• East Asian Economic Review
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.55-88
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• 2019

Our paper contributes to existing literature by empirically investigate the trade structure and trade performance between Korea and ASEAN. Overall, trade activities between Korea and almost major ASEAN economies have significantly focused on capital goods, medium and high technology goods, while the remaining ASEAN countries' exports over Korea have been mainly primary and low technology goods. There has been a higher complementarity in between Korea's exports and ASEAN's imports compared with between ASEAN's exports and Korea's imports. Estimation results show that ASEAN's GDP and income have larger impacts than those of Korea on aggregate trade flows as well as sectoral level between two sides. Additionally, geographical conditions are critical factors impeding Korea-ASEAN trade. Meanwhile, other factors in the estimation model have mixed impacts on components of Korea-ASEAN trade structure. Finally, there is a significant room for Korea's trade expansion with ASEAN, particularly new and less developed members in future.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.84-99
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• 2022

Purpose - This study carried out an empirical study of the impact of sustainability - which has been gaining attention as challenges are arising in supply chains based on existing trade networks due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic - on SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs. The study seeks to propose a measurement model to enhance the SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs and to identify the relationship between sustainability, SCM performance and financial performance to suggest implications to SMEs, governments, and relevant organizations. Design/methodology - Our Analysis established hypotheses that economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and other factors related to sustainability have a positive impact on SCM performance and financial performance as well as SCM performance has a positive impact on financial performance, making empirical validations by utilizing Structural Equation Modeling based on data collected through survey from Korean SMEs. Findings - According to an empirical study, although environmental sustainability and economic sustainability among factors of sustainability had a positive influence on SCM performance, social sustainability did not have a statistically significant influence. Furthermore, it was learned that only economic sustainability had a positive influence on financial performance while SCM performance has a positive influence on financial performance. Originality/value - This empirical study explored the relationship between SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs with a high tendency to depend on specific supply chains when the international trade network is in confusion and/or the global supply chain has collapsed. If Korean SMEs allocate management resources to the factors deducted from this study, they would be able to build more efficient supply chains and improve financial performance to improve sustainability.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1-24
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• 2021

Purpose - This study categorizes factors that influence the utilization of preferential tariffs based on the characteristics of rules of origin (RoO) and identifies and analyzes the influence of these characteristics on the utilization of preferential tariffs and the trade performance of companies. Design/methodology - In this study, we categorized factors that have an influence on the utilization of preferential tariffs based on the characteristics of RoO and investigated and tested the influence of these characteristics on the utilization of preferential tariffs and the trade performance of companies. For empirical analysis, we categorized the characteristics of RoO into restrictiveness, complexity, and uncertainty. We then developed a research model and formulated hypotheses based on previous studies, and tested the hypotheses using statistical software-(SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 18.0.) Findings - Previous studies suggested that each characteristic of RoO is determined by unique features of a Regional Trade Agreement (RTA). This study conducted an empirical analysis on the influence of the characteristics of RoO on the utilization of preferential tariffs and trade performance. The results confirmed that, overall, the characteristics of preferential rules of origin (PRoO) are related to and influence Korean companies' utilization of preferential tariffs and trade performance. As for the degree of the influence, the characteristics were in the order of uncertainty> restrictiveness> complexity. Nevertheless, complexity turned out not to have an influence large enough to change a company's decision on the utilization of preferential tariffs. Based on these results, this study identified unique features of PRoO and related problems for Korean companies that want to utilize preferential tariffs and suggested countermeasures for their effective utilization of preferential tariffs in the future. Originality/value - Companies that want to use preferential tariffs in international trade have to satisfy PRoO. The issue of origin can be regarded as an essential part of an RTA and RoO, are a crucial criterion in using preferential tariffs. The rules are requirements to claim benefits of preferential trade agreements and are the primary reasons companies have trouble in utilizing preferential tariffs. In this sense, this study categorized the characteristics of RoO, which are a key part of an RTA, and surveyed working-level professionals in charge of international trade at Korean companies to investigate the relationship between these characteristics and the utilizations of preferential tariffs and trade performance of the companies.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.59-81
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• 2021

This paper aims to analyze Korea's trade and investment performance in Spain and the business environment of Spain, and to find efficient strategies for entering into the Spanish market. This study is organized into five chapters. To begin with, it explains an overview of the Spanish economy and the current status of its major industries. Then, it analyzes Korea's trade and investment performance in Spain, the structure of comparative advantage and the trade trends of major import and export items, since 2011 when the Korea-EU FTA went into effect. Lastly, based on the results of this analysis, Korea's strategies for entering into the Spanish market are derived. The strategies derived from the analysis are as follows: (1) entering startups in the Spanish market through CVC cooperation and participation in large tech forums, (2) linking the Spanish interest in K-Culture to consumer goods exports, (3) promoting cooperation in the IT industry in response to the Spanish government's 'Connected Industry 4.0', (4) building a new Korean-Spanish value chain in response to the mobility revolution, (5) advancing jointly into a third country by combining the strengths of both Korea and Spain, (6) cooperating with the Spanish government to establish a sustainable energy policy, (7) promoting jointly with the Spanish government through smart city strategies and project exchanges, and (8) building a European logistics hub in Spain in preparation for post-Brexit.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.53
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• pp.233-264
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• 2012

