• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.26 no.3_4
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• pp.527-538
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• 2002

Although importance of the price and objective quality relationships, very few studies have investigated the relationship related to apparel products. The purpose of this study were to examine 1990's the relationship between price and objective apparel products quality in the Korea Market and the United States market. Data sources in this study consisted of consumer magazines which were published by nonprofit organizations(1990 ∼1999) : Consumer Times(Korea), and Consumer Reports(U.S.A). The results showed that the correlations between price and objective apparel products quality were very weak positive and highly dependent upon the specific apparel product categories. Therefore, price was not a reliable measure of apparel products quality in the two countries market places. This study will help the consumer understand the relationship between price cues and apparel product objective quality and provide additional information to enhance purchase decision making.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.121-144
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• 2009

Consumers generally have different country images and purchasing patterns about products made in different countries. The essence of consumer behavior lies in psychological image on consumers' mind rather than actual characteristics of product itself. The current study examines how much country of origin influences consumers' purchase intentions focusing on Mexican products by consumers between Korea and the U.S. after establishment of NAFTA. The result of the study shows that there exists significant differences between Korean and the U.S. consumers' attitudes on purchasing Mexican products by structural equation modeling analyses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1270-1284
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• 2012

This article examines how individual differences on the need for cognitive closure and demographics influence consumer perception and the usage of consumer reviews in online shopping. Data were randomly collected from 2,381 U.S. online consumer review users through an online survey. The findings from multiple regression analyses revealed the different effects of the need for cognitive closure dimensions (i.e., preference for order and structure, preference for predictability, discomfort with ambiguity, closed-mindedness, and decisiveness) and demographic characteristics on consumer attitudes, perceived online review influence, benefits, persuasiveness, and review usage behavior. Finally, practical implications and prospects for future research are discussed.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.169-184
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• 2016

Smartphone use is rapidly spreading due to the advantage of being able to connect to the Internet anytime, anywhere--and mobile app development is developing accordingly. The characteristic of the mobile app market is the ability to launch one's app into foreign markets with ease as long as the platform is the same. However, a large amount of prior research asserts that consumers behave differently depending on their culture and, from this perspective, various studies comparing the differences between consumer behaviors in different countries exist. Accordingly, this research, which uses online product reviews (OPRs) in order to analyze the cultural differences in consumer behavior comparatively by nationality, proposes to compare the U.S. and South Korea by selecting ten apps which were released in both countries in order to perform a sentimental analysis on the basis of star ratings and, based on those ratings, to interpret the sentiments in reviews. This research was carried out to determine whether, on the basis of ratings analysis, analysis of review contents for sentiment differences, analysis of LDA topic modeling, and co-occurrence analysis, actual differences in online reviews in South Korea and the U.S. exist due to cultural differences. The results confirm that the sentiments of reviews for both countries appear to be more negative than those of star ratings. Furthermore, while no great differences in high-raking review topics between the U.S. and South Korea were revealed through topic modeling and co-occurrence analyses, numerous differences in sentiment appeared-confirming that Koreans evaluated the mobile apps' specialized functions, while Americans evaluated the mobile apps in their entirety. This research reveals that differences in sentiments regarding mobile app reviews due to cultural differences between Koreans and Americans can be seen through sentiment analysis and topic modeling, and, through co-occurrence analysis, that they were able to examine trends in review-writing for each country.

• 한국노년학
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.809-826
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• 2016

This study analyzed private pension dependency of Korea and U.S. households using the most recent dataset of two countries. For this purpose, 2013 Korean Retirement and Income Study(KReIS) of national pension research institute in Korea and 2013 SCF(Survey of Consumer Finances) of FRB in U.S. were used. The private pension dependency was defined as the proportion of private pension wealth among total financial wealth in each household and tobit model was used to investigate determinants of private pension dependency of the two countries. After controlling for other factors, household income and net worth, age, educational attainment, and health status of householder were crucial determinants of private pension dependency for both countries. Householder's age, educational attainment, and health tend to increase the private pension dependency in Korea and U.S. However, household income and net worth affected the private pension dependency opposite direction. The private pension dependency increased with high level of income and net worth in Korea, while it decreased with high level of income and net worth in U.S. Results of this study provide useful implications for future pension system and policy in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.493-501
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• 1996

