• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.185-207
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• 2012

Since the Hwang scandal, the South Korean state has expressed often-conflicting interests of encouraging stem cell research and the IVF industry to save the country and introducing the ethical regulation in conformity with "Global Standard." As the tightening ethical regulation of stem cell research has enervated the field of human Embryonic stem cell(hESC) research, somatic stem cells (re-)emerged as an alternative savior that could rescue the future of research communities, bio-industry, practicing doctors, patients and the nation itself from the crisis. The recent literature on Korean biotechnology, however, mainly focus on hESC and relatively little attention has been given to the rapidly growing field of research on somatic stem cells like hematopoietic stem cells(HSCs) or Adipose derived stem cells(ASCs). While the hESC therapy is often regarded as experimental and ethically controversial, the HSCs or Mesenchymal stem cell(MSC) therapies have already made their ways into people's everyday life through market without much public discussion. Many ordinary people in South Korea are familiar with the story of patients who survived leukemia with the HSCs treatment; the number of doctors who are actively marketing the ASCs therapies is on the rapid increase; the concept of cosmetic products made from ASCs is gaining popularity among consumers. In this context, this article argues that the current ethical debates solely focusing on hESC or on the state policy and research regulation are too limiting to fully illuminate the politics of stem cell technologies in South Korea.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.668-672
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• 2009

This paper describes the differentiation between native Korean cattle (Hanwoo) and Holsteins or imported cattle using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by targeting the sequence of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene. A rapid and accurate method was developed to identify Hanwoo by genotyping the DNA extracted from 295 commercial beef samples (obtained from 5 provinces in South Korea) labeled as Hanwoo beef. The results of real-time PCR assays for the proportions of Hanwoo were 84, 85.7, 95, 91.4, and 90% in the areas of Seoul, Joongbu, Youngnam, Honam, and Chungcheong, respectively. Thus, the beef samples from 295 butcher shops, which asserted to only sell Hanwoo, showed that 259 of 295 samples were of the Hanwoo beef gene type (T-type) and 36 of 295 samples were Holsteins of imported dairy cattle gene types (C-type or C/T type). In conclusion, the proportion of Hanwoo beef was 87.8% and the proportion of Holstein or imported dairy cattle meat was 12.2% (C-type: 9.8%, C/T-type: 2.4%). Generally, most consumers can not differentiate imported meat from Hanwoo beef. Therefore, Hanwoo beef and imported dairy cattle meat that is sold in butcher shops should have mandatory identification by using MC1R genotyping based on real-time PCR.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.175-188
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• 2014

This study examined the effects of demographic variables and psychological mechanisms (self-efficacy, need for closure, and fashion innovativeness) on each of the four types of impulsive buying, including suggestion impulsive buying, stimulus impulsive buying, pure impulsive buying, and reminder impulsive buying. In addition, the study analyzed the impact these four types had on evaluations after impulsive buying (i.e., diversion in mood, regret for buying decision and a sense of financial loss, and dissatisfaction of products). Data was collected by a marketing research company from five hundreds consumers in seven different cities of South Korea who experienced impulsive buying in the off-line apparel stores within the past three months. The results of regression analyses indicated that self-efficacy and gender significantly affected suggestion impulsive buying. That is, the higher consumers' self-efficacy, the greater their suggestion impulsive buying was. In addition, women had higher Suggestion Impulsive Buying than men did. However, in case of Stimulus Impulsive Buying, gender was the only significant antecedent. That is, women had higher stimulus impulsive buying than men did. In terms of pure impulsive buying, fashion innovativeness was a significant predictor, and for the reminder impulsive buying level, fashion innovativeness and need for closure were significant predictors. Finally, pure and suggestion impulsive buying were correlated with positive consumer evaluations, while both stimulus and reminder impulsive buyings were correlated with negative consumer evaluations. Implications and future studies were discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.89-92
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• 2013

