• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.227-254
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• 2006

Under the recent trend of telecommunications and broadcasting convergence, much more various forms of new convergence broadcasting services are being introduced than ever before. Owing to the unique advantages, new convergence broadcasting services are expected to bring drastic changes to the current broadcasting service market. In this research, we attempt to examine what kind of attributes critically affect the competition among new convergence broadcasting services, and how much competitive they will be, based on the quantitative information about consumer preferences for the important attributes of new convergence broadcasting services. Conjoint survey was used in order to obtain stated preference data of consumers. From the results, some implications are obtained as follows. First, even though new convergence broadcasting services have many unique advantages, still price is the most important for the consumers. Second, it is expected that considerable consumer valuation exists for the unique advantages of new convergence broadcasting services like mobility and dual-way interactivity, which will add the competitiveness of those services in the future. Third, since midterm advertising puts negative utility on consumers, broadcasting services with midterm advertising will not be preferred to those with neither advertising nor midterm advertising. Fourth, service coverage and the number of consumers using the same broadcasting service have a significant feedback effect on the competition between broadcasting services from the dynamic aspect. Lastly, the consumer preference can be affected by demographic variables like age and gender, and broadcasting service usage patterns such as channel switchover for escaping advertisement and frequency of using other recorded media. Main findings of our research might become useful information for both telecommunication and broadcasting companies, contents providers, advertisers, and policy and regulation makers to cope with the uncertain environment of telecommunication and broadcasting convergence.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
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• v.19B no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2012

According to consumer behavior theory, human propensity can be divided into two regulatory focus types: promotion and prevention. These two types have much influence on the consumer's decision in many diverse areas. In this research, we apply regulatory focus theory to personalized recommendation to minimize the cold start problem and to improve the performance of recommendation algorithms. To achieve this goal, we extract the consumer behavior variables and information exploration activity index from web shopping logs. We then use them for classifying regulatory focus of the consumer. This research has the contribution to show the possibility of systematization of consumer behavior theory as an interdisciplinary research tool of social science and information technology. Based on this attempt, we will extend the research to IT services adapting theories on other areas.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.3-35
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• 2017

For recent years, several disputes between Korean consumers and multinational companies have arisen. Since the disputes were big and material that children's safety was at issue, a question started if Korean law properly has protected consumers' rights against multinational companies. While the Korean legal society tried to legislate punitive compensation with this concern, the U.S. Supreme Court reached an interesting case law regarding consumer contracts. A recent trend on consumer contracts in the United States shows that general terms have arbitration clause with class action waiver. As much as international arbitration has worked as the most effective resolution in international commercial disputes, the concept is still foreign and the experts are not approachable to lay individual consumers. However, class action in arbitration can hugely help for lay individual consumers to bring a case before arbitration tribunal. California courts consistently showed the analysis that the practical impact of prohibiting class action in arbitration clause is to ban lay individual consumers from fighting for their rights. However, the Supreme Court held that the arbitration clause shall be enforced as parties agree even if consumers practically cannot fight for their rights in the end. Even though consumer contracts are a typical example of lack of parity and of adhesive contract, the Supreme Court still applies liberalism that parties are equal in power and free to agree. This case law has a crucial implication since Korean consumers buy goods and services from the U.S. and other countries in everyday life. Accordingly, they are deemed to agree on the dispute resolution clauses, which might violate their constitutional right to bring their cases before the adjudication tribunal. This issue could be more important than adopting punitive compensation because consumers' rights are not necessarily governed by Korean law but by the governing law of the general terms and conditions chosen and written by the multinational companies. Thus this paper studies and analyzes the practical reality of international arbitration and influence of arbitration clause with class action waiver with the U.S. Supreme Court and California case laws.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2015

An extensive literature survey and personal communication with relevant experts made it possible to understand economic and technical feasibility of disposable diaper recycling. Commercial level of soiled diaper recycling technology is currently available from a Dutch company, Knowaste Co., who owns a proprietary separation technology of the pulps, plastics and super absorbing polymer (SAP). In Korea, on the other hand, pre-consumer diaper recycling technology without material separation at its infancy converts manufacturing scraps into refuse plastic fuel (RPF), container/truck cargo boards or automobile boards/sheets. Although previous studies on feasibility of post-consumer recycling in Korea showed mutually contradictory implication, it was found out in this research that significantly positive economic feasibility can be obtained with pre-consumer diaper recycling. Subsequent recycling R&D including pre-consumer scrap and policy support may expedite 'Establishment of Sustainable Society.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.65-75
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• 2018

