• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-16
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• 2021

Purpose - This study reviews changes in the steel export-import structure between Korea and Japan to strengthen the competitive advantage of the Korea Steel industry using a trade-related index. Design/methodology - This study focuses on analyzing comparative advantage based on the trade intensity index (TII), revealed comparative advantage index (RCA), and trade specialization index (TSI). Findings - Korea's steel import from Japan increased due to the domestic supply shortage of HR (Hot Rolled Coil) and Plate, rather than the sharp decline of the domestic steel industry's competitiveness in 2010. However, after the completion of Hyundai Steel's blast furnace, the Korea Steel industry solved the supply shortage. Additionally, the import of Japanese steel products had decreased significantly from 2009 to 2019. Originality/value - This study attempts to analyze Japanese steel products' competitiveness in trade and the domestic influence of high-quality Japanese steel products. These results are connected to domestic steel supply and demand structure and relations with the Japanese steel industry. After completing Hyundai Steel's blast furnace, the Korea Steel industry solved the supply shortage, and the import of Japanese steel products has decreased significantly from 2009 to 2019.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.345-352
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• 2021

Guided by a resource-based theory, this study is the first one that takes a quantitative approach to identify determinants of competitiveness of women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam. The study employs time series data of Vietnamese SMEs extracted from the Vietnam Small and Medium Enterprises Survey conducted biennially from 2005 to 2015 in ten Vietnamese provinces. Firm competitiveness hereby is indicated by revenue, market share, profitability, and export volume. The research reveals a number of determining factors, of all, research and development, labor skills, business environment, technology investment are the most important factors, followed by capital and headcount. It is indicated that the determining factors have different influences on competitiveness obtained by different measurements. Therefore, it is based on specific targets and situations to make wise business decisions. The authors also make comparisons among groups of women-owned enterprises divided by their firm age, location, ownership, export, age, and educational background of business owners. The findings serve as critical empirical evidence and provide policy recommendations for improving the competitiveness of women-owned SMEs in Vietnam. The recommendations range from technology support, education and professional support for female entrepreneurs, access to capital and human resources to business environment improvement.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.161-182
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• 2007

The objective of this paper is to examine the competitiveness of Korean export firms in EU market. In this study, market share index, RCA index, trade specialization index, and market competitiveness index were used as an analytical tool. On the market share index, Korea had a large market share in the SITC section 7(machinery and transport equipment) market in EU. On the RCA index, Korea appeared to have high export competitiveness in the electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, n.e.s.(not elsewhere specified[stated]), and electrical parts thereof (77), travel goods, handbags and similar containers(83), textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles, n.e.s., and related products(65), and iron and steel(67) division. On the trade specialization index, however, Korea appeared to tend to decline generally. On the market competitiveness index, Korea appeared to have competitive advantage in the iron and steel(67), machinery specialized for particular industries(72), office machines and automatic data-processing machines(75), electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, n.e.s., and electrical parts thereof(77), road vehicles(78), and other transport equipment(79) division; but in 29 divisions, the index indicates that Korean firms' competitiveness was low. Finally, the authors discuss the implications of these findings and offer directions for future study.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.71-83
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• 2018

This study aims to analyze the competitiveness of agricultural products in Korea, China and Japan and the effect of increasing imports from Korea and China. and then we discussed how to cooperate in the agricultural trade field between the three countries. The results are summarized as follows. First, The intra-industry trade of agricultural products was the most active in Korea and China, followed by the intra-industry trade index between Korea and Japan. The intra-industry trade between China and Japan were the lowest. Second, The mutual complementarity of agricultural products trade between Korea, China and Japan is mostly high. Among them, Korea and Japan are the highest, while Japan and China have the lowest complementarity. Third, it was found that in tariff elimination, imports of rice and meat products increased the most, while the import growth rate of green tea, meat products and ginseng increased the most. Finally, the three countries in Korea, China, and Japan can consider the way to increase the trade of agricultural products in the region by internalizing the trade of complementary items while maintaining a constant level of production of mutually competitive products.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.221-250
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• 2008

This study investigated and analyzed the export competitiveness of Gyeonggi-Do and the effect of Korea-US FTA on its export competitiveness. By reviewing the current status of trade structure and implementing trade specialization index(TSI) of export commodities of Gyeonggi-Do, the investigation has listed the specific export commodities with competitiveness for increasing the volume of its export in the United States, in the short, mid and long run perspectives. From the findings in this study, it suggests specific trade and commercial policies to Korea-US FTA including implementing commodity-oriented export supporting system, strategic marketing method, economic-free-zone plan, R&D investment, export financing and regional economic cooperation.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.169-189
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• 2009

