• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.399-409
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preference of image for modern application of Korean traditional patterns. A survey was conducted using the random selection among female undergraduate students in Daegu city. The degree of interest and preference in Korean traditional style or something like that measured by 5 scale method. And then they were classified into two groups which were interest/non-interest group, and preference/non-preference group. The image of Korean traditional patterns consisted of semantic differential scales. Frequency, percentage and mean were analyzed, for difference of groups t-test was analyzed. The results were as fellows; 1. For the degree of interest for Korean traditional patterns, it was showed that 53.8% of total respondents took interest and about 40.4% of them had preference for traditional patterns. the correlation coefficient of the degree of interest and preference was 0.782(p<0.01) and showed that the positive correlation was high. 2. Among 20 kinds of Korean traditional patterns, the degree of preference for the patterns of plants and nature was quite high whereas that for the patterns of geometrical things was low relatively. 3. It was evaluated that pattern of nature was fresh, refined and womanly image generally. It was evaluated that pattern of plants was womanly, fresh, weak, light and soft image and that of animals was heavy, splendid, high-class, manly, strong and positive image. It was evaluated that pattern of geometrical things was the most refined image and high-class, rigid and strong. 4. The statistical significance of mean between interest/non-interest group was showed statistically in the patterns of clouds, mountains, lotus, apricot, orchid, dragon, phoenix and bogey. In case of pattern of orchids, the degree of preference was most different between interest/non-interest group. 5. The pattern of plants showed the most different evaluation for images between interest/non-interest group. For refined/old-fashioned polar adjective images, the interest group evaluated the pattern of plants more refined. 6. For pattern of orchids, the difference of degree of preference between preference/non-preference group was most remarkable in Korean traditional patterns. 7. The pattern of geometrical things showed the most different evaluation for images between preference/non-preference group. For warm/cool polar adjective images, the preference group evaluated the pattern of geometrical things cooler.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.755-788
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• 2007

This study investigates the effects of individual and group level factors on the use of GSS (Group Support System) and task performance from GSS use. GSS facilitates the group work, so that GSS adoption is not necessarily influenced only by individual perceptions on information systems. Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST) in our study to explain the adoption and success from GSS use. AST contends that the success of IS is not necessarily the technical fit between tasks and technology, instead the political outcome among user socializations. We have the following two research inquires: Are the IS use and performance maximized when information technologies are provided properly?; and, Does TTF always influence positively on IS use (or performance)? To research these issues, we investigate the influence of TTF (Task-Technology Fit) on use and performance of GSS, which is introduced to foster collaboration among organizational members. Drawing insights from the AST, we examine if COA (Consensus on Appropriation) among group members and FOA (Faithfulness of Appropriation) between those who use technology and who design it show any moderating effect. A questionnaire survey was conducted on firms using the GSS for one month from June 2 to June 27 2005 and a sample of 303 responses was used for a statistical analysis. The result demonstrates that TTF exerts a positive influence on use and performance of GSS. We find that the stronger the COA, the greater the effect of W on use of GSS and performance. FOA likewise has a positive effect on both use of GSS and performance. The TTF model has been widely applied to studies on individual performance of information system, whereas the AST theory specifically explains members' adaptation process to information system. By integrating the AST theory with the TTF model, the study contributes to heightening our understanding on if and how individual performance varies with the use of GSS.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.223-232
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• 2016

The purpose of the study is to explore the attitude of the Korean television drama in mongolia market impact Korea country image, corporate and product's image formation. The research is conducted effects of Korean image, its company, product and belief of its product and influence of procurement of Korean products in Mongolia in terms of Mongolian has enormously watched Korean drama since latest of 1990. Korean drama can influence Korean products image. Watching Kore and rama can influence view of Mongolian in quality of Korean products, design etc. Korean dramas can affect images of Korean company. Watching Korean drama can influence opinion of Mongolian in staff, culture, level of technique of Korean company moreover, competitiveness of Korean company in international market and etc. Korean drama can influence Korean image. Watching Korean drama can reach aspect of Mongolian in Korean education level, national security, reconstruction and income of population and etc. The most effective factor in product reliability and procurement was country image but company image can not influence that. In conclusion according to survey result within Mongolian customers that Korean drama has some influence in Korean image, its company image, product image, and product reliability and procurement of Korean product.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.41-52
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• 2015

