• Analyses & Alternatives
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5-37
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• 2020

In the 2000s, financial exclusion of low-income people emerged as a major social problem in South Korea. Microcredit business was first introduced by NGOs to help the poor overcome poverty while the Korean government soon chose to initiate microcredit policies to assist financially marginalized low-income people as a key policy measure to alleviate social inequality and revitalize economy. Unlike the initial expectation that state intervention in microcredit industry would be more effective, the outcome has been much less impressive. This paper aims to examine the poor performance of state-led microcredit in South Korea during the period of Lee Myung-bak administration by employing the concepts of state autonomy and capacity. It finds that the state autonomy, a key characteristic of a developmental state, was high in the sense that the funds had been raised in the face of strong resistance from private financial institutions. Lack of state capacity such as low technocratic expertise and politicization of microcredit policy, however, turned out to be a major stumbling block to the state-led microcredit in South Korea. This study shows that although the Korean government still has strong willingness to intervene in the financial market even in the face of interest groups' opposition, the eventual success of state action largely depends on its capacity to effectively implement financial policies.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.55-74
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• 2015

This study examines the effect of a one-on-one outsourced pre-lending consulting service on the repayment behavior of microcredit borrowers in Korea with administrative data from the Smile Microcredit Bank. A random change in the cut-off loan amount for mandatory consulting is utilized as an identification strategy. This three-day pre-lending business consulting service is effective in encouraging repayment behavior of existing businesses but it has no significant effect on start-up loans. The effectiveness of the consulting service in deterring delinquency with regard to existing loans is greater among male borrowers than among females.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.234-246
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• 2013

Microcredit was first introduced by non-profit organization in early 2000s and the Ministry of Health and Welfare promoted the support policy of self-support community and the hope-developing bank. And then, microcredit policy was suddenly changed while the microfinance policy was promoted in 2009. For example, there were changes of the control tower of the policy, the emphasis on financial approach from welfare approach, the establishment of the operation agency. This study analyzed the policy changes on microcredit policy using the framework of Hood(1994) and Joo(1999) in order to analyze causes of sudden changes. As results, the reason affecting microcredit policy change was changes of an unemployment rate and the financial environment, the change of outside situation, the policy idea of the middle practicalism of government and the success of the experiment in microcredit, the passive intervention of stakeholders, the internal factors on the policy custom. So the results suggests that the policy is produced illogically because of the absence of stakeholders' participation.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.27-35
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• 2018

This study aims to develop the scale for business effectiveness targeting microcredit users. For this, based on domestic preceding researchers empirically handling the microcredit and also focus group interviews with users and specialists, total 30 preliminary questions were composed. After that, conducting the exploratory factor analysis targeting 127 finally collected surveys, in the results of analysis, the scale validity of three factors and 24 questions was verified. Also, considering the goodness-of-fit of model through the confirmatory factor analysis, the effectiveness scale of microcredit business was determined. The concrete factors included 5 questions of the store operation, 3 questions of business start-up satisfaction, and 16 questions of management competency. Lastly, based on the effectiveness scale of business developed by this study, the research direction and the practical development direction of microcredit was suggested.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2017

Purpose - While microfinance institutions(MFIs) from Bangladesh, such as Grameen Bank, received worldwide recognition and the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, however, there is a paucity of research that provided a comprehensive discussion on the characteristics of the microfinance industry. Hence, the aim of this paper is to discuss some important aspects of the microfinance sector in Bangladesh. Research design, data, and methodology - This study used secondary sources of data, such as annual reports of the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) and the World Bank database in its descriptive analysis. Results - This study found that Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in her socio-economic and economic development in the last few decades. It is also generally perceived that microfinance has placed significant contribution on such socio-economic development. While microfinance observed unprecedented growth domestically, however, the regulatory framework is still rather weak, and a majority of the MFIs are found to be concentrated in the well-off areas (e.g., Dhaka, Chittagong etc.). Conclusions - The findings are significantly important for the parties who are interested to know the microfinance sector in Bangladesh. To some extent, the findings of this study will provide policy implications that may benefit the industry.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1-12
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• 2015

