• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.415-432
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• 2019

The purpose of the present study was to generate a list of business ethics components according to business area for small and medium-sized fashion companies. Based on the literature review, 21 components of business ethics components were identified within five business areas. Ten CEOs(Chief Executive Officers) each participated in an in-depth interview, sharing ethical and unethical cases from their own businesses. Constant comparative analysis was used to generate important business ethics components from those cases. In results, important business ethics components for each business area are: 1) using human-friendly materials, strengthening sustainable technologies, using vegan materials, concerning safe process, and reducing waste in the material production and sourcing area, 2) enhancing an efficiency in design, developing recycle/reuse designs, avoiding to copy designs, and using messages for public interest in the product design area, 3) concerning fair-trade, reducing harmful substance, saving energy, and using ethical supply channels in the distribution and logistics area, 4) acquiring certifications, promoting consumer protection, avoiding exaggerative/false advertisements, and promoting social contributions in the management and marketing area, and 5) promoting workers' rights, complying with the law, and investing on employee educations in the labor management area. All of the ethical and unethical cases of the ten companies have involved aspects of the 21 components, thereby enhancing understandings on how each issue is being seriously considered and/or handled in the small and medium-sized fashion companies. Study findings may provide a basis for development of a research model for quantitative studies and/or educational programs related to business ethics in the fashion industry.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.7-18
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• 2019

Purpose: This study identifies the relative importance of the sub - factors of initial services and continuous services using AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method, and calculates the competitive index for the detailed factors. The purpose of this paper is to propose the establishment of long - term and short - term management strategy for expansion of business of food service franchise, franchisors, long - term and win - win relationship with franchisees, and rationalization of operating system. Research design, data, and methodology: The population for the survey is 92 franchisees in 46 foreign brands and 46 domestic brands in the Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul / Gyeonggi / Incheon). The survey was conducted from July 1 to August 31, 2018 through the survey agency with a telephone interview and a surveyor's direct visit. A total of 100 questionnaires were collected, but a total of 92 parts were used for analysis except 8 parts that were considered to contain false information. Using the AHP method, relative importance and competitiveness index were calculated for the details of initial services and continuous services. Results: The results shows continuous services were significantly higher for both foreign brand franchises, domestic brand franchises, and overall than initial services, This suggests that the continuous services of the affiliated franchisors has a higher relative importance than the initial services. Among the continuous services, brand reinforcement and promotion were significantly higher for both foreign brand merchants and domestic brand franchises. This can be regarded as the most important factor in brand reinforcement and promotion when selecting a food service franchisors. Conclusions: In the Standard Terms and Conditions governed by the Fair Trade Commission, the franchisors should increase the fairness by creating manuals for supporting services, especially after opening, and regularly checking whether the supporting services have been carried out like manuals since the establishment of franchisees. In addition, the Brand Strengthening and Public Relations Committee (tentative name) jointly participated by the franchisors and franchisees for the purpose of strengthening and promoting the brand, suggesting a system for transparent and efficient execution of the brand reinforcement and promotion budget and monitoring afterwards.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.7-12
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• 2019

Purpose - This study examines the status of franchises and qualifications for franchising business, examines the franchising qualifications focusing on overseas cases, and suggests policy directions for strengthening the qualifications of franchising business. In order to achieve these purposes, the study reviewed the cases of USA, China, Australia, and United Kingdom franchising business law. Literature Review - According to the Fair Trade Commission, franchise is defined as a transactional relationship in which a franchiser provides certain support and education to franchisees in order to sell their goods and services more effectively. In addition, a franchise is a legally and financially independent business of franchisers and franchisees, and according to the concept of affiliates, it is necessary to define a franchise as a product and service marketing based on close and continuous collaboration. A franchiser can be defined as a company with the ability to develop a franchise system, create sustainable value based on it, and replicate "KNOW-HOW" to sellers. Case Study - This study examined the requirements for establishing a franchiser in the United States, China, Australia, and United Kingdom. In most countries, the requirements of franchisers must be operated for at least one year, which means that education, manual production, and continuity of stores should be checked. Suggestion - Based on Korea's population density and consumption sales index, we propose a screening system that registers through 2 + 1 systems, which require two stores to be operated for more than a year, by dividing Korea's commercial rights into two and a screening system instead of simple registration. In the case of a small franchisors, at least one franchsing retail store must be operated for at least one year, which should be applied to only one brand.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.44-56
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• 2021