South Korea's advertising market in 2012, growing at a standard 10 trillion, but most advertising is in the form of one-way communication by advertisers. In this paper, at the time they are attracting the interest of consumers, more recent placement by Facebook or Youtube propose an advertising platform using the Kinect motion-sensitive controller that can communicate with consumers. In the proposed platform, by the simple enjoyment of the game accept ads without resistance, and can deliver content more effectively than advertising indirectly passing. Had occurred in the existing Windows forms drawing problem was solved by using the XNA game engine using the Facebook API was designed so that it can be integrated with SNS.The scored elements to attract the interest of the users with the introduction of the ranking system and the user's face image to extract added to the story line, and increased immersive.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.191-215
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• 2009

In the real world, there exist various products in terms of price and quality, and it can be expected that a product with lower price and higher quality than others is better. Hence efficiency of consumption behaviour can be measured by the level of goodness in terms of price and quality attributes of that product. The purpose of this research is to define consumption efficiency in terms of price and quality, and to measure consumption efficiency of IT and electronic products in South Korea. From the results, many consumers have purchased inefficient products m air-conditioner, TV, digital camera, MP3 player, computer markets. On the other hand, consumers have purchase efficient products in refrigerator and washing machine markets relatively. In addition, we analyze the relationship of consumption efficiency, information channel, and electric power consumption. This research may provide meaningful information for consumer's behaviour by measuring consumption efficiency quantitatively.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.103-118
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• 2012

Although music is one of the most important attributes of broadcasting communications, few studies have examined the relationship between background music and the behavior of audiences, particularly in the context of TV home shopping programs, where purchase decisions are made while watching the show. The objective of this study is to examine whether certain characteristics of music in broadcasting communications can affect the audiences' purchase intentions or behaviors. Unlike previous studies on this issue, this study considers the impulse-inducing capability (IIC) of music as an important variable affecting consumers' purchase intension. A 2×3 (high/low involvement and high/low/no IIC music) between subjects design was used for the experiments in the study. The TV home shopping programs in the high or low involvement condition were identical except for the type of background music: high IIC music, low IIC music, and no music. A total of 188 undergraduate students at a college in Seoul, South Korea participated in the study. Their ages range from 20 to 25 (median age = 22), and nearly 60% were male. Our analysis showed that in the low involvement condition, high IIC music was more likely to have a positive effect on purchase intentions than low IIC (common) music or no music did. Meanwhile, there was not any significant relationship between music and purchase intentions in the high involvement condition. Given that previous studies have provided no clear evidence of the effects of music on consumers' purchase intentions or behaviors, this study makes an important contribution to the literature in this field. The result of this study provides implications to the practitioners in the market, too. Marketers need to reevaluate the value of music used in broadcasting communications and pay more attention to find the right music for their campaigns. Limitations of this study as well as directions for future studies are also discussed.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.215-223
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• 2020

The objectives of the present study were to assess the oxidative stability of South Korean n-3 (omega-3 fatty acid) supplements carried out from 2018 to 2019 and evaluate the influence of product characteristics on oxidative safety. A total of 76 n-3 supplements were analysed for oxidation safety by four markers, including acid value (AV), primary oxidation (peroxide value, PV), secondary oxidation (p-anisidine value, pAV) and total oxidation value (TOTOX). Among the supplements tested, 5.3 %, 55.3 %, 28.9 % and 46.1 % exceeded the international voluntary recommended levels for AV, PV, pAV and TOTOX, respectively. Purity (%) of products, remainder of expiration date (suggested shelf life), package in press through package (PTP) and products with additives had statistically significant differences oxidation assessment levels (p < 0.05). In addition, n-3 group found in Algae oil had significantly lower AV levels than the group that did not, and product with Alaska pollack oil, had significantly higher pAV levels than without group (p < 0.05). The high oxidation status of South Korean n-3 products in the present study could not be considered a public health problem right now. However, the levels of oxidation may affect a lot the efficacy and safety of using n-3 supplements. Thus, current oxidation safety limits should be reestablished by regulatory bodies to ensure the safety and efficacy of n-3 supplements, so that the standards could be applied to the products available to consumers.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.433-448
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• 2022

