• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.17-27
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• 2018

Purpose - Current study aimed at investigating the symbolic and evaluation relevance to global luxury brands as the causes of inducing social identity verification, and also explored whether the social identity verification will affect the attitude toward the brands. Research design, data, and methodology - 323 questionaries from Chinese consumers were used to test hypotheses by structural equation model of AMOS 22.0. Results - First, social identity verification positively affected on the brand attitude. Second, both the symbolic relevance and the evaluation relevance positively affected on social identity verification. Third, the mediation roles of social identity verification were identified. Social identity verification played a full mediation role in the effect of the symbolic relevance on the brand attitude, and played a partial mediation role in the effect of the evaluation relevance on the brand attitude. Conclusions - This study could contribute to the advancement of theory concerned with the roles of consumers' social identity verification which induces positive attitude toward the global luxury brands. Global brand managers in China should try to search ways by which consumers can feel both the symbolic relevance and evaluation relevance to their luxury brands, and should make efforts to improve the symbolic relevance and evaluation relevance to their brand.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.51-61
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• 2017

Purpose - Present study investigates character identification and emotional response to character that may affect consumers' intention to purchase the character-attached products. And this study explores whether symbolic relevance and object relevance affect the character identification, and whether character attractiveness and character salience affect the emotional response to characters. Research design, data, and methodology - SNS characters, animated characters, game characters, and traditional characters were used as experimental characters. And stationery as experimental product was used. 250 college students participated in the empirical study, and structural equation model was used to verify hypotheses. Results - First, the character identification and emotional response to characters affected the intention to purchase the products positively, and the emotional response to characters also positively affected character identification; second, symbolic relevance had no positive impact upon character identification, while object relevance had positive influence on character identification; and third, character attractiveness and salience had a positive effect on the emotional response. Conclusions - Present study contributes to the progress of character theories. Marketers should find ways to increase consumers' object relevance to characters and the level of characters' attractiveness and salience in order to promote the intent to purchase the products.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.238-248
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• 2023

This study aims to examine the symbolism of the emblems of World Expositions by using Victor Turner's symbolic theory as a research method, and to reveal the symbolic types behind them by classifying the emblem designs of different periods and themes. The research object is 12 comprehensive World's Fair emblems from the 1939 New York World's Fair in the United States to the 2025 Osaka World's Fair in Japan, as identified by Bureau International des Expositions. The research method mainly adopts documentary research to collect historical information and theoretical frameworks related to the design of World's Fair emblems. In the analysis process, Victor Turner's symbolic sign theory is used as the main analytical framework to link the design elements of emblems to their relevance to specific societies and cultures in order to reveal the themes, values and ideas represented by the emblem symbolism. The results of the study show that the design of the Expo emblem uses different symbols, including material symbols, behavioral symbols, sensory symbols, natural symbols, social symbols and virtual symbols, to convey the core concepts, themes and values of the Expo. Through different types of symbols, the Expo emblem shows a wide range of concerns about technology and the future, mankind and the world, nature and ecology, and society and innovation. The symbolic design of the emblem plays an important role in conveying the core concept and theme of the Expo.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.87-99
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• 2020

This study was conducted to analyze the current state and symbolic meanings of floral emblem designation in local governments of South Korea. The scope of local governments subject to analysis was limited to special city, metropolitan city, province, self-governing province, city, self-governing city, county and district based on their administrative divisions. The floral emblems of local governments and their symbolic meanings as of 2019 were examined. A total of 44 plant species were designated as floral emblems. Many plant species with high designation frequency were included in Rhododendron spp., Rosa spp., Camellia spp., Magnolia spp., and Prunus spp.. Plant species with higher designation frequency tended to have more symbolic meanings. A total of 155 terms were used for the symbolic meanings assigned to all the designated floral emblems. The major symbolic meanings were relevant to material affluence or economic growth, community spirit, and personality generally required from local residents. Most of the plant species linked to the top 10 most frequently assigned terms in symbolic meaning were those of the top 10 most frequently designated floral emblems. In the case of floral emblems with high designation frequency, it was shown that they were linked with various symbolic meanings in order to grant identity with regional distinctiveness and differentiation, regardless of the symbolic meaning that the designated flowers generally have. However, the floral emblems with low designation frequency seem to have relatively strong physical or emotional relevance with local governments and thus are expected to have high utilization in regional branding and tourism marketing.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.33-50
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• 2014

Investigations on the symbolic role, spiritual health benefits and efficacy of the clothing items of the Ga wolomo (chief priest) have received little attention. Highlighting the relevance of these clothes, this paper focuses on the chief priest's dress code for his appointment, confinement, ordination, ceremonial and daily life activities. Data were collected through content analysis, participant observation and interviews with people from selected Ga communities, such as La, Teshie and Ga Mashie. The findings revealed that the selection of the chief priest is confirmed with a special clothing item. His traditional clothes and adornment also have meanings, importance and symbolic interpretations; explained in their uses, colour and style. As the spiritual head, the role of the chief priest's costume is very distinguished and symbolic in executing his duties; protecting, strengthening faith, confidence and assurance during spiritual healing, and when solving pertinent problems in the community. The paper concludes by recommending further research and documentation on other aspects of the Ga clothing culture, such as hand items and hair styles from the pre-colonial period to the present.

