• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.79-90
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• 2018

A wide range of challenges and obstacles still exist for "mumpreneurs" in creating or developing their business ventures. It is important to investigate the factors regarding why many mothers choose to become self-employed and partially abandon the benefits offered by traditional employment. This study focus on the individual, but an implied positive relationship also exits between motivational factors and mumpreneurs in Korea. Thus, four factors in this study - push, pull, environmental, and financial factor - raise the practical implications regarding the motivational factors of women entrepreneurial challenges in Korea. This study's findings also consider the nature and changes of Korean mumpreneurs' motivational factors, their challenges, and attitudes as business owners in Korean labor markets. This study's findings suggest that a combination of push and pull factors could similarly trigger new business ownership. The empirical contrast in such variables as motivations or barriers to mumpreneurship, in realities provide a superior understanding of women's tendency or willingness toward business creation, as they struggle to survive in the Korean labor market. They tend to start their own businesses to gain more responsibilities in both work and their families, and want to manage their own lives to contribute as capable members of society. Therefore, any Korean mother, regardless of any industry-specific experience, wants to use entrepreneurship as a shortcut to satisfy her need for self-fulfillment. The general motivational factors for becoming a mumpreneur exist among both external and internal situations. The circumstances beyond their control, such as job termination or unemployment, compel these mothers into the workforce due to their responsibility toward their families, but they simultaneously dream of self-achievement and development. Most mumpreneurs in Korea also want to demonstrate their potential and achieve societal recognition as well as increase in property.