• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.65-81
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• 2004

Foreign direct investment (FDI) by firms has various motives in terms of the strategy for firms' long-term growth. This research uses the case study of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama to analyze the motives of the Korean auto industry's FDI in the U.S. and the locational factors that determined the selection of the site. This paper starts from the question of why Hyundai made the decision to invest in the U.S., which is not favorable in terms of production cost, especially considering that its exports to the U.S. have been on the increase. The results indicate that the strongest motive for the decision to invest in the U.S. was to ameliorate the trade friction between Korea and the U.S. Given that Hyundai depends on the U.S. market to a large extent for its exports, the foremost motive was to use local production in order to reduce the serious trade imbalance in the automobile sector between Korea and the U.S. in order that trade friction with the U.S. may be avoided and causes for trade disputes may be reduced. Other motives such as improving the access to local consumers were of secondary importance. After the selection of the country in which to invest, however, various factors were considered in the decision regarding the location of the plant, and incentives by local governments ultimately played a key role in this decision. The results imply that the Korean manufacturing industry's investment in the U.S. cannot be explained by traditional FDI theories and instead was greatly driven by a strategic defensive motive. In addition, the results confirm that the design of an appropriate incentive structure by host governments is important for attracting FDI.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 2023

Upon analyzing labor productivity in the construction industry across OECD countries, it was found that in 2019, labor productivity per employee in the South Korean construction industry was lower than that of major developed countries when adjusted for purchasing power parity(PPP). Specifically, when benchmarked against other countries at a base of 100, South Korea scored 76.9 in the United States, 88.4 in Japan, and 85.1 in the OECD average. Notably, South Korea ranked 25th in labor productivity per employee in the construction industry among 35 OECD countries in 2019, indicating a low standing. A comparative analysis of the construction market size and labor productivity in the construction industry across OECD countries revealed that larger construction markets did not necessarily correlate with higher labor productivity. To enhance labor productivity in the construction industry, this study proposed the active implementation of smart construction technology at construction sites and the promotion of on-site assembly work using off-site construction(OSC) technology, rather than traditional on-site labor. Moreover, it was recommended that the development of modular construction methods and technologies be expanded. In the future, if off-site production methods and modules are further developed through advanced robotics and factory automation, labor productivity is anticipated to increase due to the restructuring of production methods, such as manufacturing.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2011

The Korean distribution industry is gearing up for an endless competition. Greeting low growth era, less competitive parties will be challanged seriously for their survival. But for large discount stores, they have shown steady annual growth for years. However, because of the saturation for numbers of stores, the difficulty of gaining new sites, and the changes in the consumer's consumption behavior caused by the recession, now they are seeking for a new customers-based business formats. Accordingly, a large corporate comopanies made supermarkets which are belonged to affiliated companies of large corporate comopanies. They based on the strong buying power, focused on SSM(Super Super Market) ave been aggressively develop nationwide multi-stores. The point is that these stores are threatening at small and medium-sized, community-based private supermarkets. Private supermarkets and retailers, who are using existing old operation systems and their dilapidated facilities, are losing a competitive edge in business. Recent the social effects of large series of corporate supermarkets for traditional markets has been very controversial, and commercial media, academia, and industry associated with it have been held many seminars and public hearings. This may slow down the speed in accordance with the regulations, but will not be the crucial alternative. The reason for this recent surge of enterprise-class SSM up, one of the reasons is a stagnation in their offline discount mart, so they are finding new growth areas. Already in the form of large supermarkets across the country got most of the geographical centre point and is saturated with stages. Targeting small businesses that do not cover discount Mart, in order to expand business in the form of SSM is urgent. By contrast, private supermarkets are going to lose their competitiveness. The vulnerability of individual supermarkets, one of the vulnerabilities is price which economies of scale can not be realized so they are purchasing a small amount of products and difficult to get a quantity discount. The lack of organization and collaboration, and education which is not practical, caused the absencer of service-oriented situations. As a first solution, making specialty shops which are handling agricultures, fruits and vegetables and manufactured goods is recommended. Second, private supermarkets franchisees join the organization for the organization and collaboration is recomaned. It can be meet the scale of economy and can be formed a alternative business formats to a government. Third, the education is needed as a good service will get consumer's awareness. In addition, a psychological stores operating is also one way to stimulate consumer sentiment as SSM can't operate. Japan already has a better conditions of their lives through small chain expression. This study includes the vulnerabilities of private supermarkets, and suggests a competitiveness reinforcement strategies.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.249-280
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• 1993