This study analyzes the fashion video content of vegan YouTubers in order to understand how the vegan message is being conveyed in media. This study collected data with NoxInfluencer and conducted a case study of the vegan fashion YouTube content. We collected 143 videos for analysis as follows. The characteristics of vegan fashion content were divided into six categories. First, fashion know-how consisted of YouTubers' explanation on vegan fashion, from styling to where to buy vegan and fair trade products. Second, fashion haul content showed second hand products as well as certified vegan fashion products. Third, fashion daily life focused on a day in the life of a vegan YouTuber, casually showcasing fashion in real life. Fourth, fashion products reviews were about vegan YouTubers' thoughts and concerns about various vegan fashion brands and products. Fifth, fashion coordination category consisted of Lookbooks according to seasons. Last, the fashion entertainment category showed YouTubers challenging themselves to dress outside of their comfort zone. The content of the message was distinguished by consumption methods and aesthetic interaction. Also, vegan YouTubers were always anticipating the possibility of appealing to a wider demographic. This study differs from existing studies because it analyzed fashion YouTube content in order to understand the spread of a vegan message in the media environment. This study has its significance in suggesting the direction that the vegan community should take in delivering vegan messages in the future.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.450-457
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• 2020

Background: The production of glass beads in Ghana is greatly impacted by the ingenuity of Ghanaian women. Preliminary investigations revealed the lack of interest on the part of women due to poor working conditions as a result of the influence of culture-specific silence. Therefore, the study investigated the poor working conditions faced by these industrious women with the ultimate goal of suggesting ways they can be empowered. Methods: A phenomenological study was conducted in two indigenous glass bead communities in Ghana. Data were solicited via direct observations, personal interviews and focus group discussions. Twenty-six purposively sampled respondents were recruited for the study. Data from the study were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: The results confirmed that the elderly women glass bead makers are much influenced by the Ghanaian culture of silence. This prevents the women from speaking about the challenges they are facing in their work. Also, the women are silenced because of the fear of losing their jobs as well as the reluctance of their male managers to remedy the challenges they encounter in the course of work. This has resulted in poor remuneration, lack of insurance packages for workers, certification, and absence of personal protective tools for the women. Conclusion: The study tasks the government of Ghana, the Legal Advocacy for Women in Africa (LAWA), the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission in Ghana, the Ghana Trade Union as well as the Local Government Workers' Union to empower the women to sustain the glass bead industry in Ghana.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.111-125
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• 2022

Background: Zanthoxylum armatum is one of the 30 prioritized medicinal plants for economic development of Nepal with a high trade value. Understanding the ecology of individual species is important for conservation and cultivation purposes. However, relation of ecological factors on the distribution and populations of Z. armatum in Nepal remain unknown. To address this knowledge gap, an attempt has been made to study the population structure, distribution, and regeneration potentiality of Z. armatum. Vegetation sampling was conducted at six different localities of Salyan district along the elevation range of 1,000 m to 2,000 m. Results: Altogether 50 plant species belonging to 44 genera under 34 families were found to be associated with Z. armatum. Significantly higher species richness was found at Rim (1,400-1,700 m) and Chhatreshwori (1,800-2,000 m) and lower at Kupinde (1,600-1,800 m). The highest population density of Z. armatum was at Kupinde (1,600-1,800 m) with a total of 1,100 individuals/ha. and the lowest at Chhatreshwori (1,800-2,000 m) with 740 individuals/ha. Based on the A/F value (Whitford index), it can be said that Z. armatum has random distribution in the study area. The plants were categorized into seedlings, saplings and adults based on plant height and the status of natural regeneration category determined. The regeneration potentiality of Z. armatum in the study area was fair with the average seedlings and saplings densities of 150 and 100 individuals/ha. Respectively. A Shannon-Weinner index mean value of 2.8 was obtained suggesting high species diversity in the study area. Conclusions: The natural distribution and regeneration of Z. armatum is being affected in the recent years due to anthropogenic disturbances. Increasing market demand and unsustainable harvesting procedures are posing serious threat to Z. armatum. Thus, effective conservation and management initiatives are most important for conserving the natural population of Z. armatum in the study area.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.149-156
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• 2023

