of economic development in the host market, the higher the degree of involvement. H6: The greater the cultural differences between home and host countries, the lower the degree of involvement. H7: The greater the difference in regulations between the home country and the host country, the lower the degree of involvement. H8: The higher the political risk in the host country, the lower the degree of involvement. A questionnaire instrument was constructed using, wherever possible, validated measures of the concepts to serve the aims of this study. Following two sets of mailings, 112 usable completed questionnaires were returned. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze data. Statistically, the paper suggests that factors relating to the level of competition, competitive advantages and economic development are strong in influencing foreign market involvements. On the other hand, unexpectedly, cultural factors (especially individualism/collectivism and low and high power distance dimensions) proved to have weak moderating effects. The reason for this, in part, is due to the pervading forces of globalisation and the attendant effect on global marketing. This paper has contributed to the general literature in a way that point to two mainimplications. First, with respect to research on national systems, the study may hold out some important lessons especially for developing nations. Most of these nations are known to be actively seeking to understand what it takes to attract foreign direct investment, expand domestic market and move their economies from the margin to the mainstream global economy. Second, it should be realised that competitive conditions remain in constant flux (even in mature industries and mature economies). This implies that a range of home country factors may be as important as host country factors in explaining firms' strategic moves and the degree of foreign market involvement. Further research can consider the impact of the home country environment on foreign market involvement decisions. Such an investigation will potentially provide further perspectives not only on the influence of national origin but also how home country effects are confounded with industry effects.