• East Asian Economic Review
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.227-253
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• 2022

Despite the proliferation of free trade agreements (FTAs), many exporting firms are still confronted with several challenges in utilizing the FTA preferential tariffs. Based on the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, this study empirically examines the factors affecting the utilization of FTA schemes by exporting firms. To clarify the key factors influencing FTA utilization, this study develops a conceptual model from the perspective of the adoption of information technology innovations. Eight factors derived from the TOE framework are proposed to explore the determinants of FTA utilization in export. Partial least squares structural equation modeling is employed to analyze the data collected from 162 exporting small- and medium-sized enterprises in the South Korean textile industry. The findings reveal that compatibility and trading partner influence are positively associated with FTA utilization, while complexity is negatively related. Factors of organizational context do not show any relationship with FTA utilization. This study is the first to theoretically analyze and empirically test the determinants of FTA utilization from the perspective of technological innovation adoptions. By examining the relative importance of TOE factors in the utilization of FTA schemes, this study expects to advance a holistic understanding on the perceived factors that could potentially affect the utilization of FTA schemes.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.135-171
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• 2022

This study is to find out how psychological characteristics and management capabilities of small manufacturers influence business performance through parameters including self-efficiency, network, and collaboration strategies. The survey was implemented between December 26, 2017 and January 15, 2018. The final 439 valid questionnaires were collected and used for analysis. The results were followed. First, the relationship between psychological characteristics and self-efficiency, and the path coefficient for psychological characteristics and network were significant. Second, management capabilities was related to self-efficiency, and the path factor for managing capability and network relationships was significant. Lastly, the path coefficients for self-efficiency and collaboration strategies were not significant, and the path coefficients for network and collaboration strategies were significant.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.17-35
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• 2022

The Pandemic crisis caused by COVID-19 has raised awareness of the importance of supply chain risk management, such as the control of movement between countries and the simultaneous manufacturing paralysis in the world. Effective risk management within the supply chain of the company is a core competency in the global environment. Therefore, this study quantitatively analyzed the perspective of domestic large corporations and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by using the hierarchical analysis method (AHP) to identify the factors that should be considered as the priority when establishing supply chain risk management plans for large and small business employees. In order to conduct the study, a survey was conducted on large corporations and small and medium enterprises in Gyeongnam and Busan, and AHP analysis was conducted using Microsoft 365 excel program. In addition, Mann-Whitney U test (independent sample-nonparametric test) was conducted using SPSS/18 version of statistical package program for comparative analysis between groups. As a result, the priority was highly evaluated in the order of financial ability, competitiveness, disaster in the overall priority evaluation. There were statistically significant differences in internal risk and strategic decision making of supply chain between groups. This suggests that fandemics such as COVID-19 can not be predicted, but strategic responses are needed to utilize opportunities expressed in the crisis through supply chain risk management and to increase the competitive advantage of domestic companies even in the crisis.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.43-68
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• 2023

In this study, in relation to "Chapter 3 Support for Priority Purchase of Technology Development Products" of the 「Market Channel Support Act」, this study investigated the positive growth impact of technology development products subject to preferential purchase on small and medium sized enterprises. The data used for empirical verification is for 371 companies that obtained certification for technology development products subject to preferential purchase in 2016 and Data from SMEs were collected from 2017 to 2021, Sales, operating profit, and net profit was identified, and empirical verification. And conducted through statistical analysis to determine whether it had a positive effect on the growth factors of SMEs. In addition, data from 225 technology development product certification companies were collected, and empirical testing was conducted through t-test analysis on the change in growth factors before and after acquiring certification. As a result of statistical analysis, it was found that the total assets, certified sales, operating profit, and net profit, which are the growth factors of a company, are all positively affected according to the type of technology development product certification. However, in the case of authentication types, some authentications showed significant negative results. In addition, significant results were derived that after acquiring certification had a positive effect on growth factors than before acquiring certification. Consistent with this conclusion, I think that it is effective for technology development-based SMEs to enter the public procurement market and utilize the technology development product priority purchase policy for market exploitation and corporate growth. And the government should strengthen the market support policy to create demand so that SMEs can enter the procurement market and actively utilize the preferential purchase system, and come up with an improvement plan so that public institutions can actively utilize the preferential purchase system.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.307-327
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the role of the type of strategies on the relationship organizational culture, strategics activities and the export performance of manufacturing SMEs. This study analyzed the moderated effects of type of strategies between the organizational culture, strategic activities and the export performance of SMEs. This study suggested 20 questions latent variables based on existing research. Organizational culture were divided into adhocracy culture and market culture and strategy types were divided into prospectors and defenders. The sample SMEs be analyzed were 200 firms. The 7 hypotheses including moderated effects were analyzed by using LISREL as structural equation modeling. In the result of empirical analysis, the adhocracy culture indicates a positive effect on customer relationship building activities but product quality assurance activities was not significant. Market culture showed a positive impact on both customer relationship building and quality assurance activities. This study conducted multi-group analysis for the purpose of the moderated effects of type of strategies. Multi-group analysis results showed that there are difference effects between the relationship of adhocracy culture, customer relationship building activities and product quality assurance activities. In addition, the group choice adhocracy culture based on the prospectors strategy had a greater impact than the market culture group on the relationship building activities and export performance.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.199-210
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• 2015