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to empirically analyze users' continuous use intentions using the characteristics of live commerce in China. Design/methodology/approach - Social presence, influence of information source (Wang Hong), convenience, marketability, reliability, personal innovativeness, and social influence were selected as elements that affect the perceived value of users, and an assumption that perceived value would affect continuous use intention was set. 515 samples were obtained from Chinese consumers through a Chinese online questionaire survey. IBM SPSS 26 and AMOS was used for statistical testing. Findings - First, social presence, Wang Hong, convenience, marketability, and reliability, which are the quality characteristics of live commerce services, affect the perceived value of users and user's continuous use intention. Second, the perceived value of users plays a mediating role between the quality characteristics of live commerce service and the continuous use intention. Third, personal innovativeness plays a moderating role in the effect of live commerce service quality on the perceived value of e-commerce users. Fourth, among the relative effects of the service quality characteristic variables, the relative effect of reliability is the greatest followed by that of convenience, marketability, and Wang Hong, in order of precedence, and the effect of social presence is the smallest. Research implications or Originality - South Korean government's plan to support for advancing into live commerce in China were presented as strategic implications for exporting South Korean products to China through online services including live commerce.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.289-294
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• 2023

Background: Artificial sweeteners are chemically synthesized substances used to add sweetness to foods. Representative substances include aspartame and acesulfame-K, which are 200 times sweeter than sugar. Recently, the IARC classified aspartame as class 2B, but Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea announced that it would maintain the current usage standards. Acesulfame-K, which has the potential to cause cancer, was excluded from the list of possible carcinogens, raising questions about its safety. According to a survey by the Consumers Union of Korea, 85% of makgeolli includes artificial sweeteners, but the content labelling is not indicated. It is necessary to accurately determine the intake of artificial sweeteners through makgeolli. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the safety of makgeolli consumption by identifying the content of artificial sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfam-K) and preservatives (sorbic acid). Methods: Twenty makgeolli samples were purchased from large supermarkets and convenience stores by referring to the sales ranking of makgeolli products distributed in South Korea and the purchase ranking from online sites. The sample was sonicated to remove alcohol and carbon dioxide. Nine mL of acetonitrile was mixed with 1 mL of the prepared sample, centrifuged, and the supernatant was filtered and analyzed using HPLC. Results: As a result of the analysis, aspartame was detected in 17 products and acesulfame-K was detected in ten. The ADI of aspartame (40 mg/kg·bw/day) is higher than the EDI based on the maximum concentration 126.5 ㎍/mL. The ADI of acesulfame-K (15 mg/kg·bw/day) is higher than the EDI based on the highest concentration of 82.96 ㎍/mL. Although the health risk is low, IARC has raised the possibility of aspartame causing carcinogenesis, so there is a need to reevaluate the standards and regulations for artificial sweeteners. Conclusions: Through this study, we aimed to determine the content of aspartame and acesulfame-K contained in makgeolli currently distributed in South Korea and the safety of exposure to the human body when consumed.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.32-51
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• 2016

KakaoTalk has become a reputed mobile social network and an inseparable part of people's lives by leading the mobile industry in South Korea. However, there is a lack of studies in academia regarding perception of the consumers and assessment toward the mobile marketing and services by KakaoTalk. Based on the theoretical orientation of Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM: Petty & Cacioppo, 1986) and electronic service quality (E-S-QUAL: Parasuraman, Zeithaml, & Malhotra, 2005), this study investigates the effects of information sources (Charles & Richard, 1988), and examines the consumer perception toward the service quality of KakaoTalk. A total of 209 responses were collected, using a self-administered survey in Seoul and Gyeonggi province, South Korea from March 2015 to June 2015. A seven-point Likert scale survey was developed to measure the information sources (i.e., argument quality, post popularity, and post attractiveness), electronic service quality (i.e., efficiency, fulfillment, privacy, and system availability), attitude (i.e., usefulness, preference, and overall attitude), and behavioral intention (i.e., like intention, share intention, and purchase intention). This study reveals a consensus that an online environment is different from the traditional retail context in terms of information source and service quality. Specifically, the results indicate that argument quality greatly impacts the attitudes of the individuals and their behavioral intention toward mobile shopping via social media channel. The most powerful factor among E-S-QUAL is "efficiency." This dimension of service quality influences the customer perception of usefulness and preference as well as share and like intention toward mobile shopping on KakaoTalk.