• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 2003

This study was to investigate the consumer recognition of commercial Sunsik & Saengsik. The data was collected from the 395 married women residing in Seoul and Kyungki area by the self-administered questionnaire. A related purpose was to analyze the nutrient composition and the hygienic safety of commercial Sunsik and Saengsik. The results from this study were as follows. The purchasing and using behaviors were significantly different between two user groups. Sunsik users have generally purchased the products at a discount store(41.0%) as a between-meal snack(36.4%). The products were usually the ones made on the spot(55.0%). However, Saengsik users have purchased the manufactured products-serving size package-(84.0%) at a health foods store(50.7%) as a health food(38.7%). Many of Sunsik users have had Sunsik in water or milk with sugar(40.7%) and 1-2 times a week(40.0%). But Saengsik users have usually had Saengsik in water or milk with honey(38.6%) and everyday(34.7%). According to the analysis on nutrition composition, crude proteins were significantly more rich in Sunsik samples, and crude ashes were more rich in Saengsik samples(p<0.01). Sunsik E and all the Saengsik samples showed the high total viable plate counts of $4.8{\sim}7.0$ log cfu/g. Coliform groups were detected in all the Saengsik and two Sunsik(A, E) samples.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.331-343
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• 2011

A survey of consumer awareness and attitudes was conducted about genetically modified (GM) foods and the labeling regulations. The questionnaires were distributed to 4,620 consumers who lived in a variety of areas in Korea, and 4,076 people responded. The consumers were asked about knowledge, labeling information, and the source of obtaining information about GM foods. More than 11.5% of the consumers had never heard about GM foods and 86.9% of consumers had less than a normal level of knowledge about GM foods. No statistically significant relationship was found between genders, but the teachers group had moderate knowledge (p<0.001). In total, 28.4% of consumers did not know the GMO labeling regulations. They answered that the reason to buy GM food was do not know>nothing wrong>create benefit>think as safe>inexpensive. The answers to the question of what was the first benefit were: solve food shortage>functional and nutritious food>cultivate in bad condition>nothing>various cultivars. They answered that the worst factor was the next generation effect>environmental disruption. Regarding the development of GM food in Korea, males answered do not know>stronglyrecommend>defer>strongly suppress. Female answered: don't know>defer>strongly recommend>strongly suppress. More than half of the respondents did not have much information about GM foods; 88.3% of respondents answered they did not have educational experience about GM food.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.477-493
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• 1997

The consumers' purchase experiences of some imported agricultural products (rice, sesame, garlic, onion, jujube, red pepper, oak mushroom, apple, dried persimmon) and their consciousness for the labelling of the country of origin for agricultural products in Youngnam region were examined in this study. The sample consisted of 438 women who lived in Taegu, Pusan and other cities of Kyungpook and Kyungnam, and the self-administered questionnaire for the survey was used. The main reasons to purchase the imported agricultural products were the wide distribution and low price of them. Most of the consumers were concerned about safety of the imported agricultural products but only a few people experienced unsatisfaction of the products. The price, quality, package, container, label, and safety of the examined products were evaluated worse than those of the domestic products. Generally, although they suffered unsatisfaction, the consumers did not complain because they wanted to avoid troublesome work, which means the consumers did not assert their rights. Some people did not know the labelling system for the country of origin and the place to charge the market violating it. Therefore, it will be necessary for the consumers to receive education about the labelling system for the country of origin and the compensation criteria for consumers' grievances and damages. The current labelling method for the country of origin generally met the consumers' preference but the consumers wanted to improve the position and color of the label. Most consumers could not differentiate the imported products from the domestic products. The results obtained from the survey suggest consumer education for the labelling system for the country of origin and the compensation criteria should be activated through various ways such as mass media and consumer organizations.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.919-930
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• 2008

This study was conducted to survey the attitudes of oyster consumers and to analyze their purchase behaviors based on demographic variables. To accomplish this, a questionnaire that was developed based on content analysis and panel discussion was distributed to 467 general consumers. The majority of the respondents ate oysters (90.6%), although the proportion of oyster consumers increased with age. The primary reasons for not-eating oysters were odor (33.3%), flavor (16.7%) and concern for safety (11.9%). Most respondents consumed raw oysters (96.1%) during winter (70.0%) at discount stores (51.3%). Fishery wholesale markets were the most common places to purchase oysters for respondents in their 60 s, while the other groups reported that discount stores were the most common place to purchase oysters. Most respondents ate oysters the day of purchased (53.2%). Furthermore, most respondents (39.2%) reported that they consumed the oysters only after evaluating the appearance and odor and that they avoided oysters during summer for safety. Women were more likely to check the expiration date than men, while housewives were the most likely to check the expiration and usually kept the oysters at refrigerator. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the various types of oyster products must be targeted toward different demographic markets. Moreover, this study will be useful for promoting the safer and more effective consumption of oysters.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.87-100
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• 2012

Smart wear integrates computing technology into fabric or a garment for additional functionality. This research explored the attitudes and opinions of the use of smart wear from the viewpoint of caregivers. Thirty two individuals including care providers of children and adult family members with health problems participated in focus group interviews. Participants reported being interested in smart wear because of the potential to detect the location (GPS) of a dependent (e.g., child, elderly) and to monitor vital signs. Participants indicated perceived advantages of smart wear such as identifying geographical location and effectiveness. Perceived concerns mentioned were privacy/security issues and accuracy of data. Participants taking care of dependents without a specific disease were hesitant to adopt and pay for smart wear. However, caregivers of elderly individuals expressed positive adoption intentions and willingness to reasonably pay for smart wear. They indicated expectations that potential insurance would provide coverage for cost savings. Caregivers expressed the need of specific requirements for future adoption such as customizability, and comfort/safety. Specific to smart wear clothing, most respondents preferred it be an undershirt or a jacket with a sensor located in the shoulder area. The findings from this study can be used in product development, promotion and marketing of smart wear.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.3-35
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• 2017