Purpose - The exhibition is one of the critical distribution channels that leads to mass sales of products. Servicescape is considered as an effective means facilitating consumers' purchasing behavior. The objective of this research is to examine the effects of servicescape of the exhibition on consumer's purchasing behavior measured by time spent, the number of consultations, the number of items purchased, and amount of money spent. Research design, data, and methodology - Servicescape was divided into four main components: 'spatial layout/functionality', 'ambient condition', 'design/artifacts', and 'human factor'. Based on previous studies, this study hypothesized that servicescape dimensions first influence consumer's shopping duration and the number of consultations which in turn, affects consumer's actual purchase. A total of 407 samples were collected from attendees in Baby Expo taken place in Kyunggido, South Korea. The data were used to assess overall fit of the proposed model and test hypotheses using structural equation modeling. All the constructs had acceptable levels of composite reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. Results - The results showed that except for 'spatial layout/functionality', all components of servicescape had a significant influence on consumer's shopping duration in the exhibition. Except for 'design/artifacts', other factors of servicescape did not show a significant effect on 'the number of consultations'. Interestingly, 'design/artifacts' exerted a significant negative effect on 'the number of consultations'. As expected, 'time spent' and 'number of consultations' showed significant effects on both 'the number of items purchased' and 'amount of money spent'. Conclusions - The results offer some insights into the effect of servicescape on facilitating consumers' purchasing behavior in the context of the exhibition. Theoretically, this study provides a new type of conceptual framework that verifies the relationships between not only servicescape and purchasing behavior, but also purchasing behavior-related variables. In addition, this study supports the concept of a dark side of servicescape. With regards to practical implications, this study suggests that exhibition organizers should put more efforts in facilitating consumer's desire to stay. More importantly, organizers need to keep in mind that excessive emphasis on 'design/artifacts' to increase consumers' shopping duration can cause a side effect that reduces opportunities for interactions with customers.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.645-652
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• 2014

This study identifies consumer needs and a pattern sensory evaluation of jacquard fabrics for raincoats using quick-drying-absorbing polyester. We investigate the consumer's consciousness and raincoat improvements. Twelve kinds of jacquard fabrics were developed for use in this study. Developed jacquard fabrics were assessed subjectively by 152 university students using a 7-point scale of 26 consumer needs and 31 pattern image sensory descriptors. Data were analyzed by SPSS. The major results were: There was a need for consumers to improve the front fastener type, cuff fastener, mesh patch position, and raincoat pocket position. The most important parameter to choose raincoat fabric was waterproof and the other parameters were vapor-porous/water repellent, design, color, fashionability, air-permeability and easy-put on/off. The pattern image sensibility of jacquard fabrics was explained by seven factors: gorgeous, simple, cute, futuristic, ethnic, feminine, and cool. A higher pattern preference was found in the jacquard fabrics of unique, sporty, natural, luxurious, and trendy images. The pattern preference was predicted at 45.3% with gorgeous, simple, pure, cute, futuristic factors. The correlation coefficient between the pattern image sensibility factor 1 (gorgeous) and pattern preference was 0.674 and with factor 3 (cute) was 0.416, and with factor 6 (cool) was 0.209. The 4 factors (gorgeous, simple, cute, futuristic) were selected as a significant pattern image sensibility that influenced preference.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.92-113
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• 2000

Products liability refers to the liability of any or all parties along the chain of manufacture of any product for damage caused by that product. This includes the manufacturer of component parts (at the top of the chain), an assembling manufacturer, the wholesaler, and the retail store owner (at the bottom of the chain). Products containing inherent defects that cause harm to a consumer of the product, or someone to whom the product was loaned, given, etc., are the subjects of products liability suits. The goal of products liability system should be to maximize consumer welfare by efficiently providing just compensation for injuries incurred and deterring future injuries without unreasonably impeding the supply of the goods and services to consumers. Some advanced countries, apart from relying on products liability systems, also apply other policies and legislation directly aimed at the safety of the consumer. The application of general safety policies as well as products liability rules is not costless. An efficient system will not eliminate risk from society. An efficient system ... that maximises consumer welfare ... maximises the benefits while minimising the costs. Products liability claims can be based on negligence, strict liability, or breach of warranty of fitness depending on the jurisdiction where the claim is based. In view of international business and law circumstances, it should be stressed that international enterprises in Korea should consider how to cope with the situation of international transaction. International enterprises should have a correct perception about products liability which is to contribute the stabilization and improvement of the people's life and the sound develpement of the national economy. Products liability system creates incentives that influence behaviour and performance in ways that are desirable, such as more diligent monitoring to prevent defective products from reaching the market-place. At the same time, any liability system will impose burdens that are undesirable, such as greater costs imposed on business and consumers and reduced avaiability of consumer goods. The concern for society is to balance. The ideal situation is where the cost imposed on producers of goods and services pushes them to a desirable level of care but not so far that producers reach undesirable level of caution that may deprive consumers unnecessarily of the benefits from new and innovative products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.851-861
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• 1998

