• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.65-72
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• 2015

Purpose - A rapidly changing business environment places great demands on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These SMEs need to find strategic alternatives for continued growth and, ultimately, survival. Thus, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are deemed an acceptable solution. Research to date has dealt with M&A in major organizations and focused on post merger integration (PMI). Our study focuses on SMEs, as they are relatively new and unknown to the public. Therefore, this study highlights successful M&A and decision making for SMEs through a case study analysis. Research design, data, and methodology - For this study, we examined an M&A case between company S, which produces cell phone parts, and company P, which produces SSD cases. We reviewed theories and previous studies in M&A literature. We comprehensively examined the decision-making procedure at each M&A stage, describing the situation of the buying company and the selling company from the period of the M&A announcement through deal completion. In addition, we conducted interviews with both companies. The data regarding this case study were collected through interviews with managers of both companies who actively participated in the M&A process. When necessary, we asked them about additional relevant information during the interviews. Results - The result of the M&A between company S and company P was deemed acceptable with the exception of the long negotiation period. However, company S was not able to prepare for PMI after the acquisition due to a controversy over acquisition values. Moreover, the employees of the newly formed company, especially those who came from company P, complained about the M&A and attempted to leave. Thus, implications for successful M&As of SMEs are as follows: First, the procedural compliance of the M&A is needed. Second, support is needed from the CEO for the working group, rather than excessive intervention during due diligence. Third, the right, talented members of the organization should be part of the process of the M&A. Fourth, the use of various types of outside expert or business consultants is needed. Fifth, the strategic intervention by Human Resource managers is required. Last, sharing M&A information among employees is important as information dissemination will help employees be more receptive to such a change. However, this study has several limitations as a single case study; more varied SME M&A case studies are needed in order to generalize the results of the study. Conclusions - Most of the research dealing with M&As has focused on major companies and PMI and neglected SMEs. Thus, our study focuses on SMEs and the decision-making procedures for M&A. This study has significantly contributed to the literature in this area and has provided practical information around the implications of sound decision-making during M&As. Specifically, the results of the study contribute to the need for research on M&A among SMEs, which to date has often been neglected as a topic of choice.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.89-97
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• 2013

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to systematically review the background of the Korean distribution promotion policy and distribution adjustment policies along with related regulations and policies. Research design, data, and methodology - Domestic distribution policy and relevant laws were examined through a review of existing research literature. The results of the development process of the domestic distribution policy, promotion policies, and adjustment policies are summarized below. Results - The results are summarized as follows. First, the purpose of the development of the domestic distribution promotion policy was to strengthen the competitiveness of the small and medium business industry through structural advancement of the small and medium industry. By expanding the managerial base for the small and medium industry, a new balance could be created in the national economy. There was a requirement for an early assistance policy for small and medium businesses as a base of these businesses in the distribution industry developed from their original model of catering to a traditional market of retail shops. Since 1996, there was a need for this early assistance policy due to the expansion and rapid growth of large scale stores causing a change in the consumption pattern for distribution markets and the decline of large enterprises. Second, the government supports small and medium business distribution through distribution promotion policies by supporting an organization promoting small business and supporting innovation in the distribution system. Third, in 1961 a business mediation system was established to protect small and medium industries. The Small and Medium Business Administration advises conglomerates to postpone acquisitions, restrain expansion of the business, or to reduce business scale if small businesses undergo an adverse effect such as decreasing demand because large companies are expanding into their areas. Fourth, the Distribution Adjustment Policy managed large-scale store regulation as follows: ① limitation on construction by urban planning ordinance, ② limitation on location based on traffic impact assessments, ③ regulation based on business guidelines by chiefs of autonomous bodies, ④ regulation on mandatory holidays and limitation of business hours. This large-scale store regulation is a policy introduced by authority to increase competitiveness of small and medium business distribution by the government. Conclusions - As discussed in this study, the distribution promotion policy and distribution adjustment policy are government distribution policies focused on the protection of the small and medium distribution businesses. This study is timely, since it was planned when the strengthening of the revisions of the Distribution Industry Development Act, aimed to protect small and medium retailers and merchants, was under discussion. The significance of this study is that it offers insights for the development of new policies in the future and an opportunity to consider the background of the distribution policy by the government.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.13-23
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• 2015

