• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.1217-1230
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• 2021

Using a multinomial logit model with the panel-data set of Vietnam manufacturing firms, this paper investigates the impacts of foreign direct investment (FDI) - small and medium enterprises (SMEs) linkages and other factors on SMEs' participation in the global value chain (GVC). We consider GVC firms are those engaging in any of the three modes including (i) using domestic inputs to export (D2E), (ii) using imported inputs to produce for the domestic market (I2P), (iii) using imported inputs to export (I2E). We discover that FDI-SME linkages statistically encourage Vietnamese SMEs to integrate into the GVC via I2P and I2E, while no statistical association between FDI-SME linkage and D2E participation is found. GVCs participation likelihood is also positively correlated with the introduction of new product introduction. The establishment of firms' production facilities in industrial zones and foreign ownership are both reported to be significantly decisive factors to SMEs' decisions on GVC participation. Besides, there is a strong association between firms' attributes, i.e. employment, capital intensity as well as financial access, and their participation in the GVC. Local governance quality (proxied by the Provincial Competitiveness Index) and the share of skilled labor at the province-level can facilitate firms' integration into GVCs, while greater market concentration may be a hurdle to such potential.

• Journal of the Regional Association of Architectural Institute of Korea
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

Construction automation can be an effective alternative for the lack of skilled labor and loss of productivity. With such a background, Korean government has provided a lot of financial supports for the development of construction automation technology. However, despite of those efforts, automation systems at construction sites have rarely been employed. This is because the systems have not been developed with full consideration of the needs and environments on construction sites. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify the critical success factors for efficient development of construction automation systems. This study compares and analyzes key factors for automated construction system(ACS) and construction information system(CIS). As a result, 'stability and reliability' in the ACS showed the highest importance while 'manageability' in the CIS was. Consequently, for the successful introduction of the ACS, technical capability and stability should be firstly considered to cope with dynamic construction environment, while the CIS should be built to enable efficient management and use of information. The result of this study can serve as an evaluation base for the current construction automation technologies and an index for more efficient technology development in the future as well.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.411-417
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• 2021

This study aims to estimate the production function and total factor productivity (TFP) of Vietnamese seafood processing firms. At the same time, the study analyses the impact of internal factors of firms and the quality of economic institutions on the TFP of the Vietnamese seafood processing industry. The study uses the Function Control (FC) approach in TFP estimation and the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) regression model in the analysis of factors affecting TFP. The study was carried out on the census data of enterprises of the Vietnamese seafood processing industry collected by the Vietnamese General Statistics Office and Provincial Competitiveness Index data of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the period from 2013 to 2018. Estimated results from the models show that: i) Vietnamese seafood processing firms are, currently, mainly labor-intensive, the TFP contribution and output is only about 2.258. ii) Factors such as the firm's age, firm's size, and the firm's ownership affect TFP. In which, firms that have few numbers of years of operation, small and medium firms, and private firms have low TFP. iii) Institutional quality and the provincial business environment have a positive impact on the TFP of Vietnamese seafood processing firms in this period.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.99-112
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• 2022

Purpose - This paper empirically investigates via a spatial lag model from the perspective of space economy to find the influencing factors of South Korea's OFDI along with 60 countries. Design/methodology - In the study of regional economic phenomena, we must first test the corresponding spatial correlation, and on this basis, complete the construction of the spatial model. For the target research object, after testing the spatial correlation, if there is spatial correlation, a spatial measurement model is needed. This paper uses the global Moran's I index for calculation. Based on the characteristics and research needs of the research object, this paper selects the spatial lag model to verify the existence of the spatial effect and factors affecting OFDI. Findings - Our results show that export scale, infrastructure, technology level, political stability, resource endowment, market size, distance and labor cost have a certain impact on Korea's OFDI, but at present the distance and market size factors are the most important influencing factors for South Korea's OFDI, The technical level and political stability have little effect on South Korea's OFDI, and are not main factors determining South Korea's OFDI. Originality/value - Through spatial measurement verification, it was found that the spatial effect has a significant impact on OFDI, along with more than 60 countries. On this basis, relevant suggestions are put forward, which have strong practical significance for South Korea's OFDI to achieve healthy and sustainable development.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.121-140
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• 2021

