• Korea Trade Review
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

Consumers have been increasing their interests in firms' ethicality as well as in the features of the firms' products when they decide to purchase a certain product. Recently, fair trade is considered to be a type of ethical marketing in the business-to-consumer market. In this regard, the effects of fair trade-based marketing on firm performance have become the center of academic and managerial concerns. Despite this importance, few studies have investigated whether fair-trade is a source of competitive advantage or just a cost of doing business. The present research attempts to provide evidence of how fair trade-based marketing influences competitive advantage. Two experimental studies were conducted to explore consumers' purchase intention, which can be a proxy of competitive advantage, in a foreign product-consumption context. Drawing on the stakeholder theory, the first study was performed to examine the effects of fair trade marketing on consumers' purchase intention through a within-subjects design. In addition, building on the signal theory, the second study was executed to test the effects of a fair trade mark on consumers' purchase intention. The findings of the current research reveal that consumers prefer fair trade-based products to others and that when it comes to fair trade-certified products, consumers are more likely to purchase products with that certification than otherwise, even when those products are sold at higher costs than rival products. Interestingly, the results of this research present that there is a significant difference of consumers' purchase intention of a fair trade-based product between two different marketers. This implies that fair trade-based products should be differentially distributed and targeted at a certain type of consumers.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.28-39
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• 2021

In the new era of IoT, a deeper and richer understanding of consumer characteristics is required to accelerate the acceptance and popularization of different types of smart home services (e.g., hedonic or utilitarian smart home services). In the current research, self-regulation systems are considered one of the consumer characteristics. Therefore, this research examines the role of consumers' regulatory focus (promotion focus vs. prevention focus) in their responses to smart home services, particularly when they are not familiar with the services. Specifically, this research examines whether consumers' attitudes toward utilitarian/hedonic smart home services differ according to their regulatory focus, particularly when they are not familiar with the services. The results indicate that consumers who are not familiar with smart home services have more favorable attitudes toward hedonic smart home services when they are promotion-focused (vs. prevention-focused). In contrast, there is no significant difference in their attitudes toward utilitarian smart home services between promotion- and prevention-focused consumers. Our findings imply that regulatory focus may be an effective marketing and segmentation tool in promoting new smart home services and facilitating low-familiarity consumers' receptiveness to the services.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.296-307
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• 2019

This study aimed to develop processed foods that can be tailored to the tastes of consumers in countries to enter domestic and foreign markets utilizing fresh Korean pears, in which the consumption is decreasing. A survey was also conducted on three types of samples (pear jelly, pear rice cake, and pear muffin). As a result, both Korean and Chinese women aged in their 20s preferred pear muffins the most among the pear products evaluated. Pear jelly and rice cake were preferred by Chinese consumers because of their sweet taste (p<0.05). Pear rice cakes were preferred because of their texture (p<0.05). Pear muffins were not significant in all items except for odor/flavor and sweetness, but Korean consumers had a high preference for them and showed a significant preference for colors (p<0.05). Pear muffins were most familiar to both Korean and Chinese consumers showing a high willingness to purchase. An analysis of the preference inducement factors of consumers in each country of the three processed foods containing pears using Check-All-That-Reply (CATA) showed that the consumers of both countries preferred the 'pear odor/flavor' characteristics of pear jelly, and that pear rice cakes were preferred by Chinese consumers compared to Korean consumers. Pear muffins were preferred by Korean consumers. Overall, pear muffins are the product expected to be most suitable for female consumers in Korea and China aged in their 20s.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.185-206
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• 2013

Recent studies validate the idea that consumer judgment of products can affect consumer purchase intentions. Consumers judge products based on product quality, after sales satisfaction, and other visible values, but consumers also judge products on country-of-origin image, brand image and such intangible values. In this paper, we will examine consumer ethnocentrism and animosity, which are frequently responsible for country-of-origin prejudices, because the offending (i.e. exporting) nation has engaged in economic, political, or even military activities that the consumer finds difficult to forgive. The results of the study show a positive effect of product judgment on consumer purchase intentions, but consumer ethnocentrism and animosity negatively affect product judgment and consumer purchase intentions of foreign products. In the Chinese market, ethnocentric Chinese consumers have negative perceptions of foreign products with negative intentions to buy them. Chinese consumers have strong animosity for Japanese products, which negatively affect product judgments and purchase intentions to buy; therefore, Japanese corporations should increase cooperation with Chinese corporations. Conversely, for Korean companies, product judgment primarily affects consumers' intentions to buy; consequently, Korean companies should improve their product quality, after-sales satisfaction, brand image and other tangible aspects to improve consumer judgment.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.173-199
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• 2012