A study on the 'FUN' of TV reality audition programs. "Why are the audience so enthusiastic about the survival audition programs?" "What fun do the audition program audience have?" In order to find the answers for such questions, this study applied 'the 4-step fun evolving model' and thereby, categorized audience's fun-seeking behavioral modes, and therewith, examined how such fun-seeking behavioral modes would change by step over time. As a result, it was found that the audition program audience had faithfully followed the 4 fun types (watching, having, doing and becoming), and that their fun-seeking behavioral modes had changed by step over time in SBS "K-POP START" (Season 3) in 2013. Such findings suggest that the audition program fans accommodated 'the fun evolving model.' Their step of 'watching' evolved gradually into the step of 'having' both on-line and off-line (support of participants/malicious or good-will replies, participation in blogs/twitters, photo materials collection activities) and that of 'doing' (application for the jury group, organization of fan club, crazy fan activities, participation in phone voting, etc.), while increasing their fun.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.641-649
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to assess the durability of high-strength concrete with high volume mineral admixture (HVMAC) derived from previous studies within ternary blended concrete (TBC) and normal concrete (NC). Four durability evaluation types such as chloride penetration resistance, freezing and thawing resistance, carbonation resistance in two pre-treatment conditions, and sulfuric acid and sulfate resistance using 5% sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$), 10% sodium sulfate ($Na_2SO_4$), and 10% magnesium sulfate ($MgSO_4$) solution were selected and performed in this study. HVMAC showed the excellent chloride penetration resistance in any age and the freezing and thawing durability close to 100%. In addition, HVMAC affected more reduction in carbonation resistance than TBC. When the curing time was increased, to create a concrete internal organization densely improved resistance to carbonation. HVMAC also showed the most superior in sulfuric acid and sulfate resistance. As the reduction of calcium hydroxide and $C_3A$ to apply a large amount of admixture reduced the swelling and cracking of concrete, the strength reduction and mass change of concrete was found to be small indicated.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.286-294
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• 2013

Increasing concern for the health, well-being, and income of the people has expectedly brought continuous increase in the industrial value of medicinal plants in recent years as these are also used in foods and cosmetics. However, Korea's increased import of these products from China due to the FTA contract causes negative effects on its industrial value. In this regard, various measures for medicinal crop seed development and production, organization and expansion of circulation and forest land use deregulation are needed to promote the agricultural food industry including medicinal plants. As a measure, first, a database of medicinal plants should be built that can help to promote the national medicinal industry and the seed management system. Second, agricultural productivity should be enhanced via the development and supply of varieties of high quality medicinal plants. Third, there should be a good practice of the system maintenance for the production and supply of medicinal crop seeds. Fourth, production and distribution system of medicinal plants should be established by standardization of high quality seeds. Nowadays, the consumption pattern of medicinal crops is changing from direct ingestion to cosmetics, drugs, and food and this is expected to increase continuously. Consequently, the increased production of medicinal crops will support the development policy and the institutional improvement in response to this trend of the positive change of industrialization.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.368-372
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• 2000

The fruit structure of 'Fuji' apples from full bloom to maturing was observed from 1997 to 1998. Cell division period of the fruit was found to be 4 to 5 weeks after full bloom. Vascular bundles in the inner part of the fruit skin which were not described in the books illustrating apple fruit structure was observed, as they were tentatively named as outer vascular bundles (OVB), and another vascular bundles were also observed newly in periphery of locules, as they were tentatively named as inner vascular bundles (IVB). In the observation of the inner epidermis (IE) in the inner part of the locules on 2 days prior to full bloom, the guard cells were observed and these were disappeared in the observation made 2 days later, i.e. on full bloom. The formation of fruit skin was observed at the microscope 65 days after full bloom and the number of cell which organized the fruit skin did not change from this time to maturation period. Tannin which is mainly in the fruit skin changing from continuously during fruit growth, specially the tannin of epidermis disappeared completely 100 days after full bloom stage, and then constituted again. Starch was not almost found out in cell division period of fruit from full bloom stage after this time it constituted much at flesh part and decreased at maturation period. Epidermis was developed by uniform cells of a layer the cell of epidermis constituted irregularity after pigmentation stage, the organization of fruit was not close because the very big intercellular space constituted at hypodermis and flesh structure.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.112-119
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• 2020