Purpose - Given globalization, the new niche market of medical tourism is likely to experience sustainable growth for various reasons, such as aging populations and a shift in the medical consumerism paradigm toward prevention. Importantly, understanding medical customers' behavior is necessary to benefit from a competitive advantage in this industry. The existing research primarily accessed the key factors of medical quality and costs to explain health customers' behavior but is limited in terms of enabling an understanding of the decision process. This limitation exists because, given the intangibility and greater associated risks in the highly professional industry of international medical tourism, most customers lack the knowledge and experience needed to evaluate the central factors-such as the medical competence of health care countries-before purchases. Therefore, they actively search for useful information through various distributions to reduce uncertainty and to make better choices. Interestingly, most of these information channels are associated with word-of-mouth (WOM). However, no evidence is found in the literature to estimate the effect of WOM in the medical tourism field. Thus, this study focuses on WOM to explore its interaction with key medical characteristic factors and the attractiveness of destinations referred to by sources. This study also affects customers' evaluations and, in turn, influences their intention to seek health care services abroad. Research design, data, and methodology - The literature review addressed an interesting research model for estimating the relations among WOM, medical characteristics, attractiveness, and customers' choice intention regarding international health care. In the key economic regions in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Guangdong, 2,500 survey questionnaires were distributed to potential customers of different ages, education, and income levels. A resulting 1,717 (68.68 percent of the original 2,500) usable surveys were obtained for analysis. Moderated regression analysis was used to determine the effects of WOM in the decision process regarding international health care destinations. Results - The results indicate that WOM is a good moderator of the relationships between the factors evaluated by sources and customers. More importantly, the WOM effects reflect the factors of tie strength, credibility, and vividness. The results also reveal that, given the moderating role of WOM, the intention of potential Chinese customers to seek the referred health care country varies according to the medical characteristics of medical competency and reputation as evaluated by customers. In contrast, the travel attractiveness of the attractions, facilities, accessibility, and social environment are critical determinants of destination choice intention. Conclusions - The moderating role of WOM has been confirmed through the international healthcare destination selection process. Medical tourism managers should user WOM as an effective marketing tool for industry development. Specially, marketers should consider the effects of WOM determinants, such as tie strength, credibility, and vividness, to develop an effective strategy. Furthermore, this study estimates the factors that affect customers' selection of medical tourism destinations. Health care managers or policy makers should consider a broad variety of variables that may attract more Chinese customers to international health care.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.105-111
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• 2015

Purpose - Many global companies across industries are paying significant attention to co-creation activities, which enable consumers to participate in firms' value creation process, as a main model of new product development processes. In this study, we aim to examine different types of co-creation activities and their effects on consumer attitudes. We focus on upstream co-creation, downstream co-creation, autonomous co-creation, and sponsored co-creation. Upstream co-creation includes firms' control and management in the initial stage of new product development and prototype testing. Downstream co-creation indicates that consumers participate in firms-initiative activities at a later stage in new product development, such as public relations and marketing communications. Autonomous co-creation includes consumers' commitment activities in the absence of firms' rewards. However, under the sponsored co-creation, consumers can return monetary and social rewards from firms through their co-creation activities. The hypotheses regarding the effect of co-creation on consumer attitudes are as follows. (H1, H2, H3, H4) Upstream, downward, autonomous, and sponsored co-creation has positive effects on consumer attitude. (H5, H6) As intrinsic motivation increases, the positive effect of upstream and autonomous co-creation increases. (H7, H8) As extrinsic motivation increases, the positive effect of downward and sponsored co-creation increases. Research design, data, and methodology - To achieve our research goals, we analyzed responses from 246 samples from Korean consumers and verified the proposed hypotheses using a linear regression model. The samples include Korean consumers who experienced upstream, downstream, autonomous, and sponsored co-creation by firms. Results - First, both upstream co-creation and downstream co-creation with firms and consumers are found to have positive effects on consumer attitudes. Second, autonomous co-creation and sponsored co-creation are found to positively affect consumer attitudes. Third, consumers' intrinsic motivation has a fit-effect between upstream co-creation and autonomous co-creation, and their extrinsic motivation has a fit-effect between downstream co-creation and sponsored co-creation. Consumers who have strong intrinsic motivation are affected by upstream co-creation and autonomous co-creation. However, consumers who have strong extrinsic motivation are affected by downstream co-creation and sponsored co-creation. Conclusion - These results indicate that the fit between consumers' co-creation participation types and consumers'motivations is a significant factor in determining consumer attitudes. The results of this study imply that various types of consumer participation actually improve consumers' attitudes toward products and brands. In addition, our study also suggests that firms should consider the fit between co-creation types and consumers' motivations when they initiate co-creation activities. In this study, we survey consumers who participated in firms' co-creation activities. Future studies can compare different types of consumers. For instance, we can examine the different in different test by comparing experienced versus inexperienced consumers. Finally, we expand this research to user-generated content topics. This attending issue focuses on the mechanism that breaks down the boundaries and barriers between consumers and producers.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.113-131
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• 2015