The ship recycling or scrap is a phenomenon in the process of vessels life cycle has ended in the shipping industry. Scrap are greatly affected by freight rates due to ship demands. Not only that, environmental regulation and economic scale vessel demand are processes that must exist in the shipping industry as they obtain management for existing vessels. In the past, shipbreaking yard had tried to work without protection for poverty, without poor working conditions and facilities to prevent the emission of harmful substances. However, the issue of environmental pollution has been raised the Basel and Hong Kong Convention have been adopted, and a new replacement of the ship scrap that induces serious pollution is required. In this study, 165 countries were analyzed to confirm the importance of determining the ship solution. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the Environmental Performance Index, which is a measure of environmental regulation, is the most influential factor of ship scrapped volume. The determinant of whether lower labor cost can be secured is more correlated with population than GDP per capita. The implications of the results of the regression analysis mean that if environmental regulations for ship scrap of the future are strengthened, the status of Bangladesh and Pakistan, which currently account for half of the world's ship recycling, may change.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.171-192
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• 2011

This paper focuses on the retail industry of industrial share of the GDP, productivity of distribution industry and input-out analysis between Korea and Japan, also results are summarized as follows. First, the share of GDP in agriculture, forestry and fisheries of the both countries is falling. That of manufacture increases in South Korea, while Japan is falling. While distribution industry shows vice versa. Employed population by industry is falling both countries also. The relative labor productivity shows that agriculture, forestry and fisheries, retail industry needs more labor, while manufacture has been met for both countries. Second, compare to Japan, the retail industry of Korea has been increased since 1990. Likewise, overall productivity of distribution industry in Korea has been increased while almost that of Japan has declined. Third, production inducement effects of Japan are greater than that of Korea. On the other hand, import inducement effects show vice versa. Fourth, as shown from the final demand of distribution industry and the rate of dependence on production inducement, we can see that the “increase in stocks” increases while gross government fixed capital formation shows vice versa. Korea's private consumption expenditure increases while Japan shows versa. South Korea's government consumption expenditure and exports are rising, on the other hand, that of Japan is declining. Fifth, the rate of dependence on distribution industry and import inducement shows the same tendency from both countries. As we can see from the private consumption expenditure, government consumption expenditure, gross government fixed capital formation, gross private fixed capital formation, increase in stocks, the rate of dependence on import inducement is more effective than the rate of dependence on production inducement. While the exports are comparatively ineffective. Sixth, the degrees of influence of retail industry are similar between Korea and Japan, while sensitivity of the Korean industry has been weakened. In this sense, strong policies are needed to boost the industry. Seventh, the investments in the retail industry of Korea showed the public-led trend, while Japan showed private sector-led investment trend. The investment trend of Korea's retail industry will be switched into private sector-led investment step by step in the future. This finding will be an important clue to set the policy direction of Korea distribution industry. Finally, both Korea and Japan are still in need of employment in retail industry. Not addressed in this paper, such as value-added-induced effects, employment inducement effect, will be remaining challenges in the following paper.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.108-114
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• 2012

Escalation method examining the changes in price index has been widely utilized in public construction projects. The previous escalation method determined estimated changes in price based on the average unit price of contract items over a period of time. In relation to this method, the issue has been raised that the fluctuation rates of previous method show different trends compared with other related price indices, as the influence of the small group of contract items with large unit prices overwhelms the others. This research suggested an improved escalation method which estimates the fluctuation rate by examining the changes in CCI (construction cost index) and applies it to the total amount or the partial amount deducted for labor cost in price escalation for previous bid price method. To verify the improvement, a case study is conducted on an educational facility, and the fluctuation rate was estimated in two different base periods (short term, long term). The results over the long term showed similar tendencies to those of related price indices, as well as significant differences in fluctuation rates compared to those of the previous method.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.4 s.48
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• pp.747-761
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• 1994