Suicide has been a long-standing problem for global public health, along with almost 800,000 deaths from suicide worldwide in 2016, accounting for 1.4% of all deaths. South Korea was ranked first in suicide mortality in 2018 among countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This study aimed to suggest up-to-date information about suicide-related indicators such as the rate of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide death, and its trends by applying sampling weight to make it nationally representative. In this study, we used the data sources: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANES, '07-13, '15-18), Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS, '08-09, '13, '17), Korean Wealth Panel Study (KOWEPS, '12-18), Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, '10-13), and Statistics Korea (1983-2017). The rate of suicidal ideation as recent year was 4.73% (KNHANES, '17), 6.96% (KCHS, '17), 2.29% (KOWEPS, '18), and 5.39% (KHP, '13). That of suicide attempt as recent year was 0.51% (KNHANES, '18), 0.32% (KCHS, '17), and 0.15% (KOWEPS, '18). Annual percentage change (APC) of suicidal ideation was -15.4% (KNHANES, '07-13, '15, '17), -2.5% (KCHS, '08-09, '13, '17), -10.8% (KOWEPS, '12-18), and -10.9% (KHP, '10-13). APC of suicide attempt was -4.4% (KNHANES, '07-13, '15-18), -4.4% (KCHS, '08-09, '13, '17), and -13.6% (KOWEPS, '12-18). APC of death by intentional self-harm was -1.25% (Statistics Korea, '07-18). All suicide-related indicators were found to be decreasing in the overall from 2009. Individuals with lower income level were more likely to experience suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Even though suicide rate had been continuously decreasing from its highest point in 2011 (suicide rate: 31.7 per 100,000 population) to 2017 (suicide rate: 24.3 per 100,000 population), it increased again in 2018 (suicide rate: 26.6 per 100,000 population). This information would be grounded on policy implementation for suicide prevention, thus continuous data observation is necessary.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.140-154
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• 2010

The core of subject matter education is determined by the choice of subject matter taught to students and by the organization of content according to educational objectives. The purpose of this research is to suggest ways to improve the present content of science education so as to prepare students and schools for a radically different future. We deduced the main issues the solution of which could lead to significant improvements in the contents of science education by analyzing previous studies and investigating the changes in content that were effected during curriculum revisions in the past. The main issues thus revealed through this study are as follows: the essence of the contents of subject matters in science education, the social and cultural background of change in the science curriculum, the rational steps on the way to choosing contents as part of the science curriculum, the processes of choosing the main contents of each subject, the international comparative study of contents, the updating of contents for the benefit of future society, and the reorganization of subject contents. In order to find a concrete improvement on the issues deduced, we organized an expert group. Then, we proceeded to collect and analyze the experts' opinions. A survey was administered to 19 science education experts working with universities and colleges of education. We examined their degree of agreement on the issues and problems, and on the steps that may be taken to us the improvements on these issues. we suggested that: collecting opinion and reaching an agreement on the essence of the contents of the subject matters in science education, the necessity to choose core contents within the scientific domain, developing a structure map in order to integrate and connect various subject domains, presenting explicitly the objective of inquiry by grades, moving toward integrating science contents, diversifying the construction of science textbooks.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.107-118
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• 2008

The XP, the representative methodology of Agile software development, maximizes the effectiveness of the development by focusing on development itself and using primitive and basic process definition that can be easily implemented in the fields. However, the most of XP's practices came from those of engineering and the manogement practices of work product tend to be overlooked. The research on the implementation of those manogement practices has not been performed enough. Because of deficiency of processes that guide the change control over major baselines of work product and that describe proper continuous integration and refactoring in XP, the integrity of those work products is difficult to be guaranteed. To fulfill this work product integrity, CM(configuration manogement) should be hired and CMMI(Capability Maturity Model Integration) is considered to be the best references for that purpose, CMMI defines the required practices of CM and leave implementation details to the organization so that it could customize those practices based on the characteristics of its development methods. The CM process implementation guidelines based on CMMI could provides work product integrity with a way of keeping XP's agility that includes continuous integration, refactoring and small release. In this research, we selected CM process factors applicable to XP among CMMI's CM practices and based on them we developed the CM implementation guidelines.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.16 no.4 s.34
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• pp.1-8
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate as to how much of changes has occurred in the newly revised Home Economics Textbooks required by the 7th Curriculum as compared to those by the former 6th Curriculum. and to seek future policy direction which can be improved even better. if any. for further revision. To implement this proposal, this study employed 8 different textbooks published among 12 textbooks developed for the 7th Curriculum for data base. The results of this study were as follows: It was covered such areas of change and develope in the composition of category and system in the Home Economics Textbooks required by the 7th Curriculum as compared to those by the former 6th Curriculum. The whole system of textbook was composed of cover page, the inside of a book cover. the title page, introduction. table of contents. appendices. It was same in the total pages with the exception of table of contents. appendices. the inside of a book cover and it was much alike in contents of introduction. In the aspect of the unit system of the textbooks. their whole flows were similar to each other. but the writers' intention and the stress on the focal points had appeared well in topic introduction and texts for the units of the textbooks. In addition. it can be said desirable that much more middle school teachers took a participation in the development of textbooks as textbook writers than before. In the organizational aspect of the sub-area organization of textbooks in the 7th Curriculum, it was not dispersed in grade 1, 2, and 3, but was centralized in a certain grade to increase its efficiency. The number of activity and experiment & practice that students could try to do actually were drastically increased compared to the 6th Curriculum. but it showed a wide difference between textbooks.