This research tried to develop an ESS electricity trading system linked with blockchain for energy participation consumers. For the purpose of publishing renewable energy ESS power amount and demand information, we will build a smart contract system on the blockchain DB, utilize the blockchain DB data of energy prosumers and consumers, and expand the power trading market flexibly. to provide realistic solutions. Therefore, the main contents of the development of the ESS power trading system linked to the blockchain are cloud-based web construction for ESS management, coin issuance and exchange registration for activating the blockchain, and to reflect the blockchain technology, building a blockchain database for collecting and supplying ESS-based production demand data, selecting a blockchain-based platform and building a foundation, and creating a smart contract, etc.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.49-73
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• 2023

This study examines the usage status of legal services provided by lawyers targeting domestic consumers and investigates empirically how much online platforms that facilitate lawyer search and consultation can increase consumers' utility, and how much the lawyer legal service market will expand through this. To this end, this study applies a discrete choice demand model to the data collected through a conjoint survey to estimate the value of the lawyer search and consultation platform perceived by consumers, and estimates the effectiveness of the platform in expanding the market for lawyer legal services through a simulation method. As a result of the analysis, the relative value that consumers place on finding and consulting a lawyer using the online platform instead of being introduced to a lawyer by an acquaintance or searching for a lawyer offline is estimated to be about 70,414 won. It was found that the existence of lawyer search and consultation platforms could increase the market size of legal services by as little as 18.9% to as much as 70.2%. In particular, the platforms are expected to increase the accessibility of legal services to vulnerable groups.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.23-48
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• 2018

SK group has been a pioneer in overall brand management and, more recently, in CSR-imbedded brand management. SK vision of "improving itself to give greater happiness to all of its customers" and the symbol mark of "Wings of Happiness" are some good examples of integrating distinct brand identities of various member companies. After impressive growth and expansions into diverse business areas, SK group is ranked as the third largest company based on asset amounts according to the Fair Trade Commission of Korea, only after Samsung and Hyundai Motor groups. SK brand management can be analyzed, using the framework of 4 stages - 'infrastructure', 'planning', 'doing', and 'seeing' stages. In order to secure 'infrastructure' of brand management system, SK has invested huge resources to the 'SK BMS' (SK Brand Management System). At the 'planning' stage, the most important task of SK like other Korean business groups is perhaps to adopt a well-organized 'brand identity (BI) system' which may consolidate brand values of individual member companies. In actuality, SK BI consists of Customer Happiness located at the center and 3 other elements of Pride, Professionalism, and Customer-orientation. At the 'doing' stage, the slogan of 'OK! SK' and the logo of 'Wings of Happiness' have been placed at the core of the SK group brand building programs. SK adopts the principle of 'independent yet united', pinpointing that each member company independently works for its business performance but it is, at the same time, encouraged to integrate its capabilities for the SK group brand. In addition, SK has sought 'shared growth' with business partners for happiness for all the members in the society. 'Social Contribution Philosophy' based on SK value of 'creation of greater happiness' is again one of the most important guidelines for CSR (corporate social responsibility) at the doing stage. At the seeing stage, SK regularly evaluates its branding programs. SK has shown some very impressive achievements in brand management: (1) a core identity of 'Customer Happiness' participating member companies may share, (2) harmonious relationships between the group brand management office and brand management divisions of member companies, and (3) consistency-keeping in brand management over time. However, there remain two major challenges: (1) globalization of SK and (2) reinforcing sustainable superiority over not only Korean rivals but also global ones.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.31-50
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• 2022

This paper estimates the price of standard waste bags that satisfies the polluter pays principle. Unlike previous studies, this paper suggests a method that can find new equilibrium prices using a structural relationship between the demand and cost function for the wastes. To do this, we employ the fixed-point iteration. The main findings of this paper are as follows. Assuming that the polluter pays principle is achieved at the average cost for the waste treatment, the price need to be set at a level about 3.12 times higher than the current one. The estimation result using a structural model, however, shows that the price should be set at a level four times higher than the present. This results are because the quantities reduced of the wastes make the cost per quantity of wastes due to the fixed costs increase. If applying the estimated price to the demand function, the amount of discharge of waste generated nationwide can be reduced by 10%.