Workers' periodic health examination is the main tools used to manage the health problems of most workers in Korea. The most common health problem found in workers' periodic health examination is liver disorder. Liver disorder is also one of the most common health problems in general population and one of the leading causes of mortality in adult population. Regulation proposed by government (No. 207, Ministry of Labor, 1992) defines the criteria for selection of workers with the liver dysfunction for further evaluative examination and the examination items used for diagnosis of the workers with liver dysfunction. This study was designed to evaluate the proficiency of each examination items presently defined in Regulation and propose the optimal examination items for detection of the liver disorders found by workers' periodic health examination. Study subjects are 186 workers with abnormal liver function tests in screening examination of workers' periodic health examination. Questionnaire survey including past history of liver disorder, drinking history, height and weight was done. Physical examination by physician, routine test items defined by Regulation (SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP, protein, albumin, total and direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, $\alpha$-feto protein, HBsAg and anti-HBs), anti-HCV antibody test and liver ultrasonography were done. Results are as follows; 1. Result of evaluative examination utilizing only the items defined in Regulation was; There were 75 workers with suspected live. disorder(40.3%), 63 with no liver dysfunction (33.9%), 13 with suspected hepatitis B(7.0%), 10 workers with hepatitis B(5.4%), 10 workers with hepatitis B carrier state(5.4%), 10 with alcoholic liver disorders(5.4%), 5 with fatty liver(2.7%). When alternative diagnostic criteria applying additional examination items (drinking history, body mass index, anti-HCV antibody and ultrasonography) diagnosability of liver disorder was increased. When all four items were included, final results were; 23 workers (17.8%) with hepatitis B (10 carriers, 13 suspects and 10 hepatitis B), 10 (5.4%) with hepatitis C(4 carriers, 5 suspects and 1 hepatitis C), 13(7.0%) with alcoholic liver disorder, 45(24.2%) with fatty liver (40 suspects, 5 fatty liver), 410%) with suspected liver disorders and 44 (23.7%) with normal liver. 2. Of examination items defined by Regulation, only SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP and HBsAg were significantly different in abnormal rate and mean value, and all other laboratory findings did not showed significant difference between two groups. Drinking history, body mass index and anti-HCV antibody test which are the items that authors included in this study, also showed significant difference between two groups. Utilization of body mass index (BMI) for abnormal liver function group in diagnosis of fatty liver had high specificity (97.6%) but sensitivity (22.3%) was low. Therefore we suggest that SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP, HBsAg, alcohol drinking history, BMI and anti-HCV Ab were useful for diagnosis of liver disorders among worker's periodic health examination.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.77-86
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• 2016

Due to aging of the rural and mountain populations the labor force is reduced. However work intensity continues to increase, thus, there is a need to improve the current effectiveness of forest operations. This study compared and analyzed the Operation productivity and efficiency of planting containerized seedlings using a battery-powered planting auger and a mattock. Growth was also investigated by looking into the initial growth increments in the planted seedlings. Tasks were investigated by analyzing the process and operation time needed to plant 1 containerized seedling using a planting auger and a mattock. The time spent on the various elements of the planting process was measured with a stopwatch but observations were done continuously. Result of the study shows that with the use of a lightweight planting auger the average time spent to plant a containerized seedling is 18.61 seconds while with the use of a mattock it took an average of 26.96 seconds which clearly demonstrates that the planting auger is more efficient in terms of working hours. Working intensity was also analyzed with the use of a portable heart rate monitor (Polar V800). The average increase in heart rate and work intensity index were analyzed for one planting cycle. It was observed that when using the lightweight planting auger, there was a 46.51% increase in the average heart rate while a 74.67% increase in heart rate when the mattock was used which shows that there is a significant increase in heart rate when mattock is used. In addition, work intensity index was observed to be 29.95% and 47.83% when the planting auger and mattock were used respectively. With the continuous use, work intensity index is significantly higher with the use of the mattock as compared to that of the lightweight planting auger. There were no significant differences on the growth increment of seedlings planted using the different tools until a year after planting, however differences in growth increment were observed after a year. A difference of 15.1 cm in height and 3.41 mm in diameter was observed which shows that the use of lightweight planting auger is excellent for planting containerized seedlings.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.47-69
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to analyze regional spatial distribution and characteristics with the Talent Magnet Potential Index(TMPI), which is calculated through the extra-regional talent attracting environment(Magnet factors) and intra-regional talent cultivating environment(Incubator factors) of each region. As a result, Seoul, Daejeon, Gyeonggi, Ulsan etc. ranked highest, and regions developed in knowledge-based services, R&D capability, and manufacturing turned out to have a higher TMPI. The regions were categorized into 4 types, and the regional type analysis showed that the cumulative effects of Type I(Talent comparative advantage type) and Type III(Talent absolute shortage type) contribute to widening the economic gap among these regions. In addition, although the metropolitan based Type IV(intra-regional talent dependant type) had excellent talent training capability, there seemed to be an outflow of talent into Type I or Type II(extra-regional talent dependant type). This paper has done a correlation analysis to test the validity of the TMPI. As a result, the correlation between talent by type and TMPI turned out to be very high. The correlation coefficient with 2T turned out to have the highest correlation, showing that tolerance contributes a much greater deal to talent attracting and training than expected. Finally, based on the main analytical results, implications for talent attraction & training policy projects and 7 improvement plans have been proposed.