Purpose - In today's era of globalization, the competitive power of enterprises is growing fiercer, calling for organizations to be able to respond flexibly to survive and maintain predominance in competition. In turn, keen competition exists among enterprises for the systematic management of members' knowledge to secure predominance in such competition. Under such circumstances, SMEs must find and utilize positive causes for change that affect organizational performance. The objective of this study is to analyze the structural relationship between four factors known from prior research-a CEO's positive leadership, members' positive life positions, learning organization activities, and job engagement-and organizational performance. Research design, data, and methodology - To achieve this objective, this study established the following four research problems. First, do CEOs' positive leadership, members' positive life positions, learning organization activities, and job engagement affect organizational performance? Second, do CEOs' positive leadership, members' positive life positions, and learning organization activities affect job engagement? Third, do CEOs' positive leadership and members' positive life positions affect learning organization activities? Fourth, does CEOs' positive leadership affect members' positive life positions. Additionally, to achieve the objective of this study, the research model was selected on the basis of a documentary survey of 787 full-time employees at 100 SMEs, which was used to collect related data. Results - The following conclusions were drawn. First, a CEO's positive leadership directly affects members' positive life positions, learning organization activities, and job engagement. Second, positive leadership only indirectly affects organizational performance. That is, positive leadership has an indirect effect on organizational performance given the parameters of members' positive life positions, learning organization activities, and job engagement. Third, members' positive life positions directly affect learning organization activities and job engagement, but indirectly affect organizational performance with learning organization activities and job engagement as parameters. Fourth, learning organization activities directly affect job engagement and organizational performance. Additionally, learning organization activities indirectly affect organizational performance with job engagement as a parameter. Fifth, job engagement directly affects organizational performance. Conclusions - A CEO's positive leadership and members' positive life positions do not directly affect organizational performance but have a positive effect through learning organization activities and job engagement. In particular, CEOs' positive leadership was proven to be the major factor to affect members' positive life positions, learning organization attitudes, and job engagement, and learning organization activities and job engagement were found to be major factors that directly affect organizational performance. Considering these conclusions, the direct effect of a CEO's positive leadership on organizational performance is not statistically significant but seems to affect members' positive life positions, learning organization activities, and job engagement, which ultimately affects organizational performance. In addition, CEOs' positive leadership is an important factor that enhances the factors with the strongest effect on organizational performance-activities of learning organizations and job engagement.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.21-29
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• 2014