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-49
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• 2018

Public Diplomacy (PD) is the third pillar of South Korean foreign policy. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PD aims to attract foreign audiences by means of art, knowledge transmission, media, language and foreign aid. When it comes to the Korean language, its global profile has seen an especially marked increase in recent years (Kim, 2009). Thus, this paper's objective is to explain the relevance of the Korean language in the generation of South Korea's soft power. I draw from $C{\acute{e}}sar$ Villanueva's reflections in order to problematize how language promotion can be translated into soft power at five different levels: the empathetic, the sympathetic, the geopolitical, the diplomatic and the utilitarian. I observe that in the case of the Korean language in Mexico City, soft power has the potential to be generated on three levels: it helps to increase knowledge of Korean culture (empathetic); it exercises symbolic persuasion (geopolitical), since the products of cultural industries are mostly in Korean; and it is used as a tool for economic transactions in Mexico City (utilitarian).

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.101-109
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• 2017

Traditional cultural resources in the region have unique cultural characteristics and are highly likely to be differentiated content resources. Therefore, when local cultural resources are developed as content, they can be given a role as a brand symbolizing the region together with economic value creation. In this paper, we propose a method to utilize traditional cultural resources in Jeonnam region as content material and to strengthen the connection with 'Namdo Renaissance' project contents in Jeonnam province. We propose seven regions as a region with content relevance for inter-regional collaboration through resource elements and analysis of Jeonnam cities and counties. We suggest "Story SarangBang" so that we can uncover and systematize stories with symbolic character by region. The developed story resources are developed as experiential contents through realistic media production technology and virtual reality platform and expanded to tourism contents and expanded to the window effect of contents. Also, by expanding cooperation governance between regions, it is possible to enhance opportunities for development of joint contents and enhance utilization as tourist contents, thereby contributing to regional economic development and related industries development.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.32-51
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• 2016

This study examines, based on the database of the Institute for the Translation of Korean Classics(ITKC), the garden plants and their symbolism, and the landscape culture recorded in 'Jipkyungjaeyoungsi(the Series of Poems on Gardens Poetry)' in relevance to traditional houses. First, Jipkyungjaeyoungsi had been continuously written since mid-Goryeo dynasty, when it was first brought in, until the late Joseon dynasty. It was mainly enjoyed by the upper class who chose the path of civil servants. 33 pieces of Jaeyoungsi(題詠詩) in 25 books out of a total of 165 books are related to residential gardens. The first person who wrote a poem in relation to this is believed to be Lee GyuBo(1168~1241) in the late Goryeo dynasty. He is believed to be the first person to contribute to the expansion of natural materials and the variation of entertainment in landscape culture with such books as 'Toesikjaepalyoung(退食齋八詠)', 'Gabeunjeungyukyoung(家盆中六詠)'and 'Gapoyukyoung(家圃六詠)'. Second, most of the poems used the names of the guesthouses. Out of the 33 sections, 19(57.5%) used 8 yeong(詠), then it was in the sequence of 4 yeong(詠), 6 yeong, 10 yeong, 14 yeong, 15 yeong, 16 yeong, 36 yeong(詠) and so on. In the poem writing, it appears to break the patterns of Sosangpalkyung(瀟湘八景) type of writings and is differentiated by (1) focusing on the independent title of the scenery, (2) combining the names of the place and landscape, (3) focusing on the name of the landscape. Third, the subtitles were derived from (1) mostly natural landscape focused on nature and garden plants(22 sections, 66.7%), (2) cultural landscape focused on landscape facilities such as guesthouses, ponds and pavilions(3 sections), (3) complex cultural scenery focused on the activities of people in nature(8 sections). Residents enjoy not only their aesthetic preferences and actual view, but the ideation of the scenery. Especially, they display attachment to and preference for vegetables and herbs, which had been neglected. Fourth, the percentage of deciduous tree population(17 species) rated higher(80.9%) compared to the evergreens(4 species). These aspects are similar results with the listed rate in 'Imwonkyungjaeji(林園經濟志)' by Seo YuGu [evergreen 18 species(21.2%) and deciduous trees 67 species(78.8%)] and precedent researches [Byun WooHyuk(1976), Jung DongOh(1977), Lee Sun(2006)]. Fifth, the frequency of the occurrence of garden plants were plum blossoms(14 times), bamboos(14 times), pine trees(11 times), lotus(11 times), chrysanthemum(10 times), willows(5 times), pomegranates(4 times), maple trees(14 times), royal foxglove trees, common crapemyrtle, chestnut trees, peony, plantains, reeds and a cockscombs(2 times). Thus, the frequency were higher with symbolic plants in relations to (1) Confucian norms(pine trees, oriental arbor vitae, plum blossoms, chrysanthemums, bamboos and lotus), (2) living philosophy of sustain-ability(chrysanthemum, willow), (3) the ideology of seclusion and seeking peace of mind(royal foxglove ree, bamboo). Sixth, it was possible to trace plants in the courtyard and outer garden, vegetable and herb garden. Many symbolic plants were introduced in the courtyard, and it became cultural landscape beyond aesthetic taste. In the vegetable and herb garden, vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants are apparently introduced for epigenetic use. The plants that were displayed to be observed and enjoyed were the sweet flag, pomegranate, daphne odora, chrysanthemum, bamboo, lotus and plum blossom. Seventh, it was possible to understand garden culture related to landscaping materials through poetic words such as pavilions, ponds, stream, flower pot, oddly shaped stones, backyard, orchard, herb garden, flower bed, chrysanthemum fence, boating, fishing, passing the glass around, feet bathing, flower blossom, forest of apricot trees, peach blossoms, stroking the pine tree, plum flower blossoming through the snow and frosted chrysanthemum.