This study is to investigate the influence of start-up factors and self-efficacy on the economic performances of the microenterprise. While the existing studies focused on start-up factors, this study has the meaning that it includes self-efficacy, the psychosocial factors, divides the economic performances by the profit and the number of employees. For this study, 322 copies of answered questionnaires were taken as the data to analyze. As the results of analysis business type, experience of start-up, period of operation, start-up fund and self-efficacy had the significant meaning out of the profit and it was checked out that business type, fund and self-efficacy influenced on the employees. This study discussed the policy and practical suggestion to raise the performances of microcredit based on these results.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.415-422
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• 2022

This study requires a new paradigm for universities in line with the global pandemic and the 4th industrial revolution. Accordingly, we propose an educational plan for the H university online graduate school in Korea. As a research method, the implications of scholars and experts on future education were synthesized, and the cases of overseas universities using it were analyzed to propose an online graduate school education plan. As a result of the study, online graduate school needs diversity as a venue for providing new opportunities as lifelong education, and to realize this, they use a microcredit. Blockchain technology is introduced so that microcredit can be transparently verified. In addition, to correspond to various convergence major programs and further develop them, problem-solving-oriented teaching methods enhance students' convergent skills as well as active learning and interaction. More detailed curriculum research at online graduate schools is needed in the future, and we hope that you will contribute to the development of online graduate school education based on this study.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.11-14
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• 2016

Purpose - Microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Bangladesh have been providing savings services to their clients at least for the past 15 years. However, whether an MFI should have institutional requirement(s) to be a deposit-taker generates interest among academics and policy makers. Thus, this short note aims to provide a brief overview of institutional properties of MFIs. Research Design, Data, and Methodology - This study used the existing literature and reports by the Microcredit Regulatory Authority' to investigate institutional properties of MFIs. In doing so, we have used 'institutional theory of saving' as a theoretical ground. Although the 'institutional theory of saving' has several important properties, the existing literature mostly discusses seven features such as information, incentives, facilitation, expectation, access, restrictions and security. Results - It is found that MFIs- in general- should have all the seven important institutional properties to be considered as an ideal savings institution. With regards to the microfinance sector in Bangladesh, this study supports that all the NGO-MFIs have these properties to be considered as an ideal deposit taker. Conclusions - The microfinance sector in Bangladesh needs to design and develop comprehensive and customer friendly savings products to further motivate the poor to save in MFIs.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.19-22
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• 2017

Purpose - To control exorbitant interest rates, implementation of an interest rate ceiling is a standard practice in microfinance. However, there are pros and cons of such market intervention. Hence, the aim of this short note is to highlight issues and challenges regarding the interest rate cap in microfinance, both from the perspective of clients and institutions. Research design, data, and methodology - While the nature of this short note is explanatory and descriptive, the research methodology used relevant data from the MixMarket and Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) annual reports in Bangladesh. Results - We argue that an interest rate ceiling is detrimental both for the clients and microfinance institutions (MFIs). This market intervention substantially reduces the outreach of MFIs and clients are most likely to pay a higher price in the long-run. Additionally, an interest rate cap also puts severe pressure on new-born and high-cost MFIs to cope with the interest rate ceiling. Conclusions - Although market intervention may be necessary in the short-run, it should not be the ultimate solution to abate high interest in microfinance. Understanding the operational dynamics of MFIs, as well as promoting productivity, efficiency and competition could help to lower the interest rates.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2013

Despite the most severe weather and geological conditions, Korean people in earlier times were successful in maintaining sustainable water supplies because they understood the importance of rainwater management, and developed technologies and a philosophy which were needed to live under such circumstances. Recently, the Korean people have suffered frequent incidence of flood damage and drought, and have gradually started to remind themselves of the lessons of the past, which can be described as proactive, multipurpose rainwater management. Most of the problems associated with water and energy can be solved by the integration of rainwater management practices. The concept of multipurpose rainwater management and two examples of its practice are discussed. One is a design for a multipurpose rainwater tank which has been used in a building project, and is based on Korean philosophy. Secondly, a regulation was promulgated recently in Seoul that requires the building of rainwater tanks in new buildings over a certain size. The primary purpose is for the prevention of flooding, but water conservation is a secondary intention. Two examples of proactive rainwater management are discussed, one being public involvement in rainwater management, and the second being the rainwater piggy bank microcredit project. In order to maintain sustainability, to meet the requirements of the Millennium Development Goals, and to be prepared for the effects of climate change, it is expected that multipurpose and proactive rainwater management will be a very effective approach for both developing countries and developed countries. A worldwide network of scientific researchers, as well as a great number of professions, has suggested the promotion of rainwater management.