Purpose - This research undertakes to understand the competitiveness of the steel distribution industry of both Korea and China to strengthen Korea-Sino economic cooperation, examines impediments to trade between the two countries to analyze causes which affect trade, and examines improvements in these areas to identify means of trade expansion. Through this survey of a defined period, we can identify the structural factors of trade dependence in the relationship between Korea and China. Research design, data, and methodology - The data were collected from the Korea Traders Association, the Korea Customs Office, and UN Comtrade, from which whole table indexes are calculated. The research methodology uses trade-related indexes to focus on analyzing comparative advantages based on time-series analysis statistics data (2000-2012) by using the analysis index of trade intensity index (TII), the revealed comparative advantage index (RCA), and the trade specialization index (TSI). Results - The export ratio for Korea to China was slightly higher in 2000 at 2.867, and the export ratio for Korea to China was sustained in 2005. However, it diminished gradually, reaching 1.263 in 2012. During the period 2000-2012, the indexes were maintained without any significant change. However, they still remain close to -1. In particular, in 2012 it is the closest it has ever been to -1. Therefore, China has a comparative advantage in export specialization. On the other hand, Korea has a comparative advantage in import specialization. For the research period, all indexes were much lower than 1, which means that Korea has consistently had a comparative disadvantage against China for the past 10 years when compared to other industries, even though it experienced improvement in 2000. Conclusions - The summary of conclusions based on empirical analysis research are as follows: First, per the trade intensity index of industries between the two countries, we conclude that the export ratio index in 2000 is 2.867, which means the export ratio of Korea to China is slightly higher. Furthermore, the ratios of 2.259 and 1.263 held in 2005 and 2012, respectively, meaning that the export ratio of Korea to China was maintained in 2005, but was diminishing gradually as the index in 2012 was 1.263. Second, per the trade specialization index of the steel distribution industry between Korea and China, the value was -0.379 in 2000, -0.368 in 2005 and -0.568 in 2012. Looking at the whole period of 2000-2012, the indexes remained without any significant change. However, they are still moving closer to -1. In particular, in 2012 it is the closest it has ever been to -1. Third, regarding the revealed comparative advantage index of the steel distribution industry between Korea and China, the RCA indexes in 2005 and 2012 are 0.246 and 0.306, respectively, which are still far from 1, even though the index has improved compared to the 2000's value of 0.0001. Therefore, the Korean steel distribution industry is at a significant comparative disadvantage to that of the Chinese steel distribution industry.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.31-39
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• 2014

Purpose - Environmental issues, climatic changes, and greenhouse gases are problems to be solved at a global level. With an increased emphasis on the environmental and social responsibility of the management of companies, the manner in which companies approach quality-oriented culture and their individual sustainability management are being discussed as truly important issues to help them secure their competitiveness and growth strategies. This study proposes strategic directions to help manufacturers not only in expanding their competitive quality-oriented company culture but also in strengthening their sustainability management abilities. This study conducts a literature review and empirical research to examine how significantly the variables of a quality-oriented company culture, customer-centered management, and process-centered and supply chain management-centered cooperation affect sustainability management performance in relation to economic profitability, environmental integrity, and social responsibility. Research design, data, and methodology - To verify research models and hypotheses, the study examined 170 companies using a questionnaire survey conducted over six weeks, and involved the performance of data analysis on 146 samples. Questionnaire responses were calibrated based on a Likert scale. The study used the Smart PLS 2.0 program designed for PLS (partial least squares), an analysis instrument of SEM (structural equation modeling). The study then verified empirical research hypotheses working on reliability analysis, validity analysis, factorial analysis, and path analysis. Results - Among the nine hypotheses, four are accepted and the rest are rejected. A quality-oriented company culture focusing on customer-centered management significantly influenced the maintainability management performance of environmental integrity and social responsibility, while economic profitability was dismissed. A process-focused quality-oriented company culture was significantly concerned with economic profitability but not with environmental integrity or social responsibility. A supply-chain cooperative company culture had a significant effect on economic profitability but not on environmental integrity or social responsibility. Conclusion - This study proposes strategic directions to help manufacturers expand their competitive quality-oriented company culture as well as strengthen abilities with sustainability management. It conducts a literature review and empirical research to examine how significantly the variables of quality-oriented company culture, customer-centered management, and process-centered and supply chain management-centered cooperation affect sustainability management performance in relation to economic profitability, environmental integrity, and social responsibility. There are two main conclusions. First, companies should consider the need for social responsibility management and environmental transparent management-focused maintainability management as avenues to create new markets and business, thereby helping the companies secure a reputation for having a customer and process-centered quality-oriented company culture by creating shared values between supply chains and enabling win-win situations through cooperation. Second, we are marching towards a creative win-win era from a society of conflicts and ruptures. Companies should understand that social responsibility management and supply chain management (SCM)-focused cooperation are the foundations of sustainable development, as they try to improve their culture while pursuing both win-win relationships with interested parties and equity in various conflictive relations.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.81-88
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• 2014