For recent years, several disputes between Korean consumers and multinational companies have arisen. Since the disputes were big and material that children's safety was at issue, a question started if Korean law properly has protected consumers' rights against multinational companies. While the Korean legal society tried to legislate punitive compensation with this concern, the U.S. Supreme Court reached an interesting case law regarding consumer contracts. A recent trend on consumer contracts in the United States shows that general terms have arbitration clause with class action waiver. As much as international arbitration has worked as the most effective resolution in international commercial disputes, the concept is still foreign and the experts are not approachable to lay individual consumers. However, class action in arbitration can hugely help for lay individual consumers to bring a case before arbitration tribunal. California courts consistently showed the analysis that the practical impact of prohibiting class action in arbitration clause is to ban lay individual consumers from fighting for their rights. However, the Supreme Court held that the arbitration clause shall be enforced as parties agree even if consumers practically cannot fight for their rights in the end. Even though consumer contracts are a typical example of lack of parity and of adhesive contract, the Supreme Court still applies liberalism that parties are equal in power and free to agree. This case law has a crucial implication since Korean consumers buy goods and services from the U.S. and other countries in everyday life. Accordingly, they are deemed to agree on the dispute resolution clauses, which might violate their constitutional right to bring their cases before the adjudication tribunal. This issue could be more important than adopting punitive compensation because consumers' rights are not necessarily governed by Korean law but by the governing law of the general terms and conditions chosen and written by the multinational companies. Thus this paper studies and analyzes the practical reality of international arbitration and influence of arbitration clause with class action waiver with the U.S. Supreme Court and California case laws.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.594-602
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• 2013

This study investigated consumer perception and purchase behavior regarding Han-gwa (traditional Korean confection) in housewives residing in the Seoul and Gyeonggi area. This study was conducted by self-administered questionnaires. Out of 839 questionnaires, 713 questionnaires (85.0%) were used for statistical analyses including frequency analysis, the Chisquare, and one-way ANOVA. Based on the data collected, independence variables were divided less than 40 years (<40), 40s, 50 years or higher (50) by age. The major findings were as follows; Firstly, 72.1% of the total respondents had the experience of purchasing Han-gwa. Gangjeong was the most popular item among purchased. As the purpose of purchasing, holiday gift and snack was on the highest rank. Hypermarkets / discount stores (48.9%) was the most common place for the place of purchase. Secondly, there was a significant difference in the perception of Han-gwa by age; respondents aged 50 years or older showed more positive perception in Han-gwa in 3 factors among total of 11 factors. Thirdly, for the popularization of Han-gwa, 'too sweet taste (44.2%)' and 'small portion size (22.9%)' were pointed to be improved by respondents. Results of this study indicate that 1) Yu-gwa and Yak-gwa require new product development based on age segmentation, and health and food safety are important variables considered when housewives purchase Han-gwa.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.159-170
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• 2019

This study is an online survey for consumers in the metropolitan areas of Japan and Korea, which are advanced countries in Asia, and the maturity of the automobile market. The purpose of this study is to compare the results of Korea and Japan. As a result of this study, we analyzed the differences between the consumer characteristics and the optional attribute factors of low-carbon automobiles of Korea. There was a difference. It was found that the factors of low carbon car selection attribute differed with age, and that stability was more important when selecting low carbon car as income level increased. In Japan, there were no differences in the selection attribute factors of low carbon cars by gender, age and income. In addition, there is no difference in the relationship between the future purchase timings of low-carbon car types in both Korea and Japan. Implications of this study Korea has a meaningful result that Korea tends to select low-carbon automobiles with an emphasis on economic aspects and ages, and that safety tends to emphasize safety of low-carbon automobiles according to income levels. In the case of low carbon car, there was a tendency to select a low carbon car without any difference in consumer characteristics. The relationship between the expected purchase time according to the type of low carbon car and the Korean car show that the preferred car within the next 10 years among the low carbon car types is electric car and Japan prefers hybrid car.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2023

The standards for heavy metal levels in crustaceans are 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg or lower for lead and cadmium, respectively. Further, the contamination levels of arsenic, mercury, methyl mercury, and tin are being continuously investigated, considering their current exposure levels. Shrimps are potentially exposed to heavy metals because they inhabit areas with abundant organic matter, such as sandy or muddy shores, places with a lot of seaweed, and estuaries. This study measured the monetary value of reducing consumer anxiety and increasing consumer confidence if the government prohibits the sale of shrimp species that exceed the threshold for specific heavy metals and of the top shrimp species for which no threshold for heavy metals is specified. We derived consumer willingness-to-pay (WTP). Combining the estimated WTP with the number of households in the country, the total value of benefits was estimated to be 363.9 billion won. The results of this study will provide an important empirical finding, showing to what extent specific policies regarding heavy metals in seafood can alleviate consumer anxiety and provide psychological reassurance.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 2015

There is a need to comprehend dental accidents accurately, and construct patient-safety-system in order to prevent consistently increasing dental accident or dispute. This study is aimed to provide basic data for an efficient counterplain by looking through and classifying already occurred dental accidents from an angle of patient safety. Recently, the number of dispute on dental implant was the highest according to rapid growth of dental implant. As a result of classifying dental accidents by International Classification for Patient Safety (ICPS), it is confirmed that cause of accident is different by each type of dental treatment. It is expected to help preventing and managing dental disputes properly by studying actual state of dental disputes in perspective of patient safety. Effort to reduce dental accidents and activity to pursue patient safety have thread in connection. I believe that financial profits of dental clinic and improvement of quality in dental treatment can be achieved through these efforts.