Recent financial theory views insurance policies as financial instruments that are traded in markets and whose prices reflect the forces of supply and demand. This article analyzes individual's insurance purchasing behavior along with capital market investment activities, which will provide a more realistic look at the tradeoff between insurance and investment in the individual's budget constraint. It is shown that the financial economic concept of insurance cost should reflect the opportunity cost of insurance premium. The author demonstrates the importance of riskless and risky financial assets in reaching an equilibrium insurance premium. In addition, the paper also investigates how the investment income could affect the four established theorems on traditional insurance literature. At the present time in Korea, the price deregulation is being debated as the most important current issue in insurance industry. In view of the results of this paper, insurance companies should recognize investment income in pricing their coverage if insurance prices are deregulated. Otherwise. price competition may force insurance companies to restrict coverage or to leave the market.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.13-31
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• 2021

Since the signing of the Korea-Europe Free Trade Agreement, the volume of trade transactions between South Korea and Europe has increased. The traditional single-mode transport system has been transformed into an intermodal transport system using two or more modes of transport. In addition, the conventional sea and air transport routes have been restricted, leading to a decline in Korean exports to Europe, and the rail transport mode is becoming mainstream in the market due to the influence of COVID-19. This paper focuses on the China-Railway Express to explore a new intermodal transport route from Korea to Europe. First, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to evaluate the factor weights when selecting intermodal transport routes from Korea to Europe. Then, the TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method is used to rank three alternatives. The results show that among the four factors (total cost, total time, transportation capability, and service reliability), the total cost is the most significant factor, followed by the total time, service reliability, and transportation capability. Furthermore, the alternative route 1 (Incheon-Dalian-Manchuria-Hamburg) is preferred.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.83-92
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• 2014

Purpose - A business ecosystem refers to mutually dependent systems interconnected by a loose foundation of various ecosystem members such as customers, suppliers, partners, and other stakeholders. The ecosystem-based strategy attempts to achieve competitive advantage for firms by enriching a business ecosystem or building a sustainable business ecosystem through the collaboration and co-evolution of its members. A sustainable business ecosystem is a source of competitiveness for firms anda manageable resource for gaining a competitive advantage. Customers represent the core membership of the business ecosystem and play a pivotal role in building a sustainable business ecosystem. This study examines the effects of customer participation on economic and social value in the business ecosystem and suggests a course of action for building a sustainable business ecosystem. Research design, data, and methodology - Two business cases of South Korea are selected from two different business types: business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) firms. Business ecosystems for B2B and B2C firms reflect contrasting characteristics. Data was collected from in-depth interviews with four representatives of four firms. Results - The study suggested seven propositions for the relationships between customer participation and a sustainable business ecosystem through multiple case studies based on in-depth interviews. The results reveal the following four strategic actions for building sustainable business ecosystems based on the suggested propositions: alignment, systemization, socialization, and co-evolution. Alignment refers to achieving a harmonic balance or virtuous circle among the firm's mission, investment, and value creation. Systemization refers to building and implementing management and infrastructure systems rooted in the corporate culture. Socialization of customers in the business ecosystem reinforces the harmony or virtuous cycle. Finally, co-evolution is associated with the relationship between firms and customers as buyer firms in a restricted business ecosystem. Conclusions - This study considers multiple cases for the execution of a sustainable business ecosystem in collaboration with customers and suggests seven propositions and four strategic actions. The results are based on qualitative data from interviews with business associates from two firms in an open business ecosystem and two firms in a restricted business ecosystem, both in South Korea. Our research results regarding two contrasting business ecosystems shed light on business issues and policy making in Asian business environments, which are in the transition stages from a traditional conglomerate-driven to an inclusive growth-driven economy. The business ecosystem itself should be considered a manageable resource for firms' competitive positions in the market. A customer is a member of the business ecosystem and should thus be viewed not only as a purchasing entity and an object of relationship management but also as a co-creator of value. Therefore, firms should collaborate with customers to build sustainable business ecosystems. For this, firms must create social value, which cannot be created by customers alone, within the business ecosystem. Then, customers participate in a business ecosystem and build it to be favorable to them. Implications for academics and practitioners were suggested.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.137-150
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• 2016

A variety of O2O (Online to Offline) services such as Uber, Airbnb, and KakaoTaxi that create new values by connecting offline and online have emerged in the world. O2O services support the convenience of online services and the real-life capability of offline services simultaneously. Thanks to the development of ICTs such as mobility, IoT (Internet of Things), Fin-tech, and big data technologies, the market size of O2O industry is growing very rapidly. This paper reviews various O2O services and industry trends in Korea. In addition, important issues on O2O services and industry promotion are reviewed and presented. Specifically, legislative issues regulating the O2O industry in Korea, interest conflicts between new O2O platform providers and existing traditional offline service providers, current technology infrastructures for O2O services, and negative or side effects of O2O services are reviewed and summarized. Finally, comprehensive policy directions are proposed based on these reviewed issues. It is expected that the proposed policy directions would be adopted by the government and this research could consequently contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the O2O industry in Korea.