Purpose - Entrepreneurship promotion is emerging as an important economic growth agenda. However, in Korea, entrepreneurship has weakened because of the collapse of the venture bubbles of the 2000s and the global economic recession in 2008, which have induced the business community to choose stability over risk. The Korean government has been implementing several support projects to inspire and promote youth entrepreneurship through various means including financial assistance; however, the perpetuation rate of young entrepreneurship is still low as compared to advanced economies such as the US and EU. This case study focuses on the Youth Start-Up Business Support Program of the Small & Medium Business Corporation, and explores practical alternatives. Further, it aims to suggest managerial factors and a conceptual model for change management factors affecting the business performance creation of a startup company, based on the Small and medium Business Corporation's young venture startup fund. Research design, data, and methodology - Many studies examine the current progress and issues of startup firms, for example, a lack of systematic cultivation of entrepreneurship and startup business training, lack of commercialization funding for youth startup businesses, lack of mentoring, and inadequate infrastructure. From prior research, we address four factors, namely, personal managerial capabilities, innovative business model, sufficient cash flow, and social network, affecting startup companies' business performance. This study involved a sample survey of 200 young entrepreneurs to investigate casual relations between the four factors and business performance. A regression analysis was used to verify the hypotheses. Results - First, in relation to differences in the founder's personal characteristics, age, sales amount, and number of employees significantly impact business performance. Second, regarding the causal relation between the four factors for creating business performance, an innovative business model and social networking have supported the hypotheses, revealing that the more that a start-up founder has an innovative business model and social networking, the more the start-up firms are likely to have better performance (e.g., sales volume, employment, ROE, ROI, etc.). Although the founder's competency and sufficient cash flow have no significant relationship with business performance, the mean value was higher performance for high founder's competency and sufficient cash flow. Conclusions - This study provides basic data on policy support strategies of the Small and Medium Business Corporation, to help young entrepreneurs achieve their start-up business goals. It shows that young entrepreneurship startup firms should strive to explore ideas to satisfy customers' needs, and that changes in customer value and the continuous innovation of business model differentiation are required to actively respond to change management. Moreover, at the infant startup stage, they should activate social network programs to share information, thereby offsetting resource scarcity and managing business risk. Further, the establishment of a long-term vision and the implementation of training programs in related specific fields should be supported to strengthen founders' personal capabilities.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.67-76
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• 2018

Purpose - Electrical energy saving is one of the practical virtues relating to sustainable living. Therefore, policy-makers has tried to find a way to change the behaviors of individuals to encourage them to actively practice electrical energy saving, even if they have never had this concern or have only passively practiced electrical energy saving to this point. Prior research related to electrical energy saving can be categorized into several types. The first is focused on consumer characteristics linked to electrical energy saving. These studies are based on individual or household socio-demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, household income, education level, occupants, marital status, number of households), and psycho-graphics (e.g., environmental consciousness, value, attitude, motivation, lifestyle). The second is focused on policies (e.g., monetary incentives, information sharing, social comparison, feedback), and technologies (e.g., energy-efficiency home appliances, energy-reduced products, renewable resources). People generally have a favorable attitude towards electrical energy saving, while electrical energy saving practices tend to be less favorable. Therefore, it is necessary for policy-makers to seek out gaps between attitudes and behaviors and find alternatives to reduce these gaps. This study investigates the influence of authenticity on the behavioral intention of electrical energy saving. It is supposed that electrical energy saving practices are likely to be stronger as authenticity of individual or household becomes stronger. This study reviews prior literature and examines various studies to provide an understanding of the relationships between authenticity and electrical energy saving behavioral intention. Research design, data, and methodology - Hypothesis was drawn from analysis based on previous research. The items related to authenticity and electrical energy saving were selected from items found in previous research. To verify this hypothesis, data were collected via experimental survey method and the resulting data were analyzed using reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results - This study found that authenticity had a positive impact on the behavioral intention of electrical energy saving. The higher the perceived degree of authenticity, the higher the behavioral intention of electrical energy saving. Conclusions - This study assesses the impact of authenticity on the behavioral intention of electrical energy saving. In order to enhance the practice of electrical energy saving, it is efficient strategy for policy-maker to improve the perceived authenticity of individuals.