The present study examined the consumer's evaluations of apparel quality and price, and the brand recognition according to the consumer's decision making styles(quality-conscious, brand-conscious, and price-conscious consumers). The two hundred and three subjects were asked to evaluate the quality and price of the two almost identical experimental blouses except for brand labels. One was the national brand, Keith and the other was the private brand, Ivy house. Also, the subjects were asked to answer if they recognize these two brands. The data were collected by self-administered questionnaire and were analyzed by frequency, percentage, one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, and factor analysis. The results of the study were as floows: (1) Examining the perceptions of product qualities, generally speaking, all three types of the consumers evaluated the national brand's qualities more highly than those of the private brand. However, in-part, the price-conscious consumers evaluated some product charac-teristics more highly than those of national brand: touch of fabric, sewing, and the hemline finishing. (2) Investigating the perceptions of product prices, All three types of the consumers evaluated the price of the national brand more highly than that of the private brand. Among those, the price-conscious consumers recognized the price of the national brands most expensively. (3) Identifying the brand recognition of the two brands, the brand-conscious consumers showed the highest brand recognition and the price-conscious consumers showed the lowest brand recognition in both national and private brands, 51.9% of the total respondents identified the private brand showing comparatively high brand recognition. (4) Examining the relationship between the demographic factors and the consumer decision making styles, the monthly household income was statistically significant. Namely, 71.4% of the brand-conscious consumers have the monthly household income of 3,000,000 Won or higher which means that the higher monthly household income, the higher tendency to be brand-conscious consumers.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.255-288
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• 2015

It is desirable to prevent medical accidents because they bring about irretrievable outcomes to patients, as they are directly related to each patient's life, and health. However, once medical accidents occur, it is appropriate to resolve them quickly without conflict before the feelings of directly involved people are intensely confronted with each other. Korea Consumer Agency carries out medical dispute mediation to address such disputes quickly, fairly, and efficiently, and so does Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency. Although there has been constant debate on a merge between the two agencies because of duplicated work and consequent inefficiency, it is desirable to maintain the two agencies to ensure consumers' options and to promote the mutual development of the agencies through competition. Therefore, there should be legal and systematical support for Korea Consumer Agency to have fair competition with Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency. This is not for Korea Consumer Agency, but ultimately for consumers.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.21-32
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• 2017

This study analyzes the variable consumer characteristics that influence the intention to use online product reviews. In online e-commerce, where purchases take place without consumers seeing the products in person, the product reviews left by other consumers who have already purchased the product are believed to be valuable information. However, when different consumers read the same product review, their responses to it may vary. This study analyzes the characteristics of consumers who utilize product reviews for their purchases. Consumer characteristics are categorized into personal information, personality, purchasing tendency, and experience related to product reviews. These factors are examined to see if they have direct or indirect effects on a consumer's intention to use product reviews when making online purchases. We surveyed a total of 240 consumers who had experience using e-commerce and knew about online product reviews. Once the data was collected, path analysis was conducted using the statistics tool AMOS. The study results reveal that consumers who are female, extroverted, and have higher price sensitivity think that product reviews left by others are useful, and that this "perceived usefulness" has a positive effect on the intention to use product reviews for making online purchasing decisions. In addition, consumers who are agreeable to others, have high brand sensitivity, and who have left numerous reviews themselves demonstrated the tendency to trust reviews left by others more. Thus, we conclude that this "perceived reliability" makes it more likely that a consumer will use product reviews when making online purchasing decisions. Future research can be done to develop this study further by analyzing whether providing online product reviews corresponding to the personal characteristics of consumers enhances the effect of product reviews on online purchasing decisions.