• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.34
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• pp.135-156
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• 2007

Trade Portal Site(TPS) is one of the essential tools which can make it possible for small and medium enterprises(SMEs) to perform international trade activity more efficiently using newest information and communication technology including the Internet. Therefore, Korean SMEs need to utilize TPS more actively to enhance their export competitiveness. In this context, this article analyzes the determinants of export performances of Korean SMEs in utilizing the service of TPS based on the Service Quality Model. As a result of an empirical research by using regressive analysis, various measures of service reliability such as reliability, empathy, and tangibilities have positive effects on SMEs export performance in utilizing TPS. These results provides many useful implications to the TPS managers, e-trade related government agency, along with managers of SMEs using TPS.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.3-21
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• 2008

This study analyzed the effect of degree of using online trade process services provided by e-Trade companies on the degree of user satisfaction and the online export performance in Korean small and medium-sized exporting firms(SMEs). According to the empirical survey results based on 130 sample firms, there were positive relationship among the frequency of using e-Trade companies' services, the degree of user satisfaction and the online export performance. Furthermore, the results of the moderated regression analysis showed that there were significant moderation effect of the organizational characteristics on the relationships between the degree of user satisfaction and the SMEs' online export performances. This study provides several useful implications to Korean SMEs, e-Trade companies and government policy makers.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.1-22
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• 2020

This study explores the role of relationship banking for the exports of SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) in Korea. Using a sample of SMEs listed on the Korean stock markets between 2004 and 2018, I find that relationship banking has a positive impact on exporting behaviors of SMEs. This result indicates that relationship banking is suitable for SMEs to raise their funds in the export decision-making since the incentive for banks to obtain soft information enhances SMEs' access to external finance. In particular, through further analysis considering financial constraints, I find that the positive impact of relationship banking on exports is amplified for financially constrained SMEs. In addition, the positive impact on exports is also amplified for export starters. Finally, relationship banking provides benefits for SMEs' export decision-making regardless of the financial crisis. To sum up, relationship banking may be useful means of financing for Korean SMEs whose creditworthiness cannot be assessed only by hard information. As the role of finance in international trade has recently been highlighted, this study provides insightful evidence that relationship banking may enhance exports of SMEs as a source of trade finance.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.181-204
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• 2007

Trade Portal Site(TPS) is one of the innovative skills which makes it possible for small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) to manage international trade activities more efficiently by using the newest information and telecommunication technology. Based on performance and an existing research related to using information technology, this research analyzed the user's degree of utilization of TPSs which moderates effects between SMEs characteristics and export performance of SMEs. According to the results of the empirical study on actual data of 194 sample firms by using moderated regression analysis, there are significant only organizational characteristics among determinants(such as organizational characteristics, export characteristics) as the degree of utilization of TPSs. These research results provide many useful insights to the CEOs of SMEs using the services of TPSs, e-Trade system developers, and government policy makers. First, CEOs and managers of SMEs should have thorough understanding of the importance of the new information technology and e-Trade and positively adopt new e-Trade solutions and systems to their export processes to enhance global competitiveness. Second, TPS managers and e-Trade systems developers must concentrate on improving the user's degree of utilization of TPSs. Finally, the government agency should develop the various e-Trade promotion policies to support the efforts of SMEs organizational characteristics and TPS to increase the degree of utilization of TPS, which have positive effects on the export performance of SMEs.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.73-84
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• 2019

This study focuses on previous research that explored the external knowledge reflecting the characteristics of SMEs and that should be considered because of the limited capacity of SMEs. This study examines the effects of open innovation and SMEs on export performance, focuses on government support as a way to supplement the limited capacity of SMEs, and analyzes the moderating effects of government support. An examination of 1,358 samples revealed that the breadth of external knowledge, depth of external knowledge, and government support had a significant impact on the export performance of SMEs. The effect of exploration of external knowledge (breadth and depth) of SMEs on the export performance of SMEs is significant both in breadth and depth when government support is provided, but only depth is significant when there is no government support.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.333-356
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• 2013