This study analyzes various aspects of the successful overseas expansion of SMEs that export consumer goods with their own brands. Through in-depth interviews with CEOs and marketing practitioners of fifteen SMEs that export consumer goods of their own brands, researchers examined the determinants of the decisions to export own-brand products, forms of expansion into foreign markets, firms' distribution networks, firms' technological and marketing capabilities, export barriers, and export support services offered by the government. The results indicate that these companies obtained competitiveness in the design and quality of their products through steady R&D investment, with a focus on niche markets. This study also shows that they established foreign branches, participated in overseas trade fairs, and tapped into foreign markets with Korean home shopping channels and department stores to build distribution channels and to find new buyers. However, the findings of this study reveal that many of those companies export both OEM/OEM products as well as their own-brand products due to the low level of brand awareness in foreign markets. Thus, efforts to improve their brand awareness in the global market are much needed. In addition, this paper demonstrates that the programs and services provided by state-run organizations need improvement in credibility and expertise. This research suggests recommendations for successful export programs, and provides meaningful insights for consumer-goods SMEs establishing foreign market entry strategies with their own brands.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.77-84
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• 2013

In this paper, we focus the changing role of universities of University-Industry Collaboration (UIC) for enriching the regional business ecosystem network. For this research, we analyze 'Regional Innovation System(RIS)' - a specific UIC program- which provides a marketing service for firms, especially, SMEs with a specific problem by a group of consultants including CEOs, professors, and heads of regional public or private service providers. Then we have analyzed using network analysis how the business network was changed from RIS. Moreover, we will interview the participants in the important position of the network and investigate the reason for bringing a change in the network structure by using this program. This study illustrates that various types of network are formed between university and SMEs. Furthermore, the networks surrounding SMEs are extended to the other people connected to them. This means that the business network of SMEs had been diversified via the facilitation of university. This study throws new highlights on the new role for the university as a network promoter in addition to the partner as a technology-provider in the regional business ecosystem. Moreover, the network analysis between before-and-after can be used for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the various UIC programs.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.509-535
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• 2010

This paper examines the Spaghetti bowl effect that different tariffs and rules of origin in multiple FTAs have resulted in increasing the significantly additional burden for business when it comes to apply for the use of FTA preference. The wide spread of FTAs in the several years, from 2003 to 2010, has been the most important trade policy development in economically important Korea. Korea presently has 5 FTAs in effect, and made 3 additional agreements which will be expected to take effect in next year. With the study result and expecting a growing number of FTAs in Korea in a next decade, the international trading firms will face rise of transaction costs for enterprises, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) to cope with multiple tariffs and rule of origins in FTAs. To help mitigate negative effects and facilitate a more SEMs to use the FTA preference, providing new computer programs system, increasing the awareness of FTA provisions, improving business participation in FTA consultations, and SME support in light of education, and financial support are needed.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.70
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• pp.21-38
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• 2016

The trend of payment terms of an international trade has been changed from letter of credit to open account. In this regard factoring has come out to support SMEs in terms of financing on a without recourse basis. However, factoring is in Korea is not workable softly due mainly to legal system affecting smooth assignment of receivables. Therefore this study suggest the following solutions : Korean Civil Law shall be modified to protect factor's position as a right creditor to debtor and protect factor's position when perfection among several creditors are incurred. However, formal modification to this end would not be easy in short run and it is suggested that a special law be established in case a commercial receivable assignment both domestic and internationally happens between seller and factor.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.263-281
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• 2016

The Importance of SEP (Standard Essential Patents) Procurement Operation is on the side of Governmental and Public both to accelerate the national trade negotiation competitiveness. To operate cooperative system of SEP creation and management, Government should monitor the effect and performance periodically to public sectors. and To achieve the support objectives, it should establish the virtuous circle infrastructure between R&D and economic performance on SEP. This can make the SEP enhancement to pursue the international competitiveness on Intellectual Property Rights. Especially the specific support approach to each phase of the SEP declaration matrix is essential to consolidate the possibility of SEP creation and acquisition. In this study, the concepts of SEP to accelerate the national trade negotiation competitiveness and the prior research were verified through the investigation of market trend and current state of affair analysis. Through the analysis of international and domestic situation of SEP procurement and management, We have found the results as follows. First of all, the leading conglomerates and the Government should focus on the secondary and tertiary industries to create and acquire SEPs to accomplish the effectiveness of selection and concentration. In second, the SMEs and Univ. Labs should focus on the quaternary sector of the economy to retain the competitiveness of speed and challenge on SEP related. From this study, the appropriateness of the tailored-support management model should be institutionalized, and the results implied an research in order to examine the suitability among the current SEP to enhance the competitiveness of national trade research issues.