• Journal of International Area Studies (JIAS)
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.73-94
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• 2012

Recently, Japanese cultural contents are being evaluated as a worldwide content. Among them, the animation takes an overwhelming place in the world market as a Japanese representative content. We need to understand that Japanese animation is being recognized world wide, because Japanese culture was grafted in to and it's very important to apply that to our situation. Cultural content to dominate the world has a fundamentally characteristics derived from regional culture. Cultural content includes elements of particular culture prototype. To investigate into cultural content that has globally used and is valuable, in-depth and systematic research for local (country) culture prototype showed be carried out. Our research aim to provide basic data so Korean animation can be developed as axis of Korean Wave. This compares and analyzes the Culture prototype from Korea and Japanese modern civilized media animation. Specifically for the animation shown in the culture prototype, we aim to - Analyze the content of culture prototype shown in Korea's animation: 'Hopi and Chadol Bawi', 'Heung-Bu and Nol-Bu', 'A Admiral's Diary', and 'Oseam'. - Analyze the content of culture prototype shown in Japan's animation: 'Genji', 'The Spiriting away of Sen and Chihiro', 'The Princess Mononoke', and 'Raccoon War Pom Poko'. - Compare and analyze the content of culture prototype depending on classifying criteria shown between Korea and Japan. We finally want to provide the basic data to develop the creation material for the global animation content based on these two countries throughout this research.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.566-576
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• 1998

Food habits and Korean food utilization patterns were surveyed from 188 Koreans residing in New Zealand and Malaysia by using a questionnaire. Forty seven percent of the respondents answered that Korean food should be succeeded as its traditional form. Most subjects had strong pride for Korean traditional food. Kimchi was the most frequently consumed side dish followed by Chigaes (stew), broiled meat, Tubu (bean curd), broiled fish, Tangs (soup), and Noodles. While Kimchies were prepared by the respondents themselves, Doenjang and Kochujang were sent from the relatives in Korea or purchased from the market. The changes in food consumption pattern after emigration depended on the availability of food items in residing country. Korean style meal (cooked rice and side dishes) was eaten by 51% respondents for breakfast and by 78.2% for supper. Ramyon was the most frequently consumed instant food. Eating out frequency was much higher in the residents in Malaysia than the ones in New Zealand. This study showed that Koreans residing in foreign countries have the consciousness trying to succeed Korean traditional food culture, and their food consumption pattern partly depends on food availability and socio-cultural properties of the residing country.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.79-90
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• 2018

A wide range of challenges and obstacles still exist for "mumpreneurs" in creating or developing their business ventures. It is important to investigate the factors regarding why many mothers choose to become self-employed and partially abandon the benefits offered by traditional employment. This study focus on the individual, but an implied positive relationship also exits between motivational factors and mumpreneurs in Korea. Thus, four factors in this study - push, pull, environmental, and financial factor - raise the practical implications regarding the motivational factors of women entrepreneurial challenges in Korea. This study's findings also consider the nature and changes of Korean mumpreneurs' motivational factors, their challenges, and attitudes as business owners in Korean labor markets. This study's findings suggest that a combination of push and pull factors could similarly trigger new business ownership. The empirical contrast in such variables as motivations or barriers to mumpreneurship, in realities provide a superior understanding of women's tendency or willingness toward business creation, as they struggle to survive in the Korean labor market. They tend to start their own businesses to gain more responsibilities in both work and their families, and want to manage their own lives to contribute as capable members of society. Therefore, any Korean mother, regardless of any industry-specific experience, wants to use entrepreneurship as a shortcut to satisfy her need for self-fulfillment. The general motivational factors for becoming a mumpreneur exist among both external and internal situations. The circumstances beyond their control, such as job termination or unemployment, compel these mothers into the workforce due to their responsibility toward their families, but they simultaneously dream of self-achievement and development. Most mumpreneurs in Korea also want to demonstrate their potential and achieve societal recognition as well as increase in property.