The main purpose of this article is to find out the determinants of usage and performance of the uTradeHub system in Korean SMEs. To achieve the purpose of the study, the research model and the hypotheses were developed based on the previous research on uTradeHub and e-Trade. And to test the research hypotheses, empirical survey was conducted to Korean SMEs which were using uTradeHub services. The results of the empirical analyses are as follows. First, among the external factors, intra-industry competition and transaction intensity were significant determinants of uTradeHub usage level. Secondly, among the internal factors, only CEO's support was found to be a significant determinant. Thirdly, among the IT related factors, IT infrastructure and IT training were positively related to uTradeHub usage level. Finally, the uTradeHub usage level was found to have positive effect both on financial and non-financial export performance of the Korean SMEs.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.131-148
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• 2019

Purpose - Based on the Korea-China FTA as the starting point, this paper makes an empirical analysis of the main influencing factors of the FTA utilization and performance of SMEs. Design/methodology - Taking into account the relationship between the internal and external environmental factors on FTA activities and performance of Korea's SMEs, with PLS-SEM and data obtained by the questionnaire, Smart PLS was applied for the analysis. Findings - The recognition of FTA in SMEs has a significant positive effect on FTA utilization and performance, the international marketing orientation factor only has a significant positive effect on the performance, while the inadequate improvement of non-tariff barriers has a significant negative impact on FTA utilization. In addition, FTA activity has a significant mediation effect on two paths. Originality/value - This paper is of great practical relevance as a tool to enable SMEs to make effective utilization of Korea-China FTA and improve their imports and exports. The paper helps grasp the main factors affecting the utilization and performance of FTA for SMEs, also to establish FTA Business Model and FTA utilization plans for specific industries in the future regarding tariff and non-tariffs compatibility.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.71-89
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• 2020

This study was carried out to identify the impact of EU GDPR on international trade amid the ongoing digital trade liberalization. To do this, we first looked at the current trend of digital trade liberalization, the role of data in it, and the trade-restrictive elements of EU GDPR. This allowed us to identify the negative impact of GDPR on free trade. It then conducted an interview survey on Korean companies operating in the EU to verify the conclusions reached. The result of this survey showed that the level of GDPR risk perceived by Korean firms was very low compared with those of American, Japanese and Chinese firms. In particular, the impact of GDPR is not clear for Korea's SMEs. It can be assumed that the reason for this is that Korean SMEs are not using data as a major business tool while the capability of SMEs is sufficient to cope with GDPR. In this regard, the government's appropriate policies and further research for SMEs are needed.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.115-137
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• 2005

E-trade is important that SMEs can do international business with activity. However, SMEs are facing psychological and economic barriers to e-trade. Therefore, SMEs depend on intermediaries for e-trading. In this context, APEC carried out the APEC Global B2B Interoperability Project to promote e-trade and increase benefits for member countries from 2002 to 2004. Especially this project emphasizes a collaboration with e-marketplaces. It has significance in that it is a new model to help SMEs do international trade. This study analyzes the APEC project in terms of technology and business and evaluates the project as a collaborative business model.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.60
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• pp.177-194
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• 2013

According to the 2013 statistics, the small/medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accounted for 99.9% of the Korean economy with 87.8% of employment. This simple figures also indicate SMEs export extension is a key task for the national economy stimulation and job creation. The SMEs export plunge has been affected by the European financial turbulence, US financial instability, developing countries like China entering foreign markets, a weak yen, etc. EXIM Bank, in this context, will need to take a more proactive attitude to provide trade finance by, for example, reviewing the business feasibility for SMEs with a lower credit rank or investigating importers' credit status, etc. Moreover EXIM Bank provides factoring service mostly to large companies and should lower its threshold for service provision to SMEs. Finally EXIM Bank should play more than a primary forfeiting market entity. It also needs to facilitate the secondary forfeiting market.