An understanding of consumers' evaluative processes and the consumer variables that influence cross-cultural evaluations of foreign products is essential to effectively penetrate international markets. This study compared consumers in two developing countries, Korea and Mexico, regarding their product evaluations and purchase intentions for US Levi's jeans. Both Korean and Mexican consumers are generally quality and price conscious. Korean consumers appeared to be more value-conscious than Mexican consumers. Mexican consumers exhibited high level of brand and prestige conscious behavior. Findings in this study support that culture bound consumer characteristics vary from country to country resulting in differences in perception of quality, value and purchase intentions for a particular product. The perception of product quality differs from perception of value and subsequent willingness to buy. For a comprehensive understanding of consumer purchase behavior, the impact of value-conscious attitude on percetion of quality and on purchase intentions should be examined.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.254-270
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• 2009

As consumers are becoming more conscious about food safety and high quality standards, they are getting more interested in influencing the food policy-making process. Triggered by FTA (Free Trade Agreement) ratification between the Republic of Korea and the U.S. in 2008, a sharp conflict was created in importing U.S. beef between the government of Republic of Korea and its people. Food selection is known as a complex mental process of consumers, which incorporates social and cultural values, personal tastes, and other psychological factors. This study utilized the concept of antinomy which was signified by Immanuel Kant in his thesis. The concept of antinomy indicates a contradiction between conclusions which seem equally logical, reasonable or necessary. This study is designed to investigate the changes in the amount of beef consumption among Korean consumers after the Republic of Korea resumed U.S. beef imports and the impact of a consumer's trust in the U.S. on his/her antinomic acceptance. Also, it examined the effects of antinomic acceptance and whether a consumer is a potential restaurateur or a general consumer on the changes in the amount of beef consumption.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.269-282
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare consumer satisfaction by analyzing importance on characteristics of clothing, performance, and their inconsistency between Korea and the United States. The data was collected by using a survey based on three sages of pre-tests, and main survey conducted in The U.S and Korea. Data of 520 participants from each country (260 males and 260 females) was used. The results of this study is as follows: First, both consumers in Korea and U.S. showed five factors such as aesthetics/trend, body shape, practical use/wearing, care, and distorted. In performance factor of Korean students was consisted of wearing/care, aesthetics, body shape, distorted, and trend/symbolism while that of American students was consisted of wearing, aesthetics, body shape, trend/image factor, and distorted. Second, regarding importance rate, aesthetics/trend, practical use/wearing, care, and distorted affected satisfaction of Korean students whereas aesthetics/trend factor affected satisfaction of American students. Regarding performance, body shape factor, distorted, trend/symbolic affected satisfaction of Korean students whereas trend/image affected satisfaction of American students. Third, satisfaction of Korean and American students influenced re-purchase intention and positive word-of-mouth, so proved to be the result variable of satisfaction. By understanding the differences between consumers in Korea and U.S., apparel importers and exporters may develop effective business strategies to better fulfill their customers' needs and desires, and therefore, increase their profit.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.27-35
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• 2015

This study aims to analyze the housing satisfaction of 55 years and older (55+) single-person householders in U.S. urban communities with the 2011 American Housing Survey Data. Single-person householders younger than 55 years of age (55-) were used as a reference group. Housing Adjustment Theory was used to develop a research framework to depict the relationships of housing satisfaction (dependent variable) with demographic and housing variables (independent variables). The regression analysis revealed that age, health status, government income, race, gender, age of house, housing quality, neighborhood, structure type, and tenure status had a significant effect on housing satisfaction levels of both those aged 55- and 55+. However, for the cohort of 55+, education, census region, housing affordability, and structure size also affected their housing satisfaction. Neighborhood satisfaction had the strongest effect on housing satisfaction of both groups. These variables were discussed in terms of resources and constraints contributing to their housing satisfaction. This study highlights the present and future housing trends and challenges of U.S. single householders in U.S. urban communities.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.35-49
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• 1985

The Purpose of the study is to identify some factors affecting the consumer behavior of the Oriental students in the United States and provide some basic information for desirable consumer skills. The ninety subjects ere collected form the Oriental groups who were studying in Denton, Texas, U.S.A. Data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, X2-test. The results are as follows: 1) There are significant similarities in the consumer behavior of the Oriental students regarding the information source, the preferred type of clothing, the factors affecting the choice of retail store, and the satisfaction after the clothing purchase. 2) There are some differences in the consumer behavior among three groups regarding expenditures of the purchase of clothing and the preferred choice of retail store. This study concludes that the Oriental students tend to: 1) adjust their life style to new situation ; 2) avoid their conflicts dur to the language barrier; 3) have a limited income to stay in the USA; and 4) have their own social acceptability based on their nationality.