The China's economy growth by expanded by almost 10 percent in the among ten year ago. Since the Korea and China ware established to 1992, The China has been Korea's most important trading partner. The subject of this study is to review export competitiveness in export entry type in the China's market of Korea company. This article measure the effects on Korea exporter interests of Korea's trade with china. This paper investigates the determinants of export competitiveness in export entry type in the China's market of Korea company. A survey questionnaire was sent to 200 sample in Korea's export company go to on the China market, and 137 usable responses were obtained. The 137 samples are analyzed with export competitiveness. This paper has there main a parts, Multiple regression results show that the export competitiveness are positively affected by the China Information, the China Culture Different, The CEO Mind and the China Trade System. However, The China Market Competitiveness, The China Law. Regime and manager's information do not affect in the export competitiveness.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.5-14
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• 2015

Purpose - This study undertakes to examine the automotive trade structure between Korea and Russia to accelerate economic cooperation and pinpoint trade discrepancies to increase trade volume through improved policies, eventually finding ways for trade expansion. Research design, data, and methodology - To analyze trade decision factors for both countries, the Index of trade specialization invented by trade specialization theory, is used. Although specific factors should materialize in the trade decision analysis, realistically, concrete explanations are difficult as many unsolved factors are involved as well as their complexities Results - First, to assess comparative market competitiveness, the Index describes A value/B value, representing the Korean versus the Russia market share and the Korean market share versus the world. Second, the index shows that Korea is taking comparative advantage of its export specialization. Third, the RCA indices show considerable improvement compared to 2000. Conclusions - This research used a quantitative approach to examine trade specialization and examined a comparative advantage index of market share to see how inter-trade relations have changed over the past 10 years.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.409-433
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• 2005

The lighting equipments industry in Korea has been characterized as high-costly and low-efficient, and has been decreasing in its international competitiveness since the birth of the WTO. The industry has been exposed to a harsh competition with large quantities of cheap imports from China and has been influenced by the unfair trade of Chinese enterprises. Korea Trade Commission and other related government bodies in Korea are required to enforce import regulations against Chinese products and investigate thoroughly unfair trade practices including false indication of country of origin, infringement of intellectual property rights and dumping.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.111-128
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• 2009

As it is expected that change in trade environment has a significant impact on Korean economic growth as well as foreign trade of Korean economy we need an appropriate political response to it. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the Export Competitiveness of IT Industry to China and our trade policy. Korean balance of trade to China in 2007 records surplus of 18.9 billion dollars. However, many experts estimate unfavorable balance of trade will appear from 2010. In consideration of this condition, this study suggests a desirable trade policy for long-term maintenance of current Export Competitiveness between Korea and China. Using TSI and RCA, it analyses a Export Competitiveness of IT Industry to China from 2003 to 2007. To sum up the results, the TSI has been declining since 2005. RCA of semi-conductors has been declining since 2005 while that of communication equipment and computers has been increasing. During the analysis period, the mean RCA of semi-conductors is 55.01, which indicates that its export advantage is somewhat weak, and the mean RCA of communication equipment and computers are 227.22 and 175.83 respectively, which indicates that their export advantage is very strong. Production and export of Korea IT industry have greatly increased in quantity, but its technological quality and diversity have not been satisfactory. In particular, the base of IT industry is growing weaker due to serious dependence of core spare parts on advanced countries and transfer of simple assembly plants to China. To maintain export competitiveness of IT industry, we should pay more attention to technological improvement through more investment to the original technology for local production of core spare parts.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.643-666
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• 2009

When it comes to current balance, both of Korea and China enjoy the trade surplus in goods while both countries suffer trade deficit in service. This facts demonstrate that two countries have comparative disadvantages in service industry. In order to identify the international competitiveness of trade in service between Korea and China, several indexes such as TSI, RSCA and IMS was calculated, using the IMF's balance of payments (BOP) statistics as proxy. The results of this analysis are as follows. Korea has a comparative advantage in four sectors (Transportation services, Financial services, Royalties & license fees and Personal cultural recreation), while China has a comparative advantage in five sectors (Travel, Communication services, Insurance services, Computer & information services and Other Business services). Construction services are indeterminate. However, the competitiveness of the two sectors-communication and computer & information-which China has a comparative advantage will be transferred to Korea if some effort to reinforce the competitiveness is added because the gap is being narrowed.