The purpose of the study is to test and analyze differences in consumers' satisfaction and influences of competitiveness of goods on consumers' purchase decision by demographic characteristics and by channel distribution. The hypotheses have been tested through T-test and ANOVA with one-way and two-way using SPSS Win Ver. 12.0. The distribution channels are classfied with five ones such as company direct operation shop, agent licensed shop, department store, internet home shopping and outlet goods shop. This study can indirectly suggest a local clothing brand industry countermeasures for raising competitiveness and changing consumer preferences in the open domestic market.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.161-187
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of Vietnamese consumers' perception of Korean Wave brand on consumer attitude toward Korean products and purchase intention. Based on the existing research, the authors tried to consider two sub-concepts of globalness and localness in perceived Korean Wave brands. In addition, as surveyed in Vietnam research institutes and previous researches, Korean cosmetics were selected as representative Korean products in view of the fact that Korean cosmetics best reflect Korea and Korean Wave. To test hypotheses, the on-line survey was conducted to the Vietnamese consumers and total of 212 questionnaires were returned as valid sample. Research findings suggest that the globalness and localness of Korean Wave brand that Vietnamese consumers perceive have a positive effect on attitude toward Korean products. In addition, the favorable attitude toward these products has a positive effect on the intention to purchase the Korean products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.168-175
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• 2019

Although Kimchi is a Korean traditional food, domestic consumption has been decreasing steadily and the trade inversion phenomenon has reached a serious level due to the surge of Chinese Kimchi imports. Moreover, cases where foreign Kimchi is transformed illegally into Korean Kimchi are frequent, which impedes the expansion of Korean Kimchi exports. To sustain the Korean Kimchi industry in a situation where the domestic and overseas conditions are deteriorating, it is necessary to positively review the introduction of Kimchi into a geographical indication (GI) system. This study examined the intention of foreign consumers to purchase Korean Kimchi with GI and analyzed the impact on the trade balance. Approximately 42.8% of 500 Japanese consumers answered that they would purchase Korean Kimchi with GI and they were willing to pay 7.8% more than the present price. Approximately 78.7% of 300 Taiwanese consumers replied that they purchase it and would pay 25.1% more. In addition, Japanese and Taiwanese consumers reported that they expected to increase their Korean Kimchi purchases by 21.9 and 22.4%, respectively. Based on the survey results, the effects of the trade balance were measured using the methodology of a preliminary impact assessment using the KREI-KASMO model. The trade balance of Kimchi is expected to improve slightly at an annual average of 11.718.6 million US$ to as much as 27.7~35.8 million US$.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.405-420
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to identify the differences between clothing size satisfaction and clothing sizing systems of Korean and foreign SPA (specialty retailer of private label apparel) brands according to height group, and provide foundation material that can be used to establish product strategy from the perspective of Korean SPA brand clothing sizes in order to secure competitiveness in the international market. Satisfaction of tall women in their twenties with the clothing sizes of SPA brands was researched, and t-test was conducted to examine differences between clothing size satisfaction of Korean and foreign SPA brands between the two height groups. Then, differences in the size minimum and maximum values, size ranges, size intervals and size numbers between clothing sizing systems of Korean and foreign SPA brands were researched and comparatively analyzed. Existing clothing sizes need to make improvements considering the lengths and shoulder width of tall consumers. And Korean SPA brands need to diversify the range and number of sizes in the clothing sizing system, and set a separate tall-size group, or apply the relationship between vertical and horizontal sizes of clothing to establish a clothing sizing system. A product strategy that applies the results of this study will solve the clothing size dissatisfaction of tall female consumers and stimulate sales of Korean SPA brand clothing products. The study has value in that it extracted realistic problems by researching clothing sizing systems of products that are actually sold.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.95-112
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• 2014

This study analyzed the type and item of collaboration, national form and purpose_of collaboration in both the domestic and foreign fashion industries in oder to study the trend of collaboration that has appeared in a the field of the recent fashion industry. The analysis focused on 221 collaboration cases from designers in the domestic and foreign fashion industries during the period of January 2012 to December 2013. The cases were collected and analyzed focusing on publications related to newspapers on fashion, internet articles on fashion information sites etc. According to the results of the study, the characteristics of collaboration shown in the recent fashion industry are as follows. First, it can be observed that a portion of collaboration in the two different industries was very high. Second, through the high portion of cases where collaboration between foreign companies was made, it could be found that the world fashion market is enormous: moreover, domestic brands tended to borrow foreign brand images. Third, it was known that fashion companies are very interested in establishing a positive company image and sharing feeling with consumers by implementing collaboration in oder to appeal to consumers' emotions. Therefore, it shoud be done an effective collaboration implement for the development of fashion industry that an understanding of partner, a study of fashion image through development item, an established image foundation of domestic brand, a correct analysis for reflecting artistic image, an effective collaboration implement for the development of fashion industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1341-1351
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• 2010

The Korean jean market has become increasingly competitive due to the increased imports of global brands. This study is to understand the purchase behaviors of Korean college students toward foreign brand jeans to help Korean jean brands enhance their competitive advantages over foreign brand jeans in the Korean market. Considering perceptions of Korean consumers toward foreign brands and traditional value changes, this study proposed a research model incorporating two extended behavioral intention (BI) models, Lee's modified BI model and Ajzen's theory of planned behavior. To test the research model, a total of 240 valid data sets were collected from college students in Busan, Korea. Structural and measurement models were estimated using LISREL 8.80. Because face saving failed to attain internal validity, the research model was revised to eliminate face saving. The findings indicated that perceived behavioral control had the strongest direct influence on purchase intentions of Korean college students for foreign brand jeans. Group conformity and subjective norm had non-significant direct impacts on purchase intention, whereas group conformity had an indirect impact on purchase intention through attitude. Based on the findings, theoretical and managerial implications were provided.