This study proposes and verifies an integrated model that reflects and helps to explain complexities and comprehensiveness of e-Trade in practice. The primary objective was to widen and deepen our understanding about the phenomena of paperless trading which will enable us to formulate an effective means to promote the adoption and utilization of e-Trade infrastructure. This investigation combined and extended the theories and models of TAM, TOE framework, and TTF in order to identify and hypothesize the causal relationships between factors of technology, organization and environment, and the usage level and performance of e-Trade. The previous research on e-Trade was reviewed and incorporated into the extended model. The integrated model was tested based on the survey data collected from a sample of 417 trading firms. Overall, the regression and path analysis demonstrated the usefulness of the proposed model as a conceptual framework for better understanding and explanation of e-Trade. The result of the analysis implies the relevancy of the factors of technology, organization and environment for facilitating usage of and increasing performance of e-Trade. However, rejection of a few hypothesized relationships implies the necessity of extensive promotion and education about the related laws and regulations, and education, supervision and incentives for e-Trade practitioners.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.57-73
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• 2019

The purposes of this study are to propose exhibition planning and management skills of trade fair organizers and to provide suggestions on the direction of government policies related to fair items. This study analyzes exhibitor objectives of exhibition participation and exhibition choice attributes using revised importance-performance analysis. This research uses visitor level, organizer services and market attraction of hosting country, as explanatory variables affecting companies' trade show choices. It also utilizes sales and non-sales purposes of participants as variables of exhibitors' objectives. As a result of the empirical analysis and examination of prior research, this study presents some recommendations for exhibition organizers and governments of hosting countries. First, the exhibition organizer should consider the importance of the number of visitors. Thus, the organizer should focus on prior marketing activities to attract visitors. Second, the organizer should make a trade fair plan in compliance with participants' needs. Third, policy authorities should provide environment of free competition among players.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.105-125
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• 2021

Purpose - This study analyzes the effects that the response to the technical barriers to trade (TBT), which are used by various countries as means to restrict imports, exerts on exports at a time when protectionism is emerging in the face of a global economic downturn. TBT has been widely used in developed countries for the safety and protection of their people. Recently, the use of TBT as a tool of protectionism has increased considerably in developing countries as well. Therefore, this study analyzes the South Korean SMEs' response and export performance. Design/methodology - To analyze SMEs' response to TBT and their export performance, this study conducted empirical analysis through statistical analysis. To this end, the research established a theory based on previous research and designed its hypothesis and research model. To verify the hypothesis and research model, factor analysis addressing validity and reliability was performed using SPSS 25 and AMOS 26, and the structural equation model was analyzed. Findings - This study found the causal relationship between the independent variable, the mediating variable, and the dependent variable adopted against the theoretical background to have little or no effect, in contrast with previous studies. In a break from previous studies, all hypotheses were rejected for innovation strategic competencies, one of the sub-factors of the independent variable, which is believed to be a result of the lack of practical research related to TBT. Originality/value - Previous studies performed analysis using trade statistics or macro data. A number of such studies analyzed the relationship between technical regulation and trade volume. This study differs from previous studies in some respects, because it analyzed the export performance of companies by establishing a hypothesis and implementing a research model with the factors analyzed in previous studies. In addition, a new attempt has been made by classifying the TBT response factors into technology competencies, human resource competencies, and innovation strategic competencies, and utilizing technology innovation and the export support system as mediating effects.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.145-160
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• 2021

This study attempted to analyze the trade in goods effect of the Korea-ASEAN FTA by using logistics performance index, which are evaluation indicators of logistics industry workers on the logistics environment and logistics system in international trade. The World Bank's logistics performance index are six indicators: customs clearance, logistics infra, ease of shipment, logistics services, goods tracking abilities, and on-time transportation. The purpose of this study was to examine how it affects commodity trade between Korea and ASEAN states using the gravity model using panel data. Through this, it was confirmed that logistics performance index affect the increase in commodity trade.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.133-150
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• 2005

Electronic Trade is dramatically changing classical international trade paradigms. In particular, under the new economic environment, the ability to utilize and Information Technologies such as Electronic Data Interchange, Web-based EDI, ebXML, web service, Internet are emerging as an important factor in deciding the competitiveness of export business. The primary purpose of this study is (1) to investigate motivation factors and performance factors of electronic trade, (2) to show the relationship between motivation factors and the level of the utilization of e-trade, (3) to reveal the relationship between the level of the utilization and performance factors of e-trade. Analysis of survey questionnaire of Korean middle and small companies indicates the following : (1) motivation factors such as cost factor, education and promotion and the search of new market, have positive effect on the level of utilization of e-trade. (2) the level of utilization of e-trade has positive effect on the performance factors such as cost factor, the search of new market, the improvement of task process.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.3-26
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• 2011

The objective of this study is to improve export performance using e-Trade marketing systems. The use of e-Trade has been increasing but there is some controversy about the performance of e-Trade marketing for Small-to-Medium enterprises (SME). The research construct for determining the export performance is suggested and five factors are introduced in this paper such as: B2B relationship and cooperation, product complexity, online fitness, level of internationalization, and use of e-Trade marketing. Sample data were collected from the companies who are familiar with the e-Trade systems. The result shows that the use of e-Trade marketing mostly contributes to the increase of export performance. The regression and cluster analysis shows that both variables of e-Trade marketing and on-line fitness are significant to high export performance group. The implication for SMEs is that the use of e-Trade marketing methods could contribute to the increase of export performance and